Too familiar to take seriously?
Thursday, July 15, 2010 at 8:49PM I read the Bible - it is a valuable and helpful discipline. I find courage, challenge, comfort and insight within its pages. I have a copy of the Bible on my iPhone (in fact I have three copies; the NRSV, NIV and Greek New Testament). I follow the discipline of taking time for daily devotions (prayer, reading scripture and quiet mediation upon scripture). But, I also try to read the Bible during the day when I can find the time.
The quote below challenged me! I need to spend much more time being challenged and changed as I wrestle with the grace filled teaching of the Bible. Here's what Thomas Merton said:
"There is, in a word, nothing comfortable about the Bible -- until we manage to get so used to it that we make it comfortable for ourselves. But then we are perhaps too used to it and too at home in it. Let us not be too sure we know the Bible ... just because we have learned not to have problems with it. Have we perhaps learned ... not to really pay attention to it? Have we ceased to question the book and be questioned by it?"
- Thomas Merton from his book 'Opening the Bible'
I'm afraid that sometimes I become too familiar with this sacred text. How do you use the Bible? What do you use it for? I'd love to hear your feedback and thoughts!
Reader Comments (10)
Hey D
So which app do you recommend for NRSV?
I can't decide and would appreciate your geekliness' wisdom!
=D
Hey Murray!
Great to hear from you my friend!
I have used the Olivetree Bible reader for about 10 years now (can you believe it!) I first bought it when I had a Palm, but once you've bought the Bible to you can download the reader for whatever phone or palmtop you own. I've used it on my Nokia's, Windows Mobile, my iPhone, iPad and Blackberry.
I own the Bible modules for the NIV, NRSV, Greek New Testament, and the Message. There are lots of free modules as well.
See Olivetree.
By the way, Logos (Libronix) have just added a free app for the iPad and iPhone - so if you own logos Bible software for your desktop you can also use it on your iOS device.
Hope that helps!
Blessings,
Dion
Thomas Merton also gave eqaul authority scripture from other religions. I find this rather disturbing don't you? Haven't read his stuff in years. In fact most of what I read are books that help me understand my Bible. I haven't gotten to the IPad, IPod stage yet. But I have E-sword on my desktop. Love to be able to read my Bible in Greek though.
Hi Thomas!
Always great to hear from you.
Indeed, I know that Thomas Merton had some progressive thoughts in God's revelation. I think it is a mistake to say that he accorded equal value to the scriptures of all religions. What he did acknowledge is that God is able to reveal God's self in all of creation (as we read in Romans 1), and that would thus also mean that we can discover some things about God from other persons, and even persons who hold a religious conviction other than that of Christianity. However, he did accord specific revelatory value to the Christian Bible.
Thomas, I posted a response to your kind review of 'Transform your work life' on your blog (it was while I was in Mosselbay). It did not appear on the site. I wonder if it got stuck in a spam filter, or perhaps is awaiting approval, maybe there was a problem on the net and it never reached you?
Please do let me know! If it did not reach you I'll gladly repost it.
Blessings my friend!
Dion
No i did not see anything appear on my site. be glad if you re post it.
I have been meanig to write to you regarding my experience in Christian Mysticism, esspecially the brand of Merton and Willard and others. While I waas in Methodist ministry I alsmots lost faith through these things, hence my skepticism. I regained some focus by going back into the writngs of Luther and other Reformed writers, since the gospel I found in Methodism, was somewhat obscured by a social agenda.
I have now re started Theological srudies but though an institution with a more reforemd perspective. So If I seem critical I need you to understand, ( since I considered you a friend) that my spiritual journey has been one of finding the essence of saving faith, and this I have found most clearly, in all places, in the Systematic Thelogy of the Reformed faith. Lutheran/Puritan style.
Mysticism of any kind I find detracts from the gospel, but that is my view. If it does not detract from the gospel for you then you have a better understanding of it than I do.
In Christ.
Simon
I was going to comment re the statement, "Have we ceased to question the book..." but I see Thomas beat me to it :).
Hi Thomas and Mark,
Thank you both for your comments.
Thomas, I remember those days in our little kitchen in Grahamstown, and the evenings in your home in Benoni! All are special memories.
I am pleased that you have found a theological tradition that resonates with your spirituality. I like the diversity of the body of Christ, what appeals to me need not necessarily appeal to you (and vice versa). But, I do respect your position and I rejoice that it holds such value for you.
My position may have a slightly different flavour, but I do hope that we're eating our meals around the same table of grace!
My journey was slightly different. As a theologian I have come to realise that for me systems and beliefs can never compare to the glory of experiencing Christ! No words, schemas, or doctrines could ever contain the majesty and wonder of being in Christ's loving presence. I suppose I arrived at things from a slightly different place. Having been in Christ's loving presence I desired to see that grace extended from my 'private' enjoyment and bliss into the world - that is a social perspective, I needed to find ways to bring God's love, grace, mercy and justice to bear on the people and systems around me so that mysticism was not an escape from the world, but an experience of Christ that empowered me to be used by God to transform the world.
Be richly blessed!
Dion
Here's my "Ja but..."
"<I>Most of the claims (e.g., God loves you, Jesus died to set you free form Sin, God wants to meet your physical, emotional and spiritual needs etc.) cannot be substantiated by an experience or encounter in the service. So, if we say that God loves us, how will we facilitate an authentic encounter with that love in a synthetic environment?
Isn't Facebook a much more synthetic environment than the local church, with its bogus offers of "friendship" that represent the most inauthentic encounter it is possible to imagine?
A few weeks ago an old lady in our church spoke to my wife after Vespers, and said she was concerned about losing her memory. She had just returned from a visit to her family overseas, and apparently it wasn't a very good visit. My wife, who works at the SA Medical Association, spoke to one of the doctors there, who put her in touch with a specialist on that in Joburg. She also alerted other members of the church, who live in Joburg, so that they can pray for her, and visit her, and see that she is OK. This may be a poor sort of care, but I think it is a lot better than taking such problems to the kind of people who say they have added you as a friend on some social networking site.
Hi Steve!
Always great to hear from you! I think your comment refers to the next post on my blog (see here for that post.
In fact I agree wholeheartedly with what you've said! Remember that my post was speaking about evangelism, not community or care! I concede that the example that you've used is far better for face to face interaction than any other sort. But, for the majority of persons (who are not in Churches) we need to find some way to reach beyond the Church to where the people are. If all we are doing is inviting persons 'come and hear' or 'come and experience' the Gospel within our community we are in for some problems! We have to ALSO send some to where people already are - don't you agree?
Thanks once again for the comment!
Regards,
Dion