Comments on: Avoiding the “Flat Bible” Problem – Part 1 http://biblicalthought.com/blog/avoiding-the-%e2%80%9cflat-bible%e2%80%9d-problem-part-1/ Biblical Christianity, Reformed Theology, Reformed Apologetics Fri, 03 Sep 2010 05:06:01 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: Soisauce001 http://biblicalthought.com/blog/avoiding-the-%e2%80%9cflat-bible%e2%80%9d-problem-part-1/#comment-3320 Soisauce001 Sun, 30 Mar 2008 00:55:59 +0000 http://biblicalthought.com/blog/avoiding-the-%e2%80%9cflat-bible%e2%80%9d-problem-part-1/#comment-3320 Fusion pointed me to this blog. Great blog! I'm almost intimidated to write on this blog because of the great minds that are on here. Here are my thoughts on this whole shin-dig. I agree with Agogley that part of the problem is the educational system in general. Might I offer another part of the problem? I think another reason for "Flat Bible" interpretation is because of weak preaching that is coming from the pulpit in America. The recent trends of being "conversational" as well as the seeker friendly, "topical" preaching are teaching people to put discussion and ideas over the scriptures. Rather than taking the scriptures and SHOWING the people what it says, scripture is used as a proof text to a topic or discussion. Scripture becomes secondary. I think the exodus from solid Expository Preaching is leaving many congregations in America biblically illiterate. Expository preaching not only illuminates the Word but it also brings the congregation along the journey of illumination. In essence one of the byproducts of consistent expository preaching is that the preacher is teaching the congregation HOW TO READ THEIR BIBLES. My fear is that this pursuit of being trendy is killing the hearts, minds, and souls of church goers across America. I'm a Youth Pastor at my church. You're going to love my background! I'm part of the Vineyard Movement and I go to a Foursquare school. BUT! I'm a recent reformed convert. For the past 2 months I've been preaching and expository sermon series out of James and I've noticed that the youth in my church are actually beginning to read, memorize and BRING THEIR BIBLES TO CHURCH! *SHOCK*@@. There's a group of 8 kids that memorized the WHOLE book of James. Many of the kids are beginning to ask VERY good questions that pertain to CONTEXT of a passage. It's really encouraging. I say all this not to boast (ok maybe a little) but really to point out that if preachers begin to preach solid expository sermons, their listeners begin to get a hunger for God's words and in the process LEARN how to read. Thoughts and Comments? Be nice! I'm a noob. Fusion pointed me to this blog. Great blog! I’m almost intimidated to write on this blog because of the great minds that are on here. Here are my thoughts on this whole shin-dig.

I agree with Agogley that part of the problem is the educational system in general. Might I offer another part of the problem? I think another reason for “Flat Bible” interpretation is because of weak preaching that is coming from the pulpit in America. The recent trends of being “conversational” as well as the seeker friendly, “topical” preaching are teaching people to put discussion and ideas over the scriptures. Rather than taking the scriptures and SHOWING the people what it says, scripture is used as a proof text to a topic or discussion. Scripture becomes secondary.

I think the exodus from solid Expository Preaching is leaving many congregations in America biblically illiterate. Expository preaching not only illuminates the Word but it also brings the congregation along the journey of illumination. In essence one of the byproducts of consistent expository preaching is that the preacher is teaching the congregation HOW TO READ THEIR BIBLES.

My fear is that this pursuit of being trendy is killing the hearts, minds, and souls of church goers across America.

I’m a Youth Pastor at my church. You’re going to love my background! I’m part of the Vineyard Movement and I go to a Foursquare school. BUT! I’m a recent reformed convert. For the past 2 months I’ve been preaching and expository sermon series out of James and I’ve noticed that the youth in my church are actually beginning to read, memorize and BRING THEIR BIBLES TO CHURCH! *SHOCK*@@. There’s a group of 8 kids that memorized the WHOLE book of James. Many of the kids are beginning to ask VERY good questions that pertain to CONTEXT of a passage. It’s really encouraging. I say all this not to boast (ok maybe a little) but really to point out that if preachers begin to preach solid expository sermons, their listeners begin to get a hunger for God’s words and in the process LEARN how to read.

Thoughts and Comments? Be nice! I’m a noob.

]]> By: Travis http://biblicalthought.com/blog/avoiding-the-%e2%80%9cflat-bible%e2%80%9d-problem-part-1/#comment-3147 Travis Mon, 24 Mar 2008 09:24:40 +0000 http://biblicalthought.com/blog/avoiding-the-%e2%80%9cflat-bible%e2%80%9d-problem-part-1/#comment-3147 Does this have any legitamacy, I just dont have a a lot of time to analyze this. It is a small blurb on the structure of scripture, placement of verses. Does anyone know? http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bible#Chapters_and_verses Does this have any legitamacy, I just dont have a a lot of time to analyze this.

It is a small blurb on the structure of scripture, placement of verses. Does anyone know?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bible#Chapters_and_verses

]]> By: The work and the glory http://biblicalthought.com/blog/avoiding-the-%e2%80%9cflat-bible%e2%80%9d-problem-part-1/#comment-3132 The work and the glory Sun, 23 Mar 2008 19:25:05 +0000 http://biblicalthought.com/blog/avoiding-the-%e2%80%9cflat-bible%e2%80%9d-problem-part-1/#comment-3132 This morning I read an article stating that“ The unexpectedly large fundraising total raised by Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney in the first quarter of 2007 had less to do with a“ Mormon network” than with the former Massachusetts governor’ s business acumen and strong ties with the financial community nationwide, according to political analysts.” This morning I read an article stating that“ The unexpectedly large fundraising total raised by Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney in the first quarter of 2007 had less to do with a“ Mormon network” than with the former Massachusetts governor’ s business acumen and strong ties with the financial community nationwide, according to political analysts.”

]]> By: Glenn Leatherman http://biblicalthought.com/blog/avoiding-the-%e2%80%9cflat-bible%e2%80%9d-problem-part-1/#comment-3036 Glenn Leatherman Thu, 20 Mar 2008 21:15:30 +0000 http://biblicalthought.com/blog/avoiding-the-%e2%80%9cflat-bible%e2%80%9d-problem-part-1/#comment-3036 CARHOP, Thanks for the obersvation about your perception on the word "literal." Maybe today, we should use the word "plain" when refering to the authroial meaning of a given text (which is what the word literal use to mean,) to better communicate Biblical Hermeneutics today. I don't believe J.I. Packer meant that employing a literal intepretation would mean that one would not take into consideration metaphors, symbols, illustrations, genre, historical context, social context, allegories, etc. as the author intended. In my reflection on this, I see that it is the wooden or literal , interpreation (if one defines this as ignoring contextual gaps, genre, and the authroial intent of the passage) that leads to the "Flat Bible Error". CARHOP,

Thanks for the obersvation about your perception on the word “literal.” Maybe today, we should use the word “plain” when refering to the authroial meaning of a given text (which is what the word literal use to mean,) to better communicate Biblical Hermeneutics today. I don’t believe J.I. Packer meant that employing a literal intepretation would mean that one would not take into consideration metaphors, symbols, illustrations, genre, historical context, social context, allegories, etc. as the author intended.

In my reflection on this, I see that it is the wooden or literal , interpreation (if one defines this as ignoring contextual gaps, genre, and the authroial intent of the passage) that leads to the “Flat Bible Error”.

]]> By: David McKay http://biblicalthought.com/blog/avoiding-the-%e2%80%9cflat-bible%e2%80%9d-problem-part-1/#comment-2981 David McKay Tue, 18 Mar 2008 15:10:53 +0000 http://biblicalthought.com/blog/avoiding-the-%e2%80%9cflat-bible%e2%80%9d-problem-part-1/#comment-2981 G'day Carhop Interpreting Scripture literally does not mean that we take a statement like "All the tree of the field will clap their hands" in a different sense from that in which the original author intended it. It is completely in harmony with interpreting the Scriptures sensibly. G’day Carhop
Interpreting Scripture literally does not mean that we take a statement like “All the tree of the field will clap their hands” in a different sense from that in which the original author intended it. It is completely in harmony with interpreting the Scriptures sensibly.

]]> By: Tim http://biblicalthought.com/blog/avoiding-the-%e2%80%9cflat-bible%e2%80%9d-problem-part-1/#comment-2947 Tim Sun, 16 Mar 2008 16:01:48 +0000 http://biblicalthought.com/blog/avoiding-the-%e2%80%9cflat-bible%e2%80%9d-problem-part-1/#comment-2947 Thanks Pastor Glenn, looking forward to the rest of the installments! Thanks Pastor Glenn, looking forward to the rest of the installments!

]]> By: Stacie http://biblicalthought.com/blog/avoiding-the-%e2%80%9cflat-bible%e2%80%9d-problem-part-1/#comment-2896 Stacie Fri, 14 Mar 2008 22:15:02 +0000 http://biblicalthought.com/blog/avoiding-the-%e2%80%9cflat-bible%e2%80%9d-problem-part-1/#comment-2896 Awesome! I needed these articles very badly. I am dealing with someone who believes that the Holy Spirit makes a verse mean something completely different to different people. I was going to begin studying to answer her this weekend (I am working on answering everything with scripture- I need to know the scriptures first) and this is an amazing way to start. God is good and has really blessed me with this. Thanks! Awesome! I needed these articles very badly. I am dealing with someone who believes that the Holy Spirit makes a verse mean something completely different to different people. I was going to begin studying to answer her this weekend (I am working on answering everything with scripture- I need to know the scriptures first) and this is an amazing way to start.
God is good and has really blessed me with this.
Thanks!

]]> By: carhop http://biblicalthought.com/blog/avoiding-the-%e2%80%9cflat-bible%e2%80%9d-problem-part-1/#comment-2893 carhop Fri, 14 Mar 2008 20:42:37 +0000 http://biblicalthought.com/blog/avoiding-the-%e2%80%9cflat-bible%e2%80%9d-problem-part-1/#comment-2893 This article provides great insight and guidance However, I did squirm a little bit on a part of the J.I. Packer quote that said, "Interpret Scripture literally and grammatically" I think I know what was meant in spite of the way that it was stated. For example, the trees do not literally clap their hands or God is not a large bird (the shadow of His wings). The Bible is 66 books; some of these books are historical narrative, some apocalyptic, some largely poetic, and etc. We obviously do, or should, analyze the type of literature, as well as the grammar, and consider the other fine points outlined in this article. This article provides great insight and guidance However, I did squirm a little bit on a part of the J.I. Packer quote that said, “Interpret Scripture literally and grammatically” I think I know what was meant in spite of the way that it was stated.

For example, the trees do not literally clap their hands or God is not a large bird (the shadow of His wings). The Bible is 66 books; some of these books are historical narrative, some apocalyptic, some largely poetic, and etc. We obviously do, or should, analyze the type of literature, as well as the grammar, and consider the other fine points outlined in this article.

]]> By: agogley http://biblicalthought.com/blog/avoiding-the-%e2%80%9cflat-bible%e2%80%9d-problem-part-1/#comment-2842 agogley Thu, 13 Mar 2008 00:09:40 +0000 http://biblicalthought.com/blog/avoiding-the-%e2%80%9cflat-bible%e2%80%9d-problem-part-1/#comment-2842 Travis: It's such a blessing and a joy to read your posts! Praise the Lord for you, brother! It's such a pleasure to be with brothers and sisters who share the same obstacles in our Christian walk. Thank God for Dr. Morey's ministry, which in God's goodness, led all of us together to study and learn God's Word so that we can defend it and share it with others. Travis: It’s such a blessing and a joy to read your posts! Praise the Lord for you, brother! It’s such a pleasure to be with brothers and sisters who share the same obstacles in our Christian walk. Thank God for Dr. Morey’s ministry, which in God’s goodness, led all of us together to study and learn God’s Word so that we can defend it and share it with others.

]]> By: Linda http://biblicalthought.com/blog/avoiding-the-%e2%80%9cflat-bible%e2%80%9d-problem-part-1/#comment-2827 Linda Wed, 12 Mar 2008 19:38:20 +0000 http://biblicalthought.com/blog/avoiding-the-%e2%80%9cflat-bible%e2%80%9d-problem-part-1/#comment-2827 This is great informationand I am eagerly looking forward to part 2. Actually tonight in bible study we will be continuing our study on how to read and interpret the scripture. Someone told me a couple days ago there is no "afterlife" (his word) or heaven, and used terms like "turn to dust" and quoted scripture that used the term "dead" as back up. This guy needs this blog. His bible is so flat all the words fell out. Travis, I know how you feel, I am fairly new at this and it can feel overwhelming sometimes when you don't get it the first time...(or second or third as it may be in my case). Prayer and persistance brother...we'll get there! This is great informationand I am eagerly looking forward to part 2. Actually tonight in bible study we will be continuing our study on how to read and interpret the scripture.
Someone told me a couple days ago there is no “afterlife” (his word) or heaven, and used terms like “turn to dust” and quoted scripture that used the term “dead” as back up. This guy needs this blog. His bible is so flat all the words fell out.
Travis, I know how you feel, I am fairly new at this and it can feel overwhelming sometimes when you don’t get it the first time…(or second or third as it may be in my case). Prayer and persistance brother…we’ll get there!

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