Understanding the Scriptures...

Lately I have been thinking about how we read and understand the words of Scripture. A couple of authors have been challenging me - Brian McLaren in his book A New Kind of Christian and Walter Wink in his article "Homosexuality and the Bible". History and context are, I am finding, of the utmost importance. N.T. Wright has given me some great insight in the books The New Testament and the People of God and Jesus and the Victory of God. Consider this from Paul's letter to the church in Rome:

Do not be conformed to this world (this age), [fashioned after and adapted to its external, superficial customs], but be transformed (changed) by the [entire] renewal of your mind [by its new ideals and its new attitude], so that you may prove [for yourselves] what is the good and acceptable and perfect will of God, even the thing which is good and acceptable and perfect [in His sight for you].

These words open a whole new realm of possiblity. One for a greater quality of life. A quality much of my religion has failed to unveil.