Right Answers

School trained us to expect correct answers.

Church, in many ways, is another version of school. Pastors and Bible study leaders are the experts. They know stuff. They speak, we take notes and learn.

Do you think there’s a “right answer” to this question?

Do we use Scripture to interpret what love means – or do we use love to interpret what Scripture means?

I wish we could all sit around the table and share our thoughts. Since that’s not possible, I will share a bit more of what I think and invite you to respond with your own ideas.

As a teacher, I found that students were suspicious of so-called discussion questions. They’re pretty perceptive, and realized that such questions were often designed to lead to a pre-determined destination. I found that it was better to be honest and tell them what we were doing a guided discussion. That way, when I asked an open-ended question, they were more likely to trust my motives.

I hope that’s the case here. As I share my thoughts, I hope it doesn’t feel like I’m guiding you to a pre-determined conclusion.

Thinking about our kids, I’m convinced healing always starts from a place of love. And I know from my own childhood experience, learning the Bible stories without that context left me with a lot of head knowledge that didn’t make it into my heart. The stories only began to make sense when people explained grace, forgiveness, and love.

But that’s one old, bald guy’s experience. I suspect others might think differently. And there’s some danger in sitting alone at a keyboard forming my own thoughts without feedback from others.

Personally, I find questions like this, and the discussions they can generate, fascinating.

I wish I could hear your thoughts.