You're listening to Tim Bulkeley's 5 minute Bible
The second stage of the five step process
is concerned with the differences between the biblical world and ours
and that's when things get tricky because it isn't all the differences
that matter
it is the particular differences but that matter that matter
and the differences that matter, matter
because they somehow or other might
limit our reading
there may be things about our setting
our 'set'
the pre-suppositions we bring to the text
that cause us to miss the point
to misunderstand
or to minimize something
At step two
"What's the difference?"
encourages us to, try to work out what those differences are
and how we might mitigate their effects
or what Duval and Hays refer to as "the river" between us and the biblical text
as if the Bible was in a village or town
across the river
and we want to go there to collect something valuable and bring it back
the river is the barrier between us and our target
they said there are
three main ways to mitigate those differences that make up the river
the first is information
the knowledge that they can get from Bible dictionaries, background commentaries
and the like
information about
the culture, the geography, and all the rest
that help us to imagine ourselves into their world
it's also possible sometimes to listened to 'others' reading the bible
people that are different from us
will probably understand differently and those differences may very well help us
to spot
what's going on what's limiting our reading
and then of course
we can reflect carefully ourselves
and try to spot the things that may cause problems
because... think about it
there are some characteristics of western thought comprise that river
between us and the biblical text
firstly there's our dualism
Western people are thoroughly inclined to think of the spirit and matter
as two different realms
and that predisposes us
to read back such a distinction
into the biblical text where the biblical authors did not intend it
and therefore sometimes to misunderstand completely
good example of that comes from Acts chapter six
where the appointment of the seven
to help the twelve
is often understood by modern readers as being
all about
the difference between
the people who get on with the material stuff
and the people who do the really important 'spiritual' work
I don't think that difference was in Luke's mind
we westerners
both materialistic and dualist
and it limits our reading
and then
we're individualists
so in Luke chapter nine
when Jesus sends the disciples to heal the sick
the default picture in our minds is of some individuals who've got a problem
and the problem troubles them and the problem is removed because they healed
we don't see healing the sick
as being a sign of the in-breaking off the power of God's rule into this world
that notion would be foreign to us
and then of course we're comfortable
or most of us are
we modern westerners
and the whole notion of the kingdom or rule of God
it's strange to us
we're quite happy with the way things are! Why should we want to pray come
Lord Jesus?
and then
we westerners are instrumental in our thinking
we're always looking for outcomes
and so Jesus' instruction to the disciples to stay in one place on their
travels
not to move around from house to house in Luke nine
is understood by readers today often
as instruction that makes them more effective
it's not about being effective
it's about honoring your hosts
and trusting God to provide
You see, these characteristics: dualism, individualism, comfort and instrumentality
and others of course, but those are the four I picked on as being generally quite
common and
generally quite destructive of Bible reading
get in the way and interfere with our reading. They predisposes us to readings
that were not intended by the original authors
They are part of the river
Let's look at that
by looking at that passage in Luke chapter nine
did you notice
just how prominent
that concept of the kingdom of God
of God's rule breaking in
was in this passage
you certainly would have if you've been reading Luke
but did you notice that that about power and authority over demons
and to cure diseases
it's very prominent in this passage
but the reason for it is because they have to proclaim the kingdom of God
and to heal
proclaimed by word and deed that God's rule is breaking into this world
and things are being put right
But then, what do you make of him saying
take nothing for your journey
i've heard people read that
as an encouragement to us all to take up our cross and follow Jesus to suffer for
the gospel, and the like...
I don't think Jesus was thinking of suffering
it's not all about you!
Jesus was thinking about honoring your hosts
And then the business about
when you go to a house stay there and don't move on
say there as long as you are in that village
that's not like
some of my students thought
about making the ministry more effective
more efficient
it's again about honoring your hosts
and last but not least
the good news
so many people jump at the supposition that the good news here
means
what today we call the "gospel"
Jesus loves us and died for our sins and the like
it wasn't
not here
in this passage Jesus has not yet died Jesus is sending the disciples
and the good news that they're to proclaim is the good news that the kingdom of God is
breaking into this world
and that's why it's: "to proclaim the good news and cure diseases"
together at the beginning
and the end of the passage though in different words
you see
that 'river' can have a powerful effect on our reading
unless we pause and think about it
but if we pause and think about it
we can begin to mitigate its effects Bye for now.