Monday, September 10, 2012

Quick Review of Biblical Hermeneutics: Five Views

“Hermeneutics” sounds like the training program that Ivan Drago endured in Rocky IV.  Though it at times seems a laborious as Drago’s training, hermeneutics actually has to do with interpretation.  The most basic definition of it is, “the science and art of textual interpretation”.  Though you may not be familiar with the word, every one has a hermeneutic.  Some might be sloppy.  Some might be erroneous and start from the wrong foundation.  And some might be helpful.  But everyone has a hermeneutic.

When we consider biblical hermeneutics the text that we are attempting to faithfully interpret is the Bible.  If given one text (especially one of the more difficult ones)and ten people, you are likely to come up with ten somewhat different interpretations or at least different applications.  Why is that?  The answer is hermeneutics. 

In Biblical Hermeneutics: Five Views, five different scholars explain their hermeneutical approach to the Scriptures.  Craig L. Blomberg defends what is known as the Historical-Critical/Grammatical approach.  This is the approach that most of our readers are probably most familiar with.  F. Scott Spencer defends the Literary/Postmodern approach, which as you can tell from it’s title is a somewhat newer approach.  Merold Westphal considers the Philosophical/Theological approach.  Richard B. Gaffin Jr. defends the Redemptive-Historical approach and Robert W. Wall helps the reader understand the Canonical approach to hermeneutics. 

The book begins with a helpful introduction from the editors: Stanley Porter and Beth Stovell.  The introduction considers the trajectories in biblical hermeneutics.  It also offers questions that need to be answered when attempting to outline your own hermeneutic. 

This offering in the Spectrum series is formatted a little differently than the others.  Typically an author will present his view and then those from the other views will then critique his/her viewpoint.  In this book each author defends his view.  Then in the second part of the book he responds/critiques the other views. 

The book closes with Porter and Stovell offering a synthesis of the five views.  This is a theme that seems to resound throughout the book.  As other reviewers have noted this book is not quite the same as other Spectrum books.  Though each having a different emphasis and maybe a different starting point these views are not for the most part true alternatives.  As Porter and Stovell show in the conclusion there is a way to synthesize and use each of these methods to have a faithful hermeneutic.

My Take

One of the most helpful things about this book is that each scholar is given the task of applying his method to Matthew 2:13-15.  The reader is then able to see how the differing hermeneutical starting points yields differing interpretations and thus differing applications. 

I also appreciate that each of these perspectives can offer a little more insight into doing hermeneutics.  It might be helpful for really deeper study to consider a text from each of these perspectives. 

The book is probably most helpful for those already involved in the study of hermeneutics.  I probably would not even suggest it as an introductory book for a college course on hermeneutics.  But for advanced students that have spent a good amount of time in the field of hermeneutics it is an interesting read.  One can actually use information used in this book to understand how other scholars and biblical interpreters give some of the interpretations that they do. 

It would be an interesting read for all, though quite laborious for those not already introduced to the world of hermeneutical discussions.  Serious students of hermeneutics will need to consider this book.  Those that are merely dabbling in the field would benefit but may benefit more from more introductory level books.

You can buy it here. 

One Reason You Don’t Agree With Me

In reading a letter of John Newton I came across this gem:

…he could remove every prejudice, and give equal degrees of light to all his people, so that there should be no difference among them either about doctrine or discipline.  But were this the case, their uniformity would not afford them such opportunities of approving their obedience to him, and their love to each other, as they may draw from lesser differences.  But alas! remaining corruptions, and the subtlety of Satan, operate so strongly, that the sheep of Christ think they do Him service, by worrying and tearing one another. 

In other words, while we are still living on this side of a Redeemed Eden one of the reasons that the Lord continues to allow differences amongst us is to give us an opportunity for love and obedience to Him. 

Newton then gives a horribly wonderful example of our tearing at one another in the name of defending the cause of God.

Alas, when self fights in holy armour, and the cause of our own unsanctified passions is honoured with the specious name of the cause of God and truth, then religious zeal is seen in all the sense the original bears but the good sense, and breathes forth indignation, envy, and wrath.  Then Satan is transformed into an angel of light, and men suppose themselves to be men abounding in duty, in proportion as they depart from the spirit of love, which is the chief criterion and characteristic of the religion of Jesus.

And now the illustration:

I remember a passage somewhere in ancient history, of a battle fought in the night; both parties were resolute, many were the slain and wounded on both sides, both congratulated themselves on the mischief they had done to their opponents—at length the day broke, and turned their joy into sorrow.  They then found to their confusion that their animosity had been wholly owing to fighting in the dark before they had made proper inquiry, for though they had mistaken each other for enemies, they were friends and allies, engaged in the same cause, and had been weakening each other for the advantage of the common enemy.

May we not bruise one another and strike the heel of our common Master whilst thinking that we are in the business of crushing the head of the Serpent. 

Today in Blogworld 9.10.12

The Trouble with Focusing on Your Marriage

David Mathis, quoting from This Momentary Marriage, explains why focusing on your marriage may be quite troublesome. 

When God Pulls the Rug Out

I found this really encouraging this morning.  “God is not playing games when he pulls the rug out from under you. He is up to something, but it is probably not what you think it is.”

How Do You Explain the Trinity to Children?

It’s hard enough to explain the Trinity to adults that have been believers for years.  What do you do when your children need an explanation of the Trinity?  Russell Moore provides an answer….sort of.

You Don’t HAVE to Sin

Wise and helpful words here from Mark Altrogge.  It might feel like we HAVE to sin, but if the power of sin has been broken in our lives by the powerful Christ we no longer are enslaved.

What is at the heart of sinful anger?

One Reason I’m Not a Huge Fan of Watchblogging

If you are blogging about your totally rad waterproof Swiss Army watch please take no offense at this post.  I’m not against people that spend their time blogging about watches, although I may question your sanity.  The “watchblogging” that I am referring to is the “discernment ministries”.  These are blogs that focus on sharing the bad news within Christianity.  According to many of these sights their intention is to inform believers, keep them from danger, encourage them to pray, etc., etc. 

I do believe there is some good that does come from these “discernment” ministries.  I personally know of people that were delivered out of really unhealthy teaching simply because they stumbled upon something questioning the beliefs of one of their favorite teachers.  Often those caught within the web of false teachers are there simply because it sounds “gospely” and they’ve never even thought to question it.  For such people it can be good to become aware that there is an alternative view. 

Yet, for all of its worth I avoid watchblogging and discernment ministries and encourage others to do the same.  Here is one of the bigger reasons why:

A man of crooked heart does not discover good. Proverbs 17:20

I have a bent towards negativity as it is.  Following watchblogs does something to my soul that is not helpful.  They tend to focus on the negative at the expense of that which is good.  Proverbs 17:20 seems to be saying that good is something that needs to be sought out and discovered. 

It doesn’t take really sharp wit and investigative reporting to discover all that is jacked up in our world (and sadly even the problems that are present within the church).  You don’t need to bust out your Sherlock Holmes magnifying glass to discover the bad.  But the bent of those of a crooked heart is to see that which is right before our face; namely, the ugliness of evil and suffering.  It takes the magnifying glasses of faith and hope to discover good in the midst of turmoil. 

Therefore, watchblogs do very little to strengthen my soul.  They excel at pointing out error but in my experience it does nothing to make my heart leap for joy.  This is why even though I will at times write articles that might fall in the category of discernment ministries, for the most part I want to revel in that which is good, true, and praiseworthy and give less of an audience to that which is detestable. 

Saturday, September 8, 2012

7 Questions with Lee Eclov, Author of Pastoral Grace (Part 2 of 2)

Yesterday I posted the first four questions to my interview with Pastor Lee Eclov, author of Pastoral Graces.  Today I hope you enjoy his final 3 questions.  Notice his non-answer to the Mike Ditka question.  I think we might be on to something.  Da Bears!

5. Perhaps my favorite concept from the book is that there are "the people grace has invited to church". I love that. Can you tell us a little more about that statement? Where did it come from? How does seeing people that way influence how you do things as a church?

I’m glad you liked it. It was simply an observation. When you hear the stories of how people end up in church it is obvious. The effect on ministry, I think, is the assumption that no one is here by accident. (And the corollary: the measure of our church is not who or how many show up.) We don’t have to ‘win’ these people to our church. God brought them, and he can keep them with us. We need to be the church on a Sunday morning—in the authenticity of what we do, in the love we show, in exalting the Lord, in preaching the Word—and we’ll be just what each attendee needs, at least on that day.

6. What is the coolest thing that God is doing in your church right now?

Actually, I suspect that the coolest thing is something we haven’t really heard yet because most cool stories are happening in personal lives and it takes awhile before they come to light. I usually get more jazzed about those personal stories than things happening churchwide. Like Mae who came to see me last week to catch me up on things in her life. Out of the blue, she says, “On July 21 I accepted Jesus Christ as my Savior!” It happened in a Chinese-language Bible study when a visiting speaker she’d never met spoke specifically to her personal need.

7. I notice that the church you serve is close to Chicago. I also notice that you have a wonderful Mike Ditka mustache. Is that a prerequisite for ministering in Chicago? Do people ever refer to you as Pastor Ditka? Ever thought of wearing a Bears sweater and a whistle?

Really?! Really?!?

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Give the guy a cigar, a whistle, a frown, and a Ditka cut, and I think we’re on to something here.  So, if you’ve ever wanted a book on pastoral ministry written by one of the greatest coaches in history then you’ll certainly want to check out Pastoral Graces by Coach Ditka Lee Eclov. 

Thanks again to Lee for agreeing to do this interview and enduring my really horrible sense of humor. 

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