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Exegesis and the Thought Police

Exegesis and the Thought Police

Have you ever received a note or email with a comment that went something like this: According to Professor Smarter-than-you of the Biblical Academic Institution, your exegesis on Bible text such and such is incorrect”?

Recently, I received an email just like this and it got me thinking: What is the purpose of such a comment? Does this message express an interest in open and honest discussion, or is it meant to function as thought-policing—to freeze thinking, halt discussion, intimidate, and silence?

So, in case you ever face such a situation, I thought it might be helpful to actually understand what exegesis is. According to dictionary.com, exegesis is the “critical explanation or interpretation of a text or portion of a text, especially of the Bible.”

Well, instantly we realize that how one critically explains or interprets a particular passage of Scripture will be based upon the assumptions, biases, and presuppositions one has about the Bible. For instance, a person who believes in word inspiration, in which every word of the Bible was specifically inspired by God, will use different rules of interpretation to understand passages and come to different conclusions than a person who believes in thought inspiration, in which the ideas were inspired by God, but the words to express those ideas were chosen by the Bible writers.

The goal of exegesis is to get the most accurate understanding of the text possible, but there are several methods used by various groups:

The historical-grammatical method is one that strives to discover the biblical author’s original intended meaning in the text. Many conservative Protestant groups focus on this method.

The historical-critical method, or higher criticism, is a method that investigates the origins of ancient texts in order to understand the world behind the text, looking for local cultural applications and understanding of the day, rather than the author’s written intent.

Revealed exegesis posits that the Holy Spirit inspired the authors of the Bible to write things beyond their own understanding and thus the Bible contains deeper meanings or truths than its human authors intended or could have foreseen.

Each of these methods have their strengths and each have their weaknesses, but in my view, the biggest weakness of all is the fact that they don’t address the foundational understanding of God and His law that one accepts when they read the Bible.

If one assumes God’s law functions like human law, a system of imperial rules without inherent consequence, one that requires a rule-giver to act as a judicial magistrate and inflict punishment for disobedience, then one interprets the Bible through a legal lens—regardless of the exegetical methods he or she uses.

But, if one sees God as Creator and that His laws are the protocols upon which life is created to operate, then one understands the Bible differently—that humankind is suffering from a terminal condition of being out of harmony with God’s design for life and that God is working through Christ to fix what Adam did to this creation, rather than impose arbitrary punishment for breaking His laws.

To me, regardless of one’s favored textual method, one needs to have some basic understanding of reality—the laws upon which God created reality to operate and reject the idea that God’s law functions like human law—in order to discover what God is trying to say through every Bible passage. As long as one holds to the misunderstanding that God’s law is imperial and coercive, any of the textual methods of interpretation listed above will result in distortion to the meaning of the texts.

When I receive an email that some professor exegetes a passage of Scripture differently than I do, I realize that it doesn’t necessarily mean I am wrong, but, instead, may mean that the person is viewing the Bible through a false legal paradigm, assuming that God’s law functions like human law.

And I have found in such discussions that until we come to terms with how we each understand how God’s law actually functions, the conversation cannot move forward with any success.

So, don’t be silenced, don’t freeze, and don’t be put off when someone cites some theology professor, a research institute, or other so-called expert as their justification that you’re viewing a Bible passage all wrong. Instead, ask them for actual evidence of their viewpoint and determine what law lens they are using to process their conclusions. Then reevaluate your position with the new ideas in mind and come to your own conclusion.

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Two years ago I stumbled upon your book, “Could It Be This Simple,” and then found “The God-Shaped Brain” videos on YouTube, your bible study class, and the ‘Come And Reason’ mobile app. I shared your book with a friend and after nine months of showing love, patience, and kindness this person has been changed by the love of God, too. The same love that healed me, I now express to other women in tangible ways, such as to a Baptist woman with high anxiety and childhood trauma. She was extremely happy and relieved when I shared about the so-called “judgment of God” and burning in hell. She had no desire to serve a God that was so harsh. I have repeated the phrase dozens of times to her. “What we believe has power over us, but we have power over what we believe…”

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Hearing Dr. Jennings’ presentations in person came at a pivotal moment in my spiritual journey that began about nine months ago, when the fault lines inherent in my belief system began to crack under questions that most reasonable people end up asking about God and His nature. These were questions I couldn’t find answers to, and they shook my faith. I was unable let it go any longer and be satisfied. My Christian experience became distant. I was afraid; the fear in me rose like thorns, pushing me away from Jesus. And then someone heard my questions and introduced me to this ministry, and my life has totally changed.

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God lead me to your book “The God-Shaped Brain” while I was searching for another book about the brain and then to your interview about your book on HeartWise Ministries [where] I found out about [Come And Reason Ministries]. I’m now devouring the webcasts of your Bible studies. I have been so greatly blessed and I thank God so much for your courage to speak the Truth in love no matter what. Listening to you contrast the two opposing systems (laws) and digging deep to unearth the hidden treasures in the Bible makes me so incredibly happy and I feel very blessed to be part of your Bible Study Group although I live far away. I am just so excited that there is a group of people that is spreading the Truth about the character of God and it saddens me how few realize what our Father in Heaven is really like.

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Testimony 70

I have been watching you for many years and have learned to love God with all my heart. I was raised by a loving Christian mother that had been lied to about who God really was, so our religious upbringing was hell fire and damnation. As soon as I was old enough and moved out, I not only left the church, I ran as fast as I could to get away from it. Sad to say, it wasn’t until the past couple of years that I learned and understand who my Father really is and how much He loves me. I understand God’s Design Laws (which make sense) and when I’m teaching my church Bible study class, I’m able to really put to use the things I’ve been learning and Holy Spirit is leading. Thank you for introducing me to my Father of true, pure love. Everyday with Him is new and exciting. One thing that breaks my heart is that I didn’t know Him sooner. God Bless you and your ministry!

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I was invited over a friend’s house to see the “God and Your Brain” seminar today. I became [a christian] 36 years ago at the age of 19, but have struggled with the concept of God taking His ‘pound of flesh’ out on His Son to be appeased. Wow. Your seminar has been an incredible revelation and breath of reason and fresh air! I have your book, “The God Shaped Brain,” and it is SO eye opening. Finally, after 36 years enlightenment has come! Praise the Good Lord! What can I say, but that the Real Gospel is truly “Good News!” Thank you for your efforts in giving the Gospel a clear sound!

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After reading your book, ‘Could It Be This Simple,’ someone was explaining Christianity in a way that made sense to me for the first time in my life. One morning, I simply prayed “I’m sorry and I love you.” As soon as I silently said that, I could literally feel God’s presence and light flood down on me from above and fill me up with love and joy. I sat there crying my eyes out, because I was so overpowered with this feeling of love and joy. It was just so incredible. I hope that more people can read this book and get a blessing from it. It’s really amazing.

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Laura P., United Kingdom

 

Testimony 54

I had a lot of pressure, as a pastor’s kid, to conform and be “good.” I was good at being “good.” I thought my life was going along well until it all started falling apart and I could not figure out why! In my search for “why is this happening to me, God?” I came across your book, “Could it be this Simple,” and God started revealing to me the many distortions I held about His character, His principles, and how He has designed His universe to operate. I remember thinking, “Wow, I have had this all backwards.” I was happy and angry all at the same time. Happy to have the light of truth break through the darkness, revealing a wonderful, beautiful way of understanding God and His plan for His children, and angry, because I felt deceived and cheated by the church, my family, and myself!

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