On Scouting Scripture

Field Notes From a Religion-Less Christian

June 17, 2023

On Scouting Scripture

I want to live my life of service in and to Christ Jesus with others who are shaped not only by their experiences and not only by their spiritual and theological tradition (which for many simply is a cultural remembrance of symbols and behaviors, I know). But there is that third thing, that third ingredient that cannot be left out in order for the full recipe of who God is and what God does to be complete and for the true and actual flavor to be tasted and known.

That is Scripture. That third ingredient is Scripture. In the art and science of theology, the study of God, these three components or life systems (Revelation/Scripture, Experience, Tradition) have traditionally been recognized and accounted for in order to do the legitimate engaging.

 What I fear is most lacking for most of us is not the awareness and utility of Experience (however much many fear telling the truth of that experience….as in “Where is God anyway!?!?”) and Tradition (however much its depths are an appreciation but not an understanding or appropriation of the rites and rituals and instruction) but rather the on-going, daily engagement of Scripture.

 But this takes time and intentional effort. About 30 minutes minimum each day, longer if possible. I’m not talking about study here, I’m talking simply reading and reflecting.  All of this is difficult for working folks, even a challenge for retired folks.

 Why is this a challenge? Not, I think, because of the actual time, but because of the perceived time. How many people who say they have little time for Scripture, for example, watch TV in the evening or night each day for one to two hours? What about going to bed earlier and getting up earlier in order to give more morning time?

 Then, too, one needs a Reading Plan. Then, to my original concern here of wanting to have people to talk with and share ideas and concerns: one needs conversation partners who are too dealing with Scripture and, better yet, reading the same Scripture each day.

 Why is this Scripture immersion so important when the Book is a human product, a compilation of human thought, and, thus, as “divine revelation” not a supernatural message given but rather a natural reflection and experience communicated? Because for centuries, well, millennia, it has been regarded as a real and honest recording of a few of the encounter of God by many. People deliberately focused on discerning how God operates, who God is and what God does, have honed this deliberative discipline and created this document we call the Bible. By using the Scripture as a “Revealed Word” from God and of God we are simply respecting the discernment and conclusions of others and allowing that God could actually provide a window into God’s way, God’s mind and manner, by using very human and mortal persons and their experiences and reflections.  

 One does not need Scripture in order to serve God or to be a Christian. There is no disciple imperative or moral imperative here.

 [The one caveat to this is that without the love of God (self-giving, unconditional) being done to us from the outside in, so to speak, it’s really hard, nigh unto impossible, dare we say impossible, for this love to happen to us let alone have it be something transmitted through us to others. There is a theological tradition within the larger Christian tradition that makes a big deal of this “outside in” thing where the movement of the experience of God is from God to us and not us to God. Where God is the Subject and we are the Object, and not the other way around. And so….to get at this “in order to be a Christian” from an “Outside to In” perspective it’s possible to end up saying it is necessary to have Scripture in order to be a Christian. This is because Scripture does things to us: breaks us down (humbles us) and builds us up (places God in the center of our being). Theologians in this “Tradition” I mentioned like to call the Scripture a tangible and tactile way we get Revelation from God (that “Revealed Word” I mentioned above). The sense here is that we don’t read Scripture and get information and direction as much as we do and get inspiration. God is breathed into us when we read the Scripture. Another way of saying it: love is poured into us when we read the Scripture. The other specific way this “love is poured into us” is in the Sacraments of Baptism and Communion. The Theological Tradition that makes a big deal of Scripture also does so with the Sacraments. “Word and Sacrament” is the way it’s named.]

 But when one engages life with the self-giving love that is service to God, a couple of things happen: you get exhausted and spent and you need help staying on course. We go to Scripture for strength in the life that Christ gives. We go to be given Christ again and again. We don’t go to Scripture in order to be a Christian, we go to Scripture because we are Christians and in order to be made Christians over and over again. To be killed and made alive (I Samuel 2:6). To live out daily what was given to us in Baptism and delivered regularly in Communion.

 Scout out the Scripture. And find partners with whom to do this. You and the world will be better for it.