A major faith issue that we all have to face honestly is whether we believe that the infinite God does desire to communicate with finite humanity. If that is true, then the next issue is whether we believe that while God can and does communicate in many ways to humans, has God provided the Scripture as a particular means of that communication. One can have many different views of Scripture, from literal verbal inspiration to a humanly written, cultural shaped literary masterpiece and still conclude that God has chosen to speak through Scripture to humanity. Christian history, while approaching Scripture from a variety of perspectives, has basically affirmed that in some way or other, Scripture is somehow special. From creation to the present, God has chosen to express the divine self through word and the words of Scripture are God’s gift for that continuing conversation.
A particular approach that I have found helpful is what is called a figural approach. We look for patterns in the way that God has interacted with humanity and then apply that pattern to our understanding of how God speaks to us. You don’t have to be a Samaritan to have the significance of the story of the Good Samaritan apply to you and your neighbors. We often make use of this approach to Scripture when we are preaching a sermon. The issue for us is are we willing to take time to listen through Scripture in this manner to God speaking to us.
For example, find some time alone and look at the Beatitudes and reflect on how they specifically apply to you and your ministry. As a way to probe beneath the surface, use the ten statement exercise I have previously introduced. Take any one of the Beatitudes and write our ten statements of how that speaks to what you are experiencing in ministry. Or do the same thing with John 15:1-12. Resist the temptation to create sermon material for others and concentrate on what God might be saying to you through these scriptures.
