Bible Matters

Where does the Bible fall in terms of guiding day-to-day lifestyle? The Evangelical world has tagged the Bible as the all-purpose answer book for most every need. Not sure what to eat? How to deal with that ex-girlfriend? What shoe-sole works best for keeping blisters down? Just look it up in the Bible!

Ok, so I'm exaggerating, but not by much. How much does the Bible really have to say for daily living? A lot of Christians hold to the belief that the Bible should be the guide for living life to the most minute level, yet discerning that guidance is a daunting task that most people don't bother taking up anyway. The Bible, I'm sorry to say, seldom has a clear message simply based on the fact that it's a collection of ancient documents. Culture has changed significantly in the last 2000-3000 years. Our lives are not driven by finding food every day lest we starve, or searching for clean drinking water. Our lot in life is not set in stone. The businesses we work in and the people we work for differ greatly from the professions and businesses that existed then. Though similar in some respects, life is so drastically different from the time that Jesus walked the earth.

What's more, does the Bible even claim to be that guide for us? Controversial, I know, but look at who's writing. The Bible, on most accounts, is a story told about God's interaction with the world. From creation to incarnation to resurrection to the end, the documents in the Bible attest to God's action within the world. It doesn't claim to be a book of doctrines, and for the most part any advice for living is set in very specific contexts. Almost all the Pauline epistles are written in response to a specific problem or problems in particular churches. If not, Paul is writing concerning a specific issue that he deems requires some sort of intervention on his part. In other words, he does not have a general letter or writing in the Bible that says here is how Christians should act in general, here is how Christians should live in general. The closest there is to that is Romans, which most scholars agree is a fundraising letter, and even there, the advice is very brief and not thorough. The Biblical literature we have was compiled and is accepted as canon because it best explains and provides foundation for the doctrines of the church through the story it tells. It's purpose is to tell the story of God's interaction in the world and asks for a response.

Where the Bible does provide guidance, as I said before, it does not do so clearly. In one letter, one can find the encouragement to obey local authorities and governments, where in another one can find the call to oppose the government. In one writing, the wealthy are considered the favored of God where in another they are the bane of humanity's existence and every wealthy person is destined to rot in Hell. The only truly consistent message in the Bible concerning living is to help the poor as well as only worshiping only God.

And yet I think there is an expectation to live a certain way and conduct your life in a way pleasing to God. However, I don't think this is clearly spelled out in the Biblical documents, and I think that's purposeful. God didn't create us to be robots and life is not a mechanical thing. Different situations call for different actions and what is appropriate in one context is inappropriate in another. So where is the guidance? Perhaps that is where reliance on God outside of the Bible comes in. The Bible is an essential part of the Christian faith, don't get me wrong, but God wants more than a commitment to a book. He wants a commitment to Him, and though He is written about in a book, he himself is not the book. Perhaps that is where prayer is most important, but also engaging in life and asking for discernment in what is true and not. Appreciating life in facets other that "Christian" works but knowing where to draw the line. It's an interesting thought to ponder.