06-23-23

ECCLESIOLOGICAL ETCHINGS
June 23, 2023
On Easter of 1960, Bob Jones (of Bob Jones University) preached a sermon entitled: Is Segregation Scriptural? If you know the history of Bob Jones, then you already know the answer to the question posed by the sermon title. Bob Jones prided himself on his perfect literal reading of the Bible, and so he went in search of Bible verses to support his belief that segregation was a good thing. He chose Acts 17:26,

From one person God created every human nation to live on the whole earth, having determined their appointed times and the boundaries of their lands. 

This one sentence from the Bible was the basis of the argument. In the original Greek, it has just 22 words, yet in the sermon, Bob Jones said, "That says that God Almighty fixed the bounds of their habitation. That is as clear as anything that was ever said." On a very literal level, I guess it is clear, but I believe there is a monumental leap from that one sentence to the idea that the American understanding of segregation was intended and blessed by God. 

I share this to point out how the perfect literal reading of the Bible in one moment of time, done by one person, can be nonsense. Or it can be damaging to an entire society and threaten the lives of many of those living in that society.

If Bob Jones had been perfectly honest, he would have told people that his starting place was not scripture, but a belief that Blacks were inferior and races should not mix. He then went in search of a Bible verse to support his belief. We all do it, but the difference is the honesty of our starting place. Bob Jones would have simply said, "I’m just telling you what the Bible says." In fact, he was telling us what the Bible said under a layer of interpretation that was shaped by his hatred of those who were of a different color. 

I try to be honest about my starting place. If I were to summarize it, I would say that the Jesus I have met in scripture, prayer, and the Church reflects to me a God whose love is limitless and relentless in letting all human beings know just how loved they are. That is the lens through which I read all other scripture. If the Bible appears to be suggesting I hate or exclude someone, then either I am reading the scripture incorrectly or maybe that part of the scripture does not reflect the heart of God.

As I shared last week, the sermon this coming Sunday might be challenging for some people. But if you come and listen, and you find yourself disagreeing, ask yourself where your starting place is. When you are honest about that, it is much easier to have conversations where there is disagreement. 

​Merciful God, continue to work within me and through me for the sake of your Kin(g)dom. May scripture continue to shape me as my experiences continue to have me seeing scripture in new ways. Amen.