Hermeneutics, a word I really am not familiar with because I have not been seminary trained, apparently is little more than “a method or principle of interpretation.” Thus, it is an approach or a method for interpreting text. At first thought, it does seem important to be somewhat consistent in one’s approach to the text that is the Bible, especially as it involves a book written over thousands of years, in different languages, by different human authors, and which has been translated numerous times.
In response to a recent post, David Rogers, wrote this about the Holy Spirit’s guidance in the midst of biblical interpretation:
Yes, I believe the Holy Spirit continues to guide us today in ways that are not strictly interpretation of the Bible. As Guy [Muse] has pointed out, He guided the early believers who did not have access to the entire canon of Scripture, and He still guides illiterate people, and Christians, who, for whatever reason, do not have complete access to the Bible today.
But, He will never ever contradict what is written in the Bible. And the Spirit will never lead us to interpret the Bible in a way that goes against plain common sense sound hermeneutics. Neither can we as believers totally submitted to the Lordship of Christ have an attitude of independence toward God’s revelation in the Bible, as if we were able to understand God’s direction adequately without it. We need the Bible. And we must continually compare and contrast our understanding of what we believe the Spirit is showing us with what a sound interpretation of Holy Scripture really says.
In response to this comment, I had the following thoughts, because I really am trying to understand the balance of the intellect and the guidance of the Holy Spirit:
I’m not sure I agree. I think walking by faith sometimes defies common sense. Nothing about turning the other cheek, going the extra mile, giving to anyone who asks, selling all you have or those sorts of things make common sense at least not as the world would define it. I also don’t know what sound hermeneutics are and when people start using that term I often feel like Charlie Brown listening to the teacher. I know I’ve never read a verse of scripture that says use sound hermeneutics to read this.
I’m not trying to be disrespectful or cute… I am asking for someone (and especially you) to help me out with this.
As I think about this further, these thoughts come to mind. “But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.” 1 Corinthians 2:14. “If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him. But when he asks, he must believe and not doubt, because he who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind.” James 1:5-6. Brothers, think of what you were when you were called. Not many of you were wise by human standards; not many were influential; not many were of noble birth. But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong. He chose the lowly things of this world and the despised things—and the things that are not—to nullify the things that are, so that no one may boast before him. It is because of him that you are in Christ Jesus, who has become for us wisdom from God—that is, our righteousness, holiness and redemption. Therefore, as it is written: “Let him who boasts boast in the Lord.” 1 Corinthians 1:26-31.
Furthermore, we are told to live by the Spirit and God tells us, “For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,” declares the LORD. “As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.” Isaiah 55:8-9. Or what about this verse: “Not by might, nor by power, but by my Spirit, says the LORD of hosts. Zechariah 4:6b.
Given the fact we know our natural minds and ways are finite and His ways are infinite, how is it that we would believe that developing a man-made methodology would truly help us in understanding the mind of God? Or, is it because I simply do not know what “hermeneutics” mean that I am misunderstanding this? I would be interested in hearing from both professionals and lay persons on how these verses and these concepts bounce around in the mind and spirit.
Also, if you are interested in other ideas about the Holy Spirit on the blogosphere, and really have time to read a few other writers, I’ve noticed a few others writing about this of late: Dan Edelen of Cerulean Sanctum, Grace of Emerging Grace, Brother Maynard of Subversive Influence, and Michael Spencer, the Internet Monk. Perhaps there is a reason this has been resounding about the net.
As a final note, our family leaves for our Discipleship Training School at the King’s Lodge in England in four days. We will be out of the country for over five months. We are incredibly busy packing. I may not be around as much in the next week, but I hope that many will have time to ponder these thoughts. If you are new to the blog, I hope you can also go back and read some of the earlier posts on the Holy Spirit as well.
Posted by: Bryan Riley
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