Bringing Our Best Thinking to Study the Bible

The spiritual realm is where life in its fullness is discovered and experienced. Apart from the spiritual realm, our lives are woefully empty and bankrupt.

Our understanding of the spiritual realm and our experience of it are inseparably tied to how we read and use the Bible. How we read and use the Bible determines the condition of our soul - what we are like deep inside. It determines both our spiritual depth and our spiritual maturity. The Spirit uses the teachings of scripture - particularly the teachings of Jesus - to fashion our hearts and minds in the likeness of Jesus. Given these realities, reason suggests our study of the Bible deserves our best thinking.

It seems to me, in spite of all the many hours Christians invest in the study of the Bible, that we seldom bring our best thinking to that study. We revert instead to simplistic thinking.

Simplistic thinking is black-and-white, either-or thinking. It reduces the complexity that is inherent to the spiritual realm into facts to believe and rules to follow. Simplistic thinking seeks certainty - knowing and believing and doing what is "right."

In our quest for certainty, we turn to some "expert" to teach us - a book to study or a video to watch or a teacher to lead us. We let the expert tell us what the Bible says and what to believe. Seldom do we allow the Spirit to guide our own thinking much less look for someone to teach us how to read the Bible so that it makes sense. It is easier to let someone do our thinking for us. Such is simplistic thinking.

Simplistic thinking often leads us to what we already believe. Rather than scripture shaping our thinking, we use scripture to reinforce and validate what we already think. Simplistic thinking leaves us unchanged and in control.

The spiritual realm is far too complex for simplistic thinking. The spiritual realm is a realm of mystery. There is always more to the spiritual realm than we can understand or explain. Our understanding of this realm and, thereby, our understanding of God is, at best, partial. There is always more to God than we can comprehend. The Apostle Paul spoke of our limited understanding in 1 Corinthians 13: We know only in part ... but when the complete comes, the partial will come to an end. For now we see in a mirror, dimly, but then we will see face to face. Now I know in part; then I will know fully (verses 9-10, 12.)

Our best thinking embraces the mystery of the spiritual realm. It constantly seeks "the more" that the Spirit has for us. We hold our beliefs lightly as we look to the Spirit to guide us into a deeper understanding of mystery. Our best thinking keeps us open and teachable, willing to entertain new concepts and different perspectives. It allows for grey areas that do not divide neatly into black-and-white categories. It embraces the tension of both/and thinking, refusing the temptation to seek certainty through either/or thinking.

Our best thinking involves faith. Our faith is in God and in who Jesus revealed God to be. Our "certainty" is tied to God's merciful and gracious character (Exodus 34:6-7), to God's nature of self-giving, servant love (1 John 4:8-10). Whatever "the more" is, it will align with God's character as revealed to Moses and in Jesus. As we seek a deeper understanding and experience of the mysteries of the spiritual realm, the Spirit guides our steps. God's love, mercy, grace, acceptance, and forgiveness are signposts that mark the path in the unexplored dimensions of the spiritual realm.

Our best thinking makes us active participants on the spiritual journey rather than passive recipients. It makes us God's partners in what God is doing in us, transforming us into the likeness of Jesus. It makes us God's partners in what God is doing through us to transform the world.

Surely, such a grand enterprise calls for our best thinking, don't you think?