Comments on Disciple's Diary: "The Ouija Board Bible"

I have teen experience with a Ouija board (which w...

2008-04-10T11:54:00.000-04:00

I have teen experience with a Ouija board (which we ignorantly pronounced "WEE' gee"). Some of us boys invaded a slumber party and stayed until the wee hours playing with the Ouija board (someone told us the word means "yes-yes") and some very horrifying things were revealed and upset many of the girls (parents going to die, legs to be amputated in car accident, etc). After a few of those, I and a couple others went over in the corner of the basement and watched TV.

We have a fellow in our Singles class that, because of the Great Commission, everyone should be on a street corner telling people about Jesus and the gospel. We tried to explain that "the body has many parts" but he would not hear it. In my previous church we called such people "gospel hobbyists" who picked one aspect of the gospel and made it their entire lives. I have seen and heard scripture taken out of context to justify some radical lifestyles and practices. This subject may need to be addressed from each pulpit.

God bless.
Bruce

Dr. Stacy,

Your views on common day "ouija ...

2008-03-08T11:40:00.000-05:00

Dr. Stacy,

Your views on common day "ouija board" biblical interpretation opens my eyes a little bit. Now that I read what you are saying, it allows me to see what does go on in churches, especially small Bible studies that I presently attend. It seems to be something that has always been on my mind as being strange when I hear people say things like "this spoke right to me" and don't factor in the background to which the author was writing. I really appreciate your words. And on the topic of books for people within your church community, what other books would you recommend other than "Mere Christianity"? Thanks...

a former student of yours.....

For Christians whose traditions employ the Church ...

2008-01-10T09:45:00.000-05:00

For Christians whose traditions employ the Church Year there are numerous resources linked to the Lectionary, many online. My favorite is textweek.com.

I also think anyone who teaches in Sunday School or small group Bible study should own AND USE a quality one-volume resource like Harper's Bible Commentary and Harper's Bible Dictionary. In these two single volumes a layperson can mine a wealth of historical, geographical, cultural, linguistic, theological, and literary information needed to interpret the Bible in ITS context before we try to interpret it in our own.

As to a broad, general overview of basic Christian theology, I think every person who calls themselves Christian should read C. S. Lewis' "Mere Christianity." In churches where I have served as pastor I have distributed copies to every participant in the new members class and encouraged them to read it.

Thanks for the reply. What are some examples of W...

2008-01-10T07:20:00.000-05:00

Thanks for the reply. What are some examples of WebMD equivalents for
biblical interpretation? Are they available online, or at least likely to be in a public library?

Good observations as usual! Thanks for your commen...

2008-01-10T06:18:00.000-05:00

Good observations as usual! Thanks for your comments.

I don't believe that one has to have a "command" of the world of biblical interpretation to be willing to plunge into it. There are good resources that are accessible and approachable even for the non-specialist. Now that we have WebMD, most anyone can decifer medicalese for themselves, if they are willing to invest a little time and energy. Same with the Bible.

For many, I fear, it isn't so much an issue of ability as willingness. Let's face it: the "ouija board method of biblical interpretation" is just easier. Why bother with the author's perspective and meaning, which takes work on my part to acquire, when I'm right here and already know what I want the Bible to say? It's just easier to deify my own little voice and say, "I got a word from the Lord!"

Thanks for this post. I think the phrase "God gav...

2008-01-10T04:59:00.000-05:00

Thanks for this post. I think the phrase "God gave me this verse" should be banned among Christians, especially preachers. I realize that out-of-context readings can be silly or even dangerous. But having a command of the "the difficult, demanding, and disciplined world of contextual, historical, biblical interpretation" would preclude most Sunday school teachers I know from doing their jobs. If the biblical message is for everyone, how do you keep it from being the property of a few elite intellectuals who have the resources to untertake the task you describe?