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Q.
How can we begin to take the Bible literally?
One thing that has helped me the most over the past years in letting go of
Bible worship and assuming that “if you don’t take it literally then the whole
thing falls apart” is remembering that interpretation of the Bible is varied.
Years ago, a very strict Calvinist friend of mine took a course in biblical
counseling. She was dismissing the counseling degree I’d started to pursue at
seminary, saying that it was not “biblical enough.” I remember heated con-
versations with her in which I reminded her that her course was merely the
instructor’s interpretation and application of the Bible. In the same vein, we
need to get more honest about that when it comes to literal interpretation.
Each person who “interprets” the Bible can do that work through exten-
sive exegesis, commentaries, and a wide variety of other research, but it is still
fi ltered through that person’s lens. It’s presumptuous of anyone to think he
or she has the market cornered on exactly what God meant. The Bible is just
too complicated for that, and there are too many contradictions that can’t be
completely answered.
As a pastor, I always tell people, “This is just my take on this passage; I
am sure there are others who see it differently.” I think we need to be more
honest about “literal interpretation” and admit that if we really took the
Bible literally, most of our churches wouldn’t look the way they look, and we
wouldn’t wear what we wear or care about the things we care about. Many are
good at “selective literal interpretation,” choosing to align with some passages
and completely dismiss others.
I think I am becoming more honest about the inability to reconcile
completely the inconsistencies in the Bible. Like so many other issues of faith,
intellectualizing them doesn’t always work, no matter how hard we try to
make sense of it.
Joshua Einsohn
Who is...
?
Joshua Einsohn
I have met some of the most wonderful, creative, giving
people in the world in an industry that is generally
considered shallow and super cial (entertainment).A.
A strict, literal interpretation of the Bible is so fraught with poten-
tial contradiction that it should be avoided at all costs to prevent
either a great deal of teeth gnashing (and expensive dental work)
or a slowly numbing lack of critical thought.