Ongoing Inspiration
Scripture is a value of King of Peace. We say,
The comparison I like to make is to communion. I have baked communion bread. I know that it consists largely of whole-wheat flour and honey. There is no secret "Jesus ingredient" in the bread. And yet, in Communion I do feel God’s presence. God is made known to me through the very human bread and wine. Jesus is then present even though he wasn't in the wheat flour or the honey or even the baking powder.
God is also made known to us through otherwise human words in sermons or the godly counsel of a friend. We can recognoze those human words as God’s word for us. Even more so, I believe that God breathes life into Scripture and into the reader of Scripture, now as much or more than when they were written. The original act of inspiration apparently felt no different to Luke than to Shakespeare (if you read Luke 1:1-4), or other authors who feel inspired to write. Yet the effect of their writings is very different. Shakespeare has been proven time and again to effect the emotions of audiences and readers. But Luke’s Gospel has done quite a bit more.
The Gospel of Luke and the rest of our Bible has changed lives dramatically and those lives stayed changed. This is not due merely to the inspiration at the time of authorship, but it is due to the ongoing inspiration of the Holy Spirit.
How have you experienced God's ongoing inspiration of scripture?
peace,
Frank+
The Rev. Frank Logue, Pastor + King of Peace Episcopal Church
We believe that the Bible is the Word of God and can help us see how to gain meaning and purpose in our lives through a relationship with God as revealed in the person of Jesus Christ.We know the scripture of the Old and New Testaments to be inspired by God. This does not refer to a one-time act on God's part.
The comparison I like to make is to communion. I have baked communion bread. I know that it consists largely of whole-wheat flour and honey. There is no secret "Jesus ingredient" in the bread. And yet, in Communion I do feel God’s presence. God is made known to me through the very human bread and wine. Jesus is then present even though he wasn't in the wheat flour or the honey or even the baking powder.God is also made known to us through otherwise human words in sermons or the godly counsel of a friend. We can recognoze those human words as God’s word for us. Even more so, I believe that God breathes life into Scripture and into the reader of Scripture, now as much or more than when they were written. The original act of inspiration apparently felt no different to Luke than to Shakespeare (if you read Luke 1:1-4), or other authors who feel inspired to write. Yet the effect of their writings is very different. Shakespeare has been proven time and again to effect the emotions of audiences and readers. But Luke’s Gospel has done quite a bit more.
The Gospel of Luke and the rest of our Bible has changed lives dramatically and those lives stayed changed. This is not due merely to the inspiration at the time of authorship, but it is due to the ongoing inspiration of the Holy Spirit.
How have you experienced God's ongoing inspiration of scripture?
peace,
Frank+
The Rev. Frank Logue, Pastor + King of Peace Episcopal Church
posted by King of Peace @ Friday, February 24, 2006
1 Comments:
At 2/24/2006 11:34 AM,
Anonymous said…
There is a debate among legal scholars/judges as to whether or not the U.S. Constitution is a "living" document. Should the interpretation of what it says be flexible and adapt to a constantly evolving society? Or should we use the "original" concept of what the founding fathers meant? It's an important question that has tremendous ramifications for all Americans.
What about scripture? It is a living and eternal document, always relevant yet uncompromised.
I think many times the meaning or at least the depth of the understanding of the Bible depends upon the person doing the reading. When a child hears the story of Christmas the understand it is the birthday of the baby Jesus. As adults we realize the birth of Chist was when eternity chose to interject Himself into time, that God became flesh and dwelt among us, that the Creator became the creation, that we are loved.
The Bible means more to me every day. The key is to crack it open and see what God has to say.
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