I met with a friend recently who was struggling to process all the horror in Gaza, in Ukraine and other places across the world. And then another friend trying to make sense of the murders in Southport and the subsequent riots. Both were looking to Jesus, as revealed in Scripture for an answer. Something that would make sense and give a clarity for right thinking and possibly action. I was reminded of the teaching from The Bible Project, especially this year as they are exploring the ‘Sermon on the Mount’ in Matthew’s Gospel. https://bibleproject.com/
One key aspect stressed is that the Scriptures are ‘wisdom’ more than they are ‘rules’, more ‘story’ than ‘direct answers.’
This is
picked up by Jesus who tells stories and parables in answering many of the
questions put to him. And this requires
work on our part. It requires us to meditate, to chew over, and to discuss in
community, what is the wisdom here, and how might this wisdom apply in this
situation we are currently facing.
It requires us not to take a ‘text out of context and make a pretext.’ I remember our Church Army College Principle who would encourage us when reading Scripture in public, in a Service or the like, to say ‘it is written in – the book of…’ It is not to be taken from or taken out of. (It could also be ‘to be found in.’) A small point, but an important one and something I have remembered. The Bible Project strap line is – ‘The Bible is a unified story that leads to Jesus.’
The other aspect of engaging with Scripture as wisdom literature and spending time pondering on it and meditating on it, both as individuals and as a community, is not dissimilar to those fire drills we take part in. Or indeed, any other practise for an emergency should one arise. The idea being that we will better be equipped to know how to act and what to do.
1 Peter 3.15 ‘But
in your hearts revere Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an
answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that
you have. But do this with gentleness and respect…’
Staton puts forward that prayer is primarily about developing a relationship with God, rather than Google, X, Tic-Toc or Instagram, etc. He advocates that we should seek to ‘chatter away’ to God about everything and anything all the time. (Cf. 1 Thess 5.17)
Now imagine if for at least half of those ‘touches’ we looked at a short passage or a sentence of Scripture (whilst noting comments above about content and context.) What difference might that make.
The question is, ‘who or what is
informing our world view – God or Google?’
Scripture alone remains the true source of deep wisdom. However, wisdom also comes from our faithful forbears and as we travel through disturbing and difficult times this prayer from the 16th Spanish Mystic, Teresa of Ávila offers great comfort, challenge and wisdom.
Let
Nothing Disturb You
Let nothing
disturb you,
nothing shake you.
Everything passes,
God does not change.
Patience obtains everything.
Whoever has God lacks nothing.
Only God suffices.
Elevate your thoughts
to the heavens above.
Let nothing distress you,
nothing disturb you.
Follow Jesus Christ
with a big-heart,
and come what may
let nothing disturb you.
Do you see the glory of the world?
It’s vain-glory.
Nothing is stable,
everything passes.
Aspire unto the heavens
which last forever.
Faithful and rich in promises—
God never changes.
Love that which merits
an immense goodness.
But there is no pure love
without patience.
Confidence and a living faith
maintain the soul.
He who believes and hopes
obtains everything.
Even if it seems you’re besieged by hell–
he who has God will mock its fury.
Let it all come, then: desertions, crosses, disgraces.
If God is your treasure, you’ll lack nothing.
Begone, then, goods of the world and vain sayings.
Even if everything is lost,
God alone suffices.
St. Teresa
of Ávila
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