The New Readers of Scripture: Responsive, Not Reactive

June 18, 2014 by Jose F. Morales Jr.

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These approaches, which are responsive and not reactive in nature, invite new ways of reading that are both faithful and flexible. The emerging hermeneutic honors the past generations of biblically-shaped believers, while not being held hostage to them. In doing so, it creates new possibilities for scripturally-anchored conversations around the issues that divide the church. It allows this dialogue to occur in faithful ways because it gives the Bible its proper place: as a sacramental starting point. And when this is affirmed, the Scripture becomes the common playground in which we swing and slide our way through contemporary concerns and challenges.

As the Church continues to fight over divestment strategies, same-sex marriages, and economic concerns, I hope that this new generation of readers will be invited to the table of holy fellowship and sacred discourse. These emerging readers will move the Church beyond the reactionary theologies that have truncated our interpretations and stifled our common witness to the world. Rather, they are willing to engage the Bible uninhibitedly and let the theological chips fall where they may. If invited into the ecclesial discourse, they will teach us to reverently use commas at the end of our statements. And they will invite us to keep walking together as we figure things out. Sounds promising!

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6/18/2014 4:00:00 AM

2014 Religious Trends

Rediscovering Scripture

Progressive Christian

Public Square

Progressive Christianity

Sacred Texts

Scripture

Christianity

Protestantism

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