The Bible calls us to be transformed by the renewal of our minds. This is a better framework for thinking about the Bible than "applying" its principles to our lives.
This was an encouraging idea as I go through a difficult season of life — “You begin to understand that these objects above you aren't just there by coincidence—they have meaning. They signify that you are under God's care and that your life is ordered according to His creational patterns.” Thanks for pointing me towards something to contemplate.
The transformative effect of meditation upon Scripture is crucial and, as you suggest, often underemphasized. However, transformation is an organic change of *what we are,* and difficult situations often exploit the gap between what we are and what we ought to be, in which case **application**, though its somewhat mechanical nature is ultimately less desirable than the more organic nature of transformation, can proceed while transformation catches up. It’s Lewis’ “If you’re not sure that you love God, do what you’d do if you were sure that you loved him” [paraphrase]. This, in turn, eventually has a transformative effect, application and transformation having a reciprocal relationship. While you’re right to emphasize transformation, given a current tendency in certain circles to neglect it, I think that you’ve downplayed the importance and necessity of application in the process.
Wyatt, this article comes at a perfect time where I've been thinking a lot about Barth's "Strange New World Within the Bible." A professor of mine made the observation that we should push our people into the world of the Bible instead of simply applying it to their lives. Your article will be very helpful as I write a sermon on Psalm 124 and try to get our church to participate with Israel's rememberance of the Lord being on our side.
This was an encouraging idea as I go through a difficult season of life — “You begin to understand that these objects above you aren't just there by coincidence—they have meaning. They signify that you are under God's care and that your life is ordered according to His creational patterns.” Thanks for pointing me towards something to contemplate.
Thanks, John!
👏
The transformative effect of meditation upon Scripture is crucial and, as you suggest, often underemphasized. However, transformation is an organic change of *what we are,* and difficult situations often exploit the gap between what we are and what we ought to be, in which case **application**, though its somewhat mechanical nature is ultimately less desirable than the more organic nature of transformation, can proceed while transformation catches up. It’s Lewis’ “If you’re not sure that you love God, do what you’d do if you were sure that you loved him” [paraphrase]. This, in turn, eventually has a transformative effect, application and transformation having a reciprocal relationship. While you’re right to emphasize transformation, given a current tendency in certain circles to neglect it, I think that you’ve downplayed the importance and necessity of application in the process.
Thanks, Matthew!
Sure thing!
Wyatt, this article comes at a perfect time where I've been thinking a lot about Barth's "Strange New World Within the Bible." A professor of mine made the observation that we should push our people into the world of the Bible instead of simply applying it to their lives. Your article will be very helpful as I write a sermon on Psalm 124 and try to get our church to participate with Israel's rememberance of the Lord being on our side.
Very glad to hear this, Salvador! I hope the sermon goes well!
This is so helpful! Would you say this can apply to preaching also?
Yes, although I think the context demands a different kind of communication style than I have noted here.
Yes! I agree