Motivation and interpretation

During my time researching the hotly debated women in ministry discussion, I have been made strongly aware, more than before, of the importance of coming to scripture with the right attitude. This means becoming aware of our own motivations in what we read, how we interpret passages and who we listen to. As with any issue there will pretty much be someone who agrees with you and someone who disagrees with you. In both cases they will likely be able to form a fairly good argument from both perspectives. However, it may be that if you were to sit down and ask God about it, he might say they are both wrong, or that even, aspects of what they both say are, in fact right.

This issue can lead to a lot of confusion. Christians are meant to love and value the truth, yet, we, as human beings, suffer the habit of wanting a particular thing to be true or, a particular thing to not be true. The root of this desire can be personal, such as in this case, perhaps you are a woman considering or in ministry, or, you are already part of a strong patriarchal church or leadership. You may carry hurts, memories and insecurities which can lean you towards a particular way of interpretation that matches how you feel about things.

However, in revisiting this topic I have been sharply reminded of this important issue in any form of interpretation or 'exegesis'. We cannot escape ourselves whether we like it or not, and our 'self' is always a part of the process. Along with memories and insecurities, hurts and upbringings that influence our 'self' will also include our cultural perceptions and influences. Subconscious cues which we pick up on and integrate into our belief systems from our surrounding culture which may or may not actually be the truth. In addition, is our strong tendency to defend our own identity from all intruders.

So with this complex array of influences which can easily distort how we interpret the Bible what are we to do?

Well, I will simply aim to share with you some of what I have learnt and what scripture has told us that we need to draw from to help with interpretation of the truth-remembering that it is only as our minds are renewed, that we can know the will of God (Romans 12:2). This means that, in a sense, we need Godly minds, to understand God. Which also means:

Point 1. It is a process.

Take modern technology, without old technology we would not have modern technology. Steps made yesterday help us take today's steps. So it is with growing in God and finding the truth on any given issue. Once certain truths are established, the next step can be taken, but, I very much believe that a part of those steps are not strictly about learning ancient Greek and Hebrew or, memorising the Bible. These things can and do help in many situations, but it actually does not renew our minds. We need to engage with the process, and allow it to happen.

2. Accept your sin. The reality is our sin influences our motivations. We want to find a verse that suits us, we want to interpret a subject in a certain way to please people or ourselves. We can want to find excuses for behaviour or interpret everything through the eyes of hurt and bitterness. The problem comes not so much that we have sinful motivations, but that we deny that they exist. We can easily assume our motives are pure and that there are no negative influences. But, as we become aware of and acknowledge the reality of these things, bringing them continually to God in prayer as we examine and try to understand scripture, it will help us discern when our motives are corrupting our views and lead us to finding the truth-if indeed the truth is even what we want to find.

3. Analyse your motivation. This is important. Forget reading the scriptures for a moment. With what you want to understand, why are you doing it and what is it that you would, in all honesty, like to find? Perhaps you have some new idea you want to prove? Perhaps you want to enter a relationship you are not sure if you should, but you really want to? Perhaps you want to defend your current perceptions to prove that what you already believe is correct? (people will do a lot to resist change or admit they were wrong). Perhaps there are people you want to please? Or people you want to challenge? What is the answer you really want to find? Asking these questions is a good starting point as it will highlight your own leaning and potential bias. Again, bringing them continually to God in prayer and being honest about them is the best place to start. One way to test this is to ask yourself, how would you feel if you found the answer you don't like was the truth?

4. Know the influence of how you understand God's word. Some people will read

Paul's letters and say 'that's just Paul'. Others will say Paul's letter are God's word, but do not involve God too much in the process of understanding them. It can become a purely academic process. Maybe you fully believe it is all absolutely God's word, but what then does that mean for challenging passages? How you answer this question will influence how you then interpret scripture. Is Paul writing this, or, is this exactly the words God wants to use to teach you something? If so, how does that work? Lot's incest-is that God's word, how so? Leviticus laws on not eating prawns, is that God's word, how so? Are you interpreting everything as just creating new sets of rules and laws? By engaging with this question you can come to realise another key set of influences in how you see and interpret the scriptures. Bringing them to God, honestly, in prayer will be a significant step in the process.

5. Knowing it is okay to let go. Sometimes, learning you were wrong can be challenging, but, as step 1 mentions, it is process. The principle of being renewed in our minds implies quite firmly that we will be doing a lot of letting go of former thinking and beliefs that are not from God. That is not always letting go off worldly ways, but can include Christian coating of worldly ways which are often the harder ones to discern. Scripture teaches us we can do all manner of dramatically religious things both in 1 Corinthians 13 and Matthew 6-7 which actually have no true spiritual impact. So we have to be okay to let go. Perhaps we have had bad teaching at some point in our lives. Perhaps we have adopted beliefs which we haven't really investigated for ourselves and we just take other people's word for it which we have believed for years. Perhaps we believe something because it protects us from harm or we are just being defensive. God cannot renew our minds, fill us with truth and set us free if we are never prepared to let go, which, when it comes down to it, is a form of pride.

6. Knowing God's hand in scripture. All scripture is God breathed. Thinking about this, when God breathes in something, it brings it to life (see the creation account). It also means that it only works when we involve God in the process of understanding. Saying 'Ive prayed about it' isn't what I am talking about. I am talking about engaging with God in personal relationship every single step of the way. Talking to him while reading, listening, waiting, seeking, asking and knocking. It also means seeing his deliberate and intentional hand behind every event, story and teaching. What is HIS reason for allowing us to receive it? Yes, we can try to speculate about Paul's motivation, Luke's motivation etc. but what about God's motivation? I have never heard people talk about that so much. But the thing is, God is with us and speaks to us. When I looked at some of the uncleanliness laws, which have puzzled many believers over the years, my eyes were opened to these amazing laws which protected predators (which would reduce likelihood of overpopulation of grazing animals), were a type of health care, dietary advice (the unclean animals tended to be one's which we now know carry higher bacterial risk) and infection control. God's breath brings his word to life, really need to see his word from his perspective.

7. Last but not least-The involvement of the Holy Spirit. Jesus taught us that it was in fact the Holy Spirit who leads and guides us into all truth. Not ourselves, not other people, not ancient Greek, not even my pastor/vicar. We can be given all sorts of knowledge and information from all these other sources, but when it really hits home, that is the spirit's work. Seeking the Holy Spirit's help in understanding God's word, following his leading and prompting and allowing him to take you through stages of learning is vital. Truth can only be revealed by God, and it is the spirit's job to do that.

Revelation without the Holy spirit of God is only information. Revelation by the Holy Spirit is transformation.

So I continue on my quest, seeking further understanding on the women in ministry debate, looking at both sides, but aiming, to the best of my ability, to follow the above guidelines which have helped me countless times before. Like any issue, what matters is not what I think, or what others think, but what God thinks. And with any issue, topic or doctrine, that must be our aim-not living in him according to my truth and my spirit but to know further our glorious Lord and saviour and live in him in spirit and in truth. It is then in this renewed state of truth, that we can know his will more clearly.