Letter from the Minister

[‘‘…sweeter also than honey
    and drippings of the honeycomb.’’ (Psalm 19: 10)]

If you’ve ever struggled to make sense of the Bible, you’re not alone! Even though it has been a source of spiritual guidance and moral authority for millions of people over so many centuries, some find it confusing or even contradictory.  And yet, David, a man after God’s own heart (Acts 13:22), says of Scripture – ‘‘More to be desired are they than gold, even much fine gold; sweeter also than honey and drippings of the honeycomb.’’ I wonder what your take on the Bible is. Do you believe it is inerrant? Do you agree that scripture is inspired by God and serves as the ultimate guide for faith and practice (2 Timothy 3:16)? Are you convinced by the idea of the dynamic and penetrating nature of Scripture, capable of transforming lives (Hebrews 4:12)?

I wonder where you stand on these and many other proclamations made about the Word of God.

There are countless resources provided by various church traditions, which help local churches and individuals to make sense of the Bible and encourage Christians to nurture discipleship by developing the habit of reading the Bible regularly. Bible Month, which provides an annual opportunity for the whole Methodist Connexion to indulge in one particular book of the Bible together, is one of such resources.

The Methodist Church shares with other ecumenical partners the conviction that, ‘‘The Bible is the record of God's self-revelation, supremely in Jesus Christ, and is a means through which he still reveals himself, by the Holy Spirit;’’ (A Catechism for the People Called Methodists) and that through Scripture, the living Christ meets us in the experience of redeeming grace.

In verses 7-10 of Psalm 19, a Psalm described by C.S. Lewis as “the greatest poem in the Psalter and one of the greatest lyrics in the world” (Reflections on the Psalms), each phrase contains a synonym for the law of the Lord — law, decrees, precepts, commandment, fear, ordinances; and are a reference to the word of God revealed in the Scriptures.

I believe that Western society is so familiar with the Bible that we take it for granted and too often fail to appreciate the means of grace that Scripture is. Psalm19 invites us to realise the miracle that we hold in our hands, celebrates what God has done and continues to do through the Scriptures: God revives the soul, makes wise the simple, enlightens the eye, endures forever, and is altogether righteous. Mahatma Ghandi, the famous spiritual and political leader of India, said, “You Christians look after a document containing enough dynamite to blow all civilisation to pieces, turn the world upside down and bring peace to a battle-torn planet. But you treat it as though it is nothing more than a piece of literature.”

Is it not amazing that God gives us guidance on how to live? Is it not good news that the laws of the Bible are to be treasured as gracious gifts from God? I believe it is and I celebrate with the psalmist who is overjoyed to be part of the people that God has blessed with the laws and promises of Scripture.

The Bible can, indeed, be puzzling; but it is, without a shadow of doubt, a continuous source of inspiration and direction in our lives. The texts were written and gathered together over a long period of time and translated from a number of languages. This is why it is important, when handling Scripture, to find out as much as we can about the original contexts in which those texts were produced. In our attempts to grasp its meaning, we must involve tradition, experience and reason, in accordance with Wesleyan heritage. It is also good practice for Christians from different traditions to engage with each other in healthy discussions on how the Bible applies to issues in our contemporary world – guided and empowered by the Holy Spirit.

One of the main ideas that I have picked up from churches across the Circuit is the need for discipleship through study of the Word and prayer. We are truly blessed to have the Bible at our disposal, free to read and discuss. God does not offer a formula that produces fully mature Christians overnight. Christian growth comes through persistent perseverance of applying what we read, hear and learn and obeying it.

What better way to conclude this than by remembering that ageless Sunday School song, ‘‘Read your Bible, pray every day if you want to grow!’’

Every blessing in this Pentecost season.

Georgina