Transformed by Scripture

A number of years ago, while visiting NYC, I attended a Vineyard church worship service.  The pastor was, and still is, Charles Park,  an MIT graduate with a PhD. in economics.  I recently read an interview he gave to Cutting Edge, the church planting magazine of the Vineyard.  It was entitled, Biblical Authority in a Postmodern World. The publication itself was centered around the theme, Transformed by Scripture.  He made some fascinating points, a few of which I’d like to pass along.  All of us bring our own thoughts and perceptions to the table when we try to understand scripture. The Bible is so much more than just history or stories,  it is, and must always be, higher than us.  He says, “it (the Bible) needs to act as a mirror to bring us to a better place, to correct us, to call us out on who we are..”.  He goes on to say, “We’re not pursuing a truth that is figured in historical facts and debates or questions of whether something happened or not.  We’re pursuing a truth that is a person: a living God.  We are not after right answers; we’re after the right person.  Our faith rests in Father, Son and Holy Spirit.”  “We’re not simply a text-based faith.  It’s Jesus who contains everything I need to do.  He never wrote anything down himself; only his disciples did”.  …it is not an answer book every single time.  But it is meant to point us to God.  If it provokes us, fine. If it makes us push into God, then it’s done it’s job.”  He concludes by saying, “Once I decided to believe it, I knew I must go with it; I must submit to it as a greater thing.”  What greater thing could there be to submit to? “All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.” 2 Tim. 3:17