Reading the Bible from Particular Social Locations

In the next several articles, I will be inviting you to dialogue on the issue of reading the Bible from the locations of class, ethnicity/race, and gender.  Some of you may be uncomfortable doing this in that you believe that Bible to be a divinely inspired book that is universal in scope and that we should not attach any human conditions to the reading of Scripture.  While this writer truly believes that the Bible is inspired by God, he acknowledges that it is also culturally conditioned, reflecting the mindset of biblical times, and the perspectives of the writers of Scripture.  For more extensive information on this topic,  I would refer the reader to the Interpreter's Bible Commentary published in 1994 by Abingdon Press.

James Earl Massey, who has served as Dean and Professor of Preaching and Biblical Studies at Anderson University reminds us that biblical interpretation  depends largely on the social perspective of the interpreter.  He goes on to say that this should not surprise us because whether we are dealing with the Bible or with any other written materials, there is usually some influence on our thinking from the sociocultural setting that has affected our lives.  Massey points out that our thinking has been influenced by elements of rationalism, or by some brand of nationalism, or perhaps by a narrow individualism, but always by communal identity.  In various combinations, says Massey, these factors have affected us; they have shaped the way we view the world, and that world view influences the way we read the Word of God and use that Word in preaching and teaching.  I would add that this particular world view affects the way we live our lives and engage in our spiritual journey.

En fin, none of us read the Bible "objectively," since pure objectivity does not exist.  Neither do any of us read the Bible with a blank mind waiting to be filled with information.  We are all conditioned by our culture and by life experiences, and subsequently, we bring the baggage of culture and experience to our reading of Scripture.  Some may want to argue that we should leave that baggage behind.  This writer believes that it is absolutely impossible to extricate ourselves from that baggage as it is part and parcel of our very being.  Trying to shed that baggage would be the same as trying to be something other than human.  We cannot do it.

For starters, why don't you briefly share with us what approaches you use when you read the Bible?
Do you just open it up and begin reading?  Are there details that you pay attention to when you read Scripture.?  Are there details that you are not aware of or just simply choose to ignore?  How do your life experiences color your reading of Scripture?  Please join us in what I think can be a very fruitful and healthy discussion.

Grace and peace,

Dr. Juan A. Ayala-Carmona