"Inspired"
I was in a songwriting seminar with Rich Mullins, and he made an interesting comment. He asked if any of us had been in a talent show or had seen one where someone said: “God woke me up and gave me this song. . .”
We all raised our hands, as this was a pretty common thing that is said in Christian music circles. He told us that we had to be careful with this kind of language because if a song had been verbally inspired by God, or given to this person then it should be made Canon or part of scripture.
He also mentioned that he was often surprised that God was such a bad songwriter as inevitably, these songs that were “given” to these people by God were usually pretty awful!
We laughed about this, but it made a good deal of sense. If something comes directly from God, we should hold it as sacred, canon, and perfect. Why wouldn’t we? We should have an understanding that what is handed down from God to us in its perfection cannot be questioned or altered in any way. But is that what scripture was and is?
According to our denominational understanding and belief system, God partnered with people to inspire their thoughts by revealing who God is and allowing them to interpret this and write it down. That means that the words on the page are as perfect as the understanding and interpretation of those who wrote them. While this may seem less than ideal, we also have the incredible power of the Holy Spirit who is helping everyone interpret, understand, and be blessed by the words that were written.
Since this is the case, we don’t have to worry about the history being 100% accurate, the science being true, and every bit of grammar being perfect. We understand how good God is at work through our imperfections in order to help us understand God even better than we had before. Scripture is a complicated story of a God and a people struggling to understand one another. It was written in a different time, in a different language, to a different culture, and even scientific and philosophical understanding.
Perhaps the question is less about accuracy and more about the effectiveness of which it teaches us about God. After all, scripture is less about us and more about God, and the more I read it the more I am convinced that when I try to find myself in it, I am drawn more and more to an understanding of God!
We all raised our hands, as this was a pretty common thing that is said in Christian music circles. He told us that we had to be careful with this kind of language because if a song had been verbally inspired by God, or given to this person then it should be made Canon or part of scripture.
He also mentioned that he was often surprised that God was such a bad songwriter as inevitably, these songs that were “given” to these people by God were usually pretty awful!
We laughed about this, but it made a good deal of sense. If something comes directly from God, we should hold it as sacred, canon, and perfect. Why wouldn’t we? We should have an understanding that what is handed down from God to us in its perfection cannot be questioned or altered in any way. But is that what scripture was and is?
According to our denominational understanding and belief system, God partnered with people to inspire their thoughts by revealing who God is and allowing them to interpret this and write it down. That means that the words on the page are as perfect as the understanding and interpretation of those who wrote them. While this may seem less than ideal, we also have the incredible power of the Holy Spirit who is helping everyone interpret, understand, and be blessed by the words that were written.
Since this is the case, we don’t have to worry about the history being 100% accurate, the science being true, and every bit of grammar being perfect. We understand how good God is at work through our imperfections in order to help us understand God even better than we had before. Scripture is a complicated story of a God and a people struggling to understand one another. It was written in a different time, in a different language, to a different culture, and even scientific and philosophical understanding.
Perhaps the question is less about accuracy and more about the effectiveness of which it teaches us about God. After all, scripture is less about us and more about God, and the more I read it the more I am convinced that when I try to find myself in it, I am drawn more and more to an understanding of God!
- How do you think the Scriptures came about?
- Are they useful in understanding who God is?
- Do you think that this kind of understanding takes away from what you thought about scripture and inspiration and revelation?
Recent
Archive
2023
January
Lovewell: A Theology - Day 1Lovewell: A Theology - Day 2Lovewell: A Theology - Day 3Lovewell: A Theology - Day 4Lovewell: A Theology - Day 5Lovewell: A Theology - Day 6Lovewell: A Theology - Day 7Lovewell: A Theology - Day 8Lovewell: A Theology - Day 9Lovewell: A Theology - Day 10Lovewell: A Theology - Day 11Lovewell: A Theology - Day 12Lovewell: A Theology - Day 13Lovewell: A Theology - Day 14Lovewell: A Theology - Day 15Lovewell: A Theology - Day 16Lovewell: A Theology - Day 17Lovewell: A Theology - Day 18Lovewell: A Theology - Day 19Lovewell: A Theology - Day 20Lovewell: A Theology - Day 21Lovewell: A Theology - Day 22Lovewell: A Theology - Day 24Lovewell: A Theology - Day 23Lovewell: A Theology - Day 25Lovewell: A Theology - Day 26Lovewell: A Theology - Day 27Lovewell: A Theology - Day 28Lovewell: A Theology - Day 29Lovewell: A Theology - Day 30Lovewell: A Theology - Day 31
February
Lovewell: A Theology - Day 32Lovewell: A Theology - Day 33Lovewell: A Theology - Day 34Lovewell: A Theology - Day 35Season 1 - IntroductionUncomfortable (S1) - Day 1Uncomfortable (S1) - Day 2Uncomfortable (S1) - Day 3Uncomfortable (S1) - Day 4Uncomfortable (S1) - Day 5Uncomfortable (S1) - Day 6Uncomfortable (S1) - Day 7Uncomfortable (S1) - Day 8Uncomfortable (S1) - Day 9Uncomfortable (S1) - Day 10Uncomfortable (S1) - Day 11Uncomfortable (S1) - Day 12Uncomfortable (S1) - Day 13Uncomfortable (S1) - Day 14Uncomfortable (S1) - Day 15Uncomfortable (S1) - Day 16Uncomfortable (S1) - Day 17
March
Uncomfortable (S1) - Day 18Uncomfortable (S1) - Day 19Uncomfortable (S1) - Day 20Uncomfortable (S1) - Day 21Uncomfortable (S1) - Day 22Uncomfortable (S1) - Day 23Uncomfortable (S1) - Day 24Uncomfortable (S1) - Day 25Uncomfortable (S1) - Day 26Uncomfortable (S1) - Day 27Uncomfortable (S1) - Day 28Uncomfortable (S1) - Day 29Uncomfortable (S1) - Day 30Uncomfortable (S1) - Day 31Uncomfortable (S1) - Day 32Uncomfortable (S1) - Day 33Uncomfortable (S1) - Day 34Uncomfortable (S1) - Day 35Campus WeekAfter - Day 1After - Day 2After - Day 3After - Day 4After - Day 5After - Day 6
April
After - Day 7After - Day 8After - Day 9After - Day 10After - Day 11After - Day 12After - Day 13After - Day 14After - Day 15After - Day 16After - Day 17After - Day 18After - Day 19After - Day 20After - Day 21After - Day 22After - Day 23After - Day 24After - Day 25After - Day 26After - Day 27After - Day 28
Categories
Tags
1 Corinthians 1
1 Corinthians
1 John
1 Peter
1 Samuel
Acts
After Series
After Serie
After
Belonging
Blog
Campus Week
Church
Colossians
Community
Compassion
Connect Group
Crosswalk Church
Crosswalk
Daily Study
Deconstruction
Easter Week
Easter
Elemental
End of Series
End of the Week
Galatians
Gathering
Genesis 3
Genesis
Group Study
Hebrews
Holy Wednesday
Hosea
Introduction
Isaiah 53
James
John 12:12-19:37
John 19-20
John 19
John 20
John 21
John
Jonah
Lovewell: A Theology
Love
Luke 19:28-23:56
Luke 23-24
Luke 23:34
Luke 23
Luke
Mark 11-15
Mark 15
Mark 16
Mark
Matthew 20:1-16
Matthew 21-27
Matthew 27
Matthew 28
Matthew 5
Matthew
Mike Rhynus
Paddy McCoy
Philippians
Proverbs
Psalm 31
Revelation 22
Revelation
Romans
Season 1
Series
Service
Small Group Guide
Small Group Study
Small Group
Timothy Gillespie
Triggered
Uncomfortable
Week 2
Week Four
Week One
William Johnsson
Witness
No Comments