What do you know about this lady? What do you think of her?

Bible Authority and Use Mrs Thatcher was invited to speak to the Scottish Church in 1988 in what became known as “The Sermon on the Mound”. It was – incredibly enough for a public politician - a devout statement of Christian belief. She selected bible texts to illustrate some of her most cherished principles of social, economic and political life. How do you think people responded to a Conservative politician speaking about her political ideas, by drawing on support from the Bible? “if any will not work, let him not eat” (2 Thess 3:10) “if any will not work, let him not eat” (2 Thess 3:10) She emphasised the 10 Commandents - especially “Do Not Covet” She quoted Timothy 1 : “Those who don’t provide for their family, are ‘disowning the faith’ and worse than unbelievers (1 Tim 5:8) She quoted Timothy 1 : “Those who don’t provide for their family, are ‘disowning the faith’ and worse than unbelievers (1 Tim 5:8) She quoted “love thy neighbour” & “do as you would be done by”

She was cherry picking bible quotes that fit her viewpoint, taking them out of context She was being honest about her Christian faith and how it inspired her in her political life She was using the Bible to support conservative democracy, which many disagreed with, and saw as un-Christian She refused to apply her bible quotes literally, but only as suggestions, showing awareness that the Bible must be understood, in the spirit of it, but not in the letter She did not try to justify her own policies using the biblical quotes Some people objected to the fact that she, as a conservative politician, had no right to find support for her ideas in the authority of the Bible. Was this criticism fair, in view of the following:

So which of the following ways of reading the Bible did Thatcher use? Socially important – use the laws and teachings of the bible to construct society, based on such laws and behaviours. Legitimise forms of authority, forms of ownership, types of law. A global narrative of history, and where it is going. Instruction manual – follow only those clear rules and teachings that you do find. Consider the stories as historically dubious ancient writings, of uncertain value. Is this legitimate? Selective – find and keep those parts you find helpful/ inspiring. Consider the rest to be outdated/ culturally conditioned. Who decides? The Church? Personal inspiration (anabaptists)? Fundamentalist – consider all the bible to be objectively the word of God as it stands. Magical/ absolute interpretations. Splits from anyone with different interpretations? Reject modern scientific world, as bible is textbook of all knowledge. Historical text – see it as history/ sociology, that help us to understand the setting and circumstances in which God revealed himself. Understanding these, helps us to understand the original revelation better. But then how is the Bible the word of God? Only descriptions of society. Literary-critical – texts stand on their own, as they are, no matter what historical circumstances they were written in. Reflect on how they affect us, today. To be used with imaginative freedom. But then nothing “objectively” of God – all to do with ourselves? Too easy to “read in” our own points of view and ideologies then. Arrange the uses, as for an average Christian/ for yourself. For the bottom 3 – who might use the Bible in this way?

The bible, unlike other books, is “authoritative”. People use it as a guide to living. Why? What makes it have authority? 1.Teach your theory to the others in your group. 2.Decide which view of authority you agree with & why. 3.What could be the problem with a reader-response view ? Reader-response Recognition by early Church 3 theories : Objectively inspired by God

The bible, unlike other books, is “authoritative” for the reasons we just looked at (inspired, early Church usage, reader- response power) People use it as a guide to living. Even Margaret Thatcher used it, to inform her party views. PROBLEMS with thinking that the Bible can be the authoritative guide for your life….??

Noah’s Ark God appears to Noah and tells him to do something that will save him and his family & animals, while the rest of the human race drown for their sinfulness Here are two stories. 1.Find how both stories contradict each other. Is there any way of making them harmonise with each other? 2.For each story, think of 2 different ways it could be interpreted 3. Find 2 commands about how you should live your life/ faith from these stories Abraham negotiating with God at Sodom God takes Abraham to show him a city he will destroy with fire for its sin. God allows Abraham to persuade him that for the sake of 50 good men in the city, he will not do it. Then Abraham bargains..for the sake of 40? He will not. 30? He will not. 20? He won’t. 10? Even for the sake of 10 good men, God agrees he will not destroy the city.

Problems with taking the Bible as authoritative for your life: 1.different interpretations: we can bargain with God about punishment? We should stand up for others? We should let others drown? God cares about creation more than humanity? God has favourites? Vary depending on culture/ individual. How do you know if you have the “right” interpretation? 2.contradictory things: God is wrathful/ forgiving?? 3.it’s mostly stories! They don’t give clear commands or guidance… Which of these problems is the most serious, for getting guidance from the bible? Does it mean we can’t use it?? How can we solve this problem?

Recap 3 theories of how the Bible is considered to have authority Why the Bible is difficult to use in an authoritative way – Possible solution?

NT Wright’s solution The Bible is not authoritative because it contains laws and commands that must be followed. The Bible is authoritative because it is is the way God equips the Church in a total way, to carry on His work with authority. Seen in this way, the Bible’s authority is not undermined by the fact of it being a story, and having contradictions. Authority only belongs to God God delegates his authority to certain agents eg the Patriarchs, the prophets, Jesus, the disciples – they do / say things, by His authority. Their life & actions become written as stories. As we read & re-tell the stories, the stories become authoritative – they “shape” us in God’s various ways of doing things. The Bible is authoritative, because it trains us by God’s story-world As we, the Church, become “trained”: we become bearers of God’s truth, through the stories: so the Church receives authority because it is trained by God’s story-world, and so it too can speak with God’s authority. agents story Church

Recap 3 theories of how the Bible is considered to have authority Why the Bible is difficult to use in an authoritative way NT Wright’s solution

How is the Bible is authoritative for living? – Theories of inspiration, – problems with bible as authoritative – NT Wright’s view of authority in the Bible: story- training. Examples of how people use the Bible – Trained for preaching – Trained for service

Texts as a guide for Living Read the bible quotes, from Psalms/ Ecclesiates/ NT. For each quote, reflect on what it might be saying to you/ how it could be guiding you. – Look up the hyperlinked commentary – Write your own response/ reflection to what the quote is saying to you (with the commentary in mind)

To what extent is the Bible relevant for living? Consider how the Bible is authoritative for individuals (if it’s not authoritative, it may not be relevant for living) – Theories of inspiration, problems with culture- conditioning/ bible as narrative stories/ contradictions Consider how individuals can use the Bible – Selectively*, as imaginative reader-interaction with text*, as instruction manual for moral precepts*, as absolute “textbook” knowledge, as political inspiration, as supporting historical insight clarifying revelation – NT Wright’s view of authority in the Bible. *Include examples of how bible texts could be a guide to living (using table of quotes/ responses).