Categories: uncategorized
Date: 21 February 2010 23:12:03
At Methsoc tonight had a really interesting talk by Peter Phillips who is involved in the CODEC project, which is looking at issues around the bible, digital environment and contemporary culture. He was talking about the bible and mission in a really interesting presentation/ discussion.
One thing he said he's involved in is the BibleFresh initiative which is about trying to get people engaged with the bible again. This link gives you the flyer.
Personally, I'm one of those people who has a love of the bible, and appreciates the digging about in it approach. Yet, I also appreciate the role of the academy in getting a hang on some of those finer details and debates. I think the key is to have a range of approaches, which allow for people to get involved from a range of directions. My concern is that certain bits of the bible are given privileged status by "the establishment" compared to others which might be of real use to contemporary society.
Regular readers will know what I've been getting at is how the story of Hagar particularly is often not included, because of the slightly awkward role of Abraham in the narrative. I love this story which we find in Genesis because it is a story which gives hope and resonates with the experience of many single parents. In it Hagar and her son are sent out into the wilderness because of the sin of others. Hagar reaches a point of desperation and falls apart. Then in that place of total dispair she encounters Gods angel. God provides for her and allows her to transform her life to the extent the story ends with her providing a wife for her husband. The bible is full of stories like this which may be ancient but have a real contemporary application. Anything which gets people to engage with this has to be good news.