The Bible battle between law and grace

As a staunch Baptist, I was exposed to lots of Bible. Much of it stuck. Some would say that I never recovered from my Baptist roots. I choose to say that I was incredibly blessed. As a result I see myself as having a life-long argument with the Bible. I have been well served with the freedom to question and argue about and with the Bible. In fact, I believe the Bible is best read as a report about the finest arguments ever held.

As a child I was taught that the Old Testament was a book of law, and that the New Testament was a book of grace. I now reject that hermeneutic. In fact both New and Old Testaments carry out an argument about when to judge and when to forgive, an argument about when to accept and when to reject, an argument about the very nature of God. Is God stern and punishing or is God loving and gracious?

Where did Jesus come down in this vital argument? Jesus was an observant Jew. He regularly participated in Sabbath gatherings and was obviously a serious student of the Old Testament scriptures. He took time to go away and pray. According to the gospel tradition, one of the first things he did in his ministry was to declare a year of Jubilee. According to the book of Leviticus a year of jubilee was to be celebrated at the end of a cycle of seven Sabbath years (49 years). Several things were to happen. All debts were forgiven. All slaves were set free. Every person returned to his own tribe (reconciliation). Land was redistributed. Everyone started out again even. Jesus knew that the year of Jubilee had not been observed for a long time. He believed it was time for a change.

Many Bible readers get stuck on the 10 commandments and somehow ignore teachings such as the year of jubilee, the laws of hospitality and the provision of cities of refuge for those guilty of homicide. Jesus took the Old Testament writings seriously. Jesus obviously loved the writing of II Isaiah. They are some of the most gracious writings in the entire Bible collection. The children of Israel could be some of the kindest people who ever lived when they lived out the gentle nature of their God. Jews and Christians alike should reread Psalm 23 every day of their lives.

The Israelites could also be some of the most ruthless, heartless people who ever lived. Their priests and their holy people were cheerleaders. Both gracious and ruthless writings are found in the Old Testament.

The same is true of the New Testament. I fully recognize that the writings of the New Testament were penned in different circumstances and different times. They were written to different audiences for different reasons. Context is always an important consideration when interpreting the Bible writings. Nevertheless, reconciling the Sermon on the Mount and the book of Revelations is very difficult if not impossible to do.

What is the serious reader/interpreter of the Bible to do? While believers are given help by their pastor or priest and from their church, they can use all the additional help they can get. Many complete a church’s catechism. A surprising number read the entire Bible. A few read books on the Bible that give direction to interpretation and understanding.

For the serious student of the Christian Faith, a special challenge appears. The Bible is a complex book written by many authors over a long period of time. The material has been edited and reedited many times. The Bible has been translated from language to language countless times. Some material survived significant periods of time as oral tradition. For those who question and doubt, eventually the question of finding answers comes down to one person, his or herself. I can write only for myself. I can only share my journey.

I grew up in a family with very few rules. However, my parents reared me with high expectations. In living my life I have not always lived up to the high standards of my rearing. My experience of life leaves me with a tremendous need for grace. My images of my failings are “falling short” and “missing the mark.” It is God’s grace that picks me up and sets me out on the next day’s journey. It is out of this essential hermeneutic that I interpret and understand the writings of the Bible. Along with this background I must deal with Jesus. He lived in troubled times. Most of the young men of his home area were attracted to the Zealot movement. The men in this movement believed that the good life could be established through the force of law and order. They believed that large knives were the best way. Jesus chose the path of love and grace.

It is out of the perspective of Jesus that I find the better way, the way of love and grace. I attempt to read the Bible through his eyes and take him with me as my constant companion.

The Bible is as diverse as are the people who read it. My argument with the Bible will continue, but I will always read through the eyes of grace. Grace restores and encourages. Laws and rules accuse and condemn. My deeply held prejudice is that the Bible is ultimately the story of the triumph of grace over law.

The Rev. Howard Bess is a retired American Baptist minister who lives in Palmer. His email address is hdbss@mtaonline.net.