Part 2: Listening

Reading the Bible to form a relationship with its author is Scot McKnight’s emphasis in chapter 6 of his new book The Blue Parakeet. For McKnight, we must move from the paper to the person. We normally define the paper by using words like “inspiration,” “inerrancy,” or “authority.” But McKnight acknowledges there “is far more to reading the Bible than submitting to authority,” (pg. 85). Although McKnight’s views can at first raise alarms (throw out the authority of the Bible?!?) his point is true: we’re seeking a relationship with the Author, not seeking to worship printed pages (remember the person over the paper).

For McKnight, seeing the Bible in terms of a relationship is better than viewing it as an authority to follow because it tells a fuller story. Just as submission of a wife to a husband only tells part of the story of marriage (think about Song of Solomon’s picture of intimate romance as another part), so the authority of the text only speaks to part of its role.

Chapter 7 begins with a simple yet revealing question: “How many of us know our doctrine about the Bible but don’t do what the God of the Bible says” (pg. 95, italics original). We read give to the poor, but we don’t. We read help the homeless but we don’t. (Myself included in both.) McKnight says we don’t do what the Bible says because we’re not listening.

God shows us his love by communicating to us through the Bible. Your Bible is not just words on a page, but loving words designed that we might pay attention and be moved to action. The message of the Bible matters because the message represents the God who calls us into relationship.

Our response to God’s love (coming through his words) is missional living-the topic of Chapter 8. Missional living, McKnight writes, begins with the wisdom of the ages (the saints who have come before), is Spirit-powered, is an active process, and leads to the production of good works. McKnight concludes with the thought: “If you are doing good works, you are reading the Bible right,” (pg. 112).

We all must realize, God didn’t give us his Word to increase our brain mass, but to change our lives (and ultimately our world). How do we do what the Bible says? This is the topic of part 3.