As Lutherans we believe the Bible is the living word. The Bible always has something to tell us, and our interpretation of a biblical story may change over time—just as we change over time, learning and experiencing new things.
I believe there is a great deal we can learn from one another. When we read the Bible together, we can learn from one another’s experiences, perspectives and interpretations.
However, whenever we believe our interpretation represents the whole truth, rather than a corner of it, we may be missing the point altogether. When this happens, we stop seeing one another as sisters and brothers in Christ and instead start placing labels: good, bad, right, wrong. Whenever we do this, I think we lose out on the power of grace and the power of God’s living word.
This message is an excerpt of “Give us this day: Many meanings” by Kari van Wakeren in the April 2018 issue of Gather magazine.
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