d. graham stacey, phd loma linda university 2011

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Understanding God’s Word – a developmental perspective D. Graham Stacey, PhD Loma Linda University 2011

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Page 1: D. Graham Stacey, PhD Loma Linda University 2011

Understanding God’s Word – a developmental perspective

D. Graham Stacey, PhDLoma Linda University

2011

Page 2: D. Graham Stacey, PhD Loma Linda University 2011

a scriptural reflection….Jeremiah 7: 1-8“This is the temple of the Lord….trusting in

deceptive words that are worthless” Simply trusting in one’s historical or claimed

identity as evidence of God’s special blessing is not sufficient

It is time to reflect more deeply on the relevancy and impact of your relationship with God

Page 3: D. Graham Stacey, PhD Loma Linda University 2011

questions for reflection…How do God’s people maintain a relevant

message in an ever changing world? Is there any way to assimilate new

information? How does God’s Word retain its authority in

a time and context so removed from its origins?

How do we apply the eternal principles of God’s Word?

It is possible or necessary to change one’s understanding on what God’s Word means?

Page 4: D. Graham Stacey, PhD Loma Linda University 2011

not a new challenge…Gregory J. Riley, ‘The River of God.’ Harper

(2001)- a genealogy of the development of Christian belief- dynamic, evolving, multiple sources of development

Ethics, morality and social justice (slavery, apartheid)

Faith and science [traditional understanding and new information] (age of the earth)

Page 5: D. Graham Stacey, PhD Loma Linda University 2011

maybe too simplistic…How do we as believers? assimilate new information (consider

new ideas)? accommodate changes to established

schemas or paradigms (change our minds)?

maintain equilibrium during the process (proceed with enough grace as to do no harm to God’s children)?

Page 6: D. Graham Stacey, PhD Loma Linda University 2011

a personal view…

“Any condemnation, rejection and or mistreatment of people……based on individual characteristics (specifically those over which they have no control)..…is unjust, immoral and antithetical to the gospel of Jesus Christ?”

Page 7: D. Graham Stacey, PhD Loma Linda University 2011

‘Respect for and acceptance of all of

God’s children, irrespective of any

issue of diversity, is the faithful

expression of the love and justice of

God, and in harmony with the gospel

of Jesus Christ.’

Page 8: D. Graham Stacey, PhD Loma Linda University 2011

“…faith communities, contrary to their central teachings, were active or silent supporters of apartheid…in large measure churches…gave support, symbolic and practical, to the violent state machine.” Alex Boraine

“The Seventh-day Adventist Church was one of those communities.”

“Despite recognition of the ‘difficulties’ apartheid caused the Seventh-day Adventist church, condemnation of apartheid itself is entirely absent from the South African Seventh-day Adventist literature of the time.” Jeff Crocombe

“…the Adventist church was always far ahead of the government of the day in applying racial segregation in the church, and far behind when it comes to scrapping racially discriminatory measures.” du Preez an du Pre

“Jasper’s typology of guilt … enables us all to discern our common humanity before God, and therefore our shared need for transformation.“ John de Gruchy

Cited from Jeff Crocombe, ‘The Seventh-day Adventist Church in South Africa – race relations and apartheid.’ 2007

Page 9: D. Graham Stacey, PhD Loma Linda University 2011

The nature of revelation and inspiration…

Page 10: D. Graham Stacey, PhD Loma Linda University 2011

a practical reality…

most Christians agree on what the scriptures say – few agree on what the scriptures mean

most Christians share certain cardinal doctrines – but teach a wide variety of beliefs on all matters

Religious Tolerance.org

Page 11: D. Graham Stacey, PhD Loma Linda University 2011

inspiration…Literal emphasis on verbal authority &

inerrancy history and or context of

secondary relevance focus on applications

Page 12: D. Graham Stacey, PhD Loma Linda University 2011

Contextual emphasis on principles history and or context are

relevant focus on meaning

Page 13: D. Graham Stacey, PhD Loma Linda University 2011

‘Selective’ literal/contextual… considered essential to community preservation

literal application required for ‘truth’

protection of Scriptural authority considered as fundamental to the maintenance of the Christian world-view

Page 14: D. Graham Stacey, PhD Loma Linda University 2011

ways of discerning truth… fundamentalist methodology focus on the literal application assimilate the information discount the context reject or fail to accommodate any continuing revelation

declare the truth as ‘absolute’

Page 15: D. Graham Stacey, PhD Loma Linda University 2011

meaning methodology focus on meaning (principles) allow the context to inform the meaning

accept the literal interpretation as the ‘optimal’ truth the original readers could assimilate

accommodate God’s continuing revelation

Page 16: D. Graham Stacey, PhD Loma Linda University 2011

‘what happens in real-life’ methodology

assimilate the literal understanding

discount the context declare ‘absolute’ truth gradually modify / abandon positions under influence of God’s continuing revelations

Page 17: D. Graham Stacey, PhD Loma Linda University 2011

stages in religious accommodation…Andrew Dickson White (1898)

a new belief system develops in conflict with established beliefs

official institutions ignore the developmenta growing number of followers start to disagreestatements are issued to condemn the

development – citing Biblical passages as justification

support continues to growstatements intensify - suggesting the proposal

negates the entire Christian message or attacks fundamental Christian principles

Page 18: D. Graham Stacey, PhD Loma Linda University 2011

continued…followers and public support continues to

growinstitutions begin to ignore the development,

and sometimes ignore the Biblical passages that once supported the idea

years (decades or centuries) later institutions may incorporate the deviant development into the belief structure

Andrew Dickson White (1898) ‘A history of the warfare of science with theology in Christendom.’

Page 19: D. Graham Stacey, PhD Loma Linda University 2011

Cognitive Dissonance – must be resolved…Cognitive DissonanceMartin Seligman

1) modify the belief to fit the evidence (early Adventists and the second advent)2) maintain the belief despite the evidence (sexual orientation)3) abandon the field of dispute altogether (age of the earth)

Page 20: D. Graham Stacey, PhD Loma Linda University 2011

methods of resolution…The literal readings of the text supporting the belief are:ignored (geocentric solar system)obscured in translation (slave v/s

servant)re-interpreted (marital relationships)selectively contextualized (holiness

code)

Page 21: D. Graham Stacey, PhD Loma Linda University 2011

examples of accommodation… racial integration (‘mixing the seed’) role of women in the church God’s punishment on Jews (holocaust) slavery / apartheid generation transferability of sin doctrinal beliefs (Satan / Trinity /

exclusive monotheism)

Page 22: D. Graham Stacey, PhD Loma Linda University 2011

once hotly debated – now settled… food offered to idols equality in Christ (Jew nor Greek) geocentric solar system earning interest on investments scientific examples (vacuum,

lightning rod) medical examples (anesthetics during

childbirth, childhood inoculations, birth control)

Page 23: D. Graham Stacey, PhD Loma Linda University 2011

If you have been to a physician, been diagnosed with a particular disorder, prescribed a medication, and accepted the recommended treatment, you have:• assimilated God’s continuing revelation about health and healing• accommodated the ‘biological’ explanation of disease• accommodated the scientific method as one means of communicating God’s continuing revelations• modified your understanding of scripture re. disease• moved beyond the fatalistic explanation that God / Satan control all health and disease disbursement

Page 24: D. Graham Stacey, PhD Loma Linda University 2011

A suggested way forward…

Page 25: D. Graham Stacey, PhD Loma Linda University 2011

“Originalists contend that the constitution has a clear, fixed meaning. But the framers argued vehemently about its meaning. For them, it was a set of principles, not a code of laws. A code of laws says you have to stop at a red light; a constitution has broad principles that are unchanging but that must accommodate each new generation and circumstance.”

Richard Stengel, ‘One Document under Siege,’ Time, July 4, 2011

Page 26: D. Graham Stacey, PhD Loma Linda University 2011

a helpful frame of reference… Genetic epistemology (Jean Piaget, 1896-1980)Schemas – categories of knowledge that help

us interpret and understand the worldAssimilation – the process of taking in new

information into a previously existing schemaAccommodation – changing or altering our

existing schemas in light of new informationEquilibration – striking a balance between

assimilation and accommodation

Page 27: D. Graham Stacey, PhD Loma Linda University 2011

Christian Ethicsan integration of authority and relevance

Meta-ethic (“we love because God first loved us..” 1 John 4:19)

First Principle (love for God & neighbor)

Principles (compassion, love, respect,

honesty, faithfulness, forgiveness, mercy, humility, service)

Rules (ten commandments / inspired instruction)

Applications (interpersonal relationships [marriage, family] community relationships [social, professional] personal standards

[attitudes, behaviours], community standards [social attitudes, practices], church life [worship style, relationship to community] )

Page 28: D. Graham Stacey, PhD Loma Linda University 2011

Christian Ethicsan integration of authority and relevance

Meta-ethic (“we love because God first loved us..” 1 John 4:19)

First Principle (“love for God and neighbor”)

Principles (compassion, love, respect, honesty, faithfulness, mercy, humility, justice, equality, community, fidelity, service)

Rules (ten commandments / inspired instruction)

Applications HOW SHOULD I LIVE?

Page 29: D. Graham Stacey, PhD Loma Linda University 2011

summary….assimilate and accommodate God’s continuing

revelationsacknowledge and embrace the reality of God’s processdevelop a spirit of community that permits and

encourages equilibrium while new revelations are assimilated and accommodated

at times of transition (always?), focus on the higher-order eternal principles in God’s Word

cautiously and conscientiously review the temporal applications using the eternal principles to guide the application of the new revelations

Page 30: D. Graham Stacey, PhD Loma Linda University 2011

Let’s continue the dialogue