What’s a Christian to believe?

Those who read my weekly musings are likely aware that I often refer to the work of Richard Rohr.  I find his theology and understanding of God and Christianity to be a sound guide which helps me navigate the waters of spiritual life and the cultural times we find ourselves in.  Last week a friend brought to my attention a blog by a Christian writer, Alisa Childers, who is strongly opposite to the Christianity expressed in Richard Rohr’s writings.  The blog may be found at https://www.alisachilders.com/blog/heres-why-christians-should-avoid-the-teachings-of-richard-rohr in case you wish to read it.

Let me delve into her argument with Richard Rohr as expressed in that blog and give you a taste of what she believes and why she is adamantly opposed to Rohr’s theology.  Childers firmly places herself in the type of Christianity which can be called a fundamentalist.  She declares, “Following Jesus’ own example, Christians have affirmed over the centuries that the Scriptures are internally coherent, without error, and infallible.” I would have to question whether Jesus held this comprehensive view of scripture as I don’t believe that the Gospels give evidence of that.  She quotes Rohr to support her assessment of Rohr’s understanding of scripture:

The text moves inexorably toward inclusivity, mercy, unconditional love, and forgiveness. I call it the “Jesus Hermeneutic.” Just interpret Scripture the way Jesus did! He ignores, denies, or openly opposes his own Scriptures whenever they are imperialistic, punitive, exclusionary, or tribal.

Childers does not identify the source of this quote so I don’t know the context in which it is made.  However, there are times when Jesus certainly objected to the interpretation of scripture and the Law which Pharisees and others were making e.g., the Sabbath is made for man and not man for the Sabbath.  I am sure that Rohr agree with Childers’s assertion that Rohr does not believe that scripture is “internally coherent, without error, and infallible.” 

My understanding of scripture is that it is inspired by God.  However, it is also revealed to human beings.  That revelation is understood by those who receive it in different ways and through the prism of the limitations that all humans are subject to.  Humans in biblical times had an understanding of creation through the limitations of their knowledge at that time.  Therefore, they did not know that the earth revolved around the sun and they believed that heaven was somewhere up in the sky.  They did not necessarily understand that what they were receiving in revelation was being expressed symbolically and the language of God is not necessarily understood in the way we perceive it.  I want to delve into this more fully next time.  However, let me close with another quote from Rohr in a recent Daily Meditation:

In my experience, the people who find God are usually people who are very serious about their quest and their questions, more so than being absolutely certain about their answers. I offer that as hard-won wisdom.

I believe that those who believe they know the mind of God with absolute certainty are guilty of the sin of hubris.  Indeed, perhaps God is discovered more in the questions than in the answers. 

Blessings on your journey and blessings on your questions in your quest.