Change

Change. Over a period of time things change whether that be a change in friends, trends, music preferences and perhaps one of the most important changes in life is that of one's beliefs. Beliefs and personal convictions change. Lately I have been thinking about some of my beliefs and how they have changed over the past four or five years. It seems to all have started my senior year as I read Donald Miller's, Blue Like Jazz, and Rob Bell's, Velvet Elvis. If you have not read either one of these then I highly recommend them to you.

They caused me to have all sorts of questions, especially my senior year of high school I was sick and tired of this Christianity thing, I wanted nothing to do with it. I could sit in Bible class and give all the right answers and perhaps even knew more than the teacher but it was a simple mental exercise. I wouldn't say that I was no longer a Christians but I was certainly looking for any reason to not believe in God; I guess perhaps if I looked a little harder, read some of the leading atheists writings I would have found some answers. But in order to make a long story short: here I am six hours short of graduating from Lubbock Christian University with a B.A. in Biblical Text.

(I should warn you now that in blog posts I am scatter-brained and leave some thoughts less developed than others, so if you want more info just ask me).

Back to change. I simply feel like sharing with you some of my beliefs that have been challenged and changed (in no specific order):

1. Context. Context matters, no matter what people tell you. Context always matters. Bad theology comes from proof-texting, which is essentially taking a verse out of context and using it to support your own idea. It seems to be epidemic in churches today, pastors practicing eisegesis (reading into the text) instead of practicing exegesis (out of) and allowing the text to speak for itself. This seems to be popular in trying to harmonize the seven sayings of Jesus on the cross. We need to realize that for the most part the people who authored the text of the Bible were not stupid, they were brilliant. Context matters, the author of Matthew was not trying to emphasize the same thing as the author of Mark or the author of Luke. They each were writing to a specific audience with a specific purpose and agenda in mind, so let's not do them a disservice by harmonizing their writings. 
2. (In)errancy. Articles XI and XII of the Chicago Statement on Biblical Inerrancy specifically state that Scripture is infallible and inerrant. Unfortunately, it seems that a lot of people fall into bibliolatry where they hold the Bible in higher regards than God, or treat the Bible as God. Now, I am not insisting that the Bible teaches falsehood or is deceitful but we have to realize that the books contained in the Bible were written over the course of hundreds of years by 40 or more different people, all with certain agendas. I firmly believe that they were inspired by God to write what they did but people do make mistakes. Fortunately, these mistakes are minor and do not alter the salvific significance that can be found in the text of the Bible but nevertheless and mistake is a mistake. 
3. Women. To be more specific: Women in ministry. God has created all humanity equal. "God made them male and female." If we are honest with how we read the New Testament I don't see how anyone could deny the significant role that women played in ministry in the early church. First, Paul charges Phoebe with the responsibility to deliver Romans to Rome and surrounding regions. Basically, she had to read Paul's writing and defend it, answer questions,  essentially teach. Second, Priscilla seems to be a dominant woman minister. The way two people are introduced is significant in Ancient Near Eastern writings. Barnabas and Saul, Barnabas was obviously the significant one at the time. Paul and Barnabas, emphasis now lays on Paul. Priscilla is first introduced with Aquila being the dominant person "Aquila and Priscilla," then it is "Priscilla and Aquila." We should not limit God because of gender. 
4. Creation. (I am running out of steam and this is a long post so I will keep it short). I think it is important for us to welcome a new era where science and faith can peacefully dialogue, in which each community can learn from one another. Genesis 1-2 is not a scientific account of creation and should not be read as one, it is poetic literature and should be read in light of other Mesopotamian creation myths. 
5. Arminianism. I am willing to agree to disagree with my Calvinist friends. But it simply seems that the Grand Narrative of Scripture does not have God randomly selecting people for heaven and for hell. It is by God's grace that we are saved. 

Obviously, there are other areas and beliefs that have changed but I feel that these are some of the significant ones that have changed over the past 4 or 5 years. Feel free to dialogue with me in the comment section.