Silencing Arguments

The theologians discussed hermeneutics.  They came to no conclusion.  One man insisted every word was literal; everything must be held as deep truth.  Another man countered that the Bible held too many contradictions; we pick one and stick with it.  A third man rolled his eyes and blurted out, "We all interpret what we read; each person comes at it differently."  An old missionary agreed but added that cultures understand the words differently.  A historian added that we might not understand what the ancient writer’s culture believed.  The next man said translation hampers our understanding; words have multiple meanings.  The last scholar shook his finger and chastised them for over-thinking everything; just follow tradition.

Others sat around listening.  They finally figured out the big word simply meant “how to understand and apply biblical scripture.”  They realized these arguments repeatedly ripped the church apart throughout its history.  Often groups turned to hatred, rejecting the conviction of opposing groups.  Occasionally, they simply stopped debating and “agreed to disagree.”  It all felt hopeless.  How were they to know?  The people wished for something simple. 

A boy stood up.  To get anyone’s attention, he whistled loudly, as if with his friends.  The room focused glares onto him.  “Sirs,” he said.  “Where is the love?”  Eyebrows shot up across the room.  “My teacher said we should always do what Jesus said, ‘love God’ and ‘love each other.’  All of God’s laws relate back to these two.  Shouldn’t everything we believe show the love, mercy, and forgiveness of God?  If it doesn’t, why do we make it law?”

The old men bowed their heads, just like the men who wanted to stone the adulteress.