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The Sin of Certainty & The Battle for the Bible

We are reading Peter Enns' book, The Sin of Certainty for the Pastor's Book Club this Sunday, July 17. I am posting a series of thoughts and observations to help start the conversation.

When we think of "strong" faith as something that should be free of uncertainty or crises, I believe we have gotten wrong an important part of who God is and how the Christian life really works. (p. 25)

That's how Enns summarizes the problem of faith for many people and why he wrote The Sin of Certainty. 

He is also clear that this isn't just a key question for people who are experiencing a crisis of doubt, but for anyone who wants a growing and vital faith. At the heart of this question is the way we read and understand the Bible. Note: he is NOT saying the problem is the Bible, but the way we read and understand it.

 Thought #2: The Bible & God's Word

Enns outlines four challenges that have arisen in the last century to the way we read the Bible:

Archaeology

Evolution

Biblical Scholarship

Divisions in the Church

The Sin of Certainty: An Unsettled Faith?

The first choice for Pastor's Book Club this summer is Peter Enns' book, The Sin of Certainty. In preparation for our discussion this Sunday (July 17), I am going to provide some thoughts and questions   that seem important to me. Next week, Jordan is going offer some thoughts and questions of his own (we are going to lead the discussion together). 

Thought #1: "An Unsettled Faith"

Enns (like myself and many others) grew up equating "True Faith" with "Correct Thinking." Even in seminary, I wanted to know and understand the "right way" to think about God, the Bible, and my faith. There is nothing wrong with trying to understand these things. In fact, I think it was essential for my early stages of faith development.  The fact that there are exams in seminary and then, Ordination Exams that tested to make sure my faith was "correct", also gave a little "extra" motivation! I found that helpful, not burdensome. 

Then "Life" happened.

When I got to my first church, all that well reasoned, logical and "correct" theology ran into the Real World. The answers I had learned so well, seemed too easy and not very helpful. There were questions I couldn't square with the faith I thought I knew. At first, I thought the answer was to find more (and better) "answers." After awhile, I discovered that the problem wasn't in my answers, it was my approach to the questions.