Interpretation

In some ways it's perfectly reasonable to assume that when two people approach any text in scripture they may interpret it differently. After all, each person has their own baggage, history, and presuppositions that they can never totally distance themselves from. Therefore, it is quite possible for two people to approach a text, both feeling quite certain that they are appoaching it "objectively" and come away with wildly different interpretations. How then, one might ask, can someone tell if their interpretation is the "right" one? Is it possible that this isn't even a good question?

On one hand, we have 3 pound brains that will forever be reaching for the infinite God. On the other hand, we have the promise of God's Holy Spirit living in us and guiding us. Scripture has inspired some of the most beautiful and truly good acts in human history and scripture has been used to justify genocide and other things too horrible to mention. Using scripture, some people espouse that God loves everyone while others (also using scripture) espouse that God chose some to love and others to hate and condemn. The list goes on and on.

I don't presume to have this all figured out. I do, however, believe that scripture works on more than one level. Is it possible that our interpretations of scripture say something about the kinds of people we are becoming? Could it be that our interpretations function like a spiritual Rorschach test, which clues us in to the kind of heart we are cultivating? I have to admit that I find it odd that the people who seem the most certain about their interpretations often seem the most unChristlike in their character (not necc. refering to morals here). As important as it is for us to think about how we are interpreting scripture, perhaps we should spend some time reflecting on what our interpretations say about who we are...how scripture is interpreting us
AE