Celtic Odyssey

Mark 1.4-11 (MSG; adapted): 1 4-6 John the Baptizer appeared in the wild, preaching a baptism of life-change that leads to forgiveness of sins. People thronged to him from Judea and Jerusalem and, as they confessed their sins, were baptized by him in the Jordan River into a changed life. John wore a camel-hair habit, tied at the waist with a leather belt. He ate locusts and wild field honey. 7-8 As he preached John said, “The real action comes next: The star in this drama, to whom I’m a mere stagehand, will change your life. I’m baptizing you here in the river, turning your old life in for a kingdom life. His baptism — a holy baptism by the Holy Spirit — will change you from the inside out.” 9-11 At this time, Jesus came from Nazareth in Galilee and was baptized by John in the Jordan. The moment Jesus came out of the water, he saw the sky split open and God’s Spirit, looking like a dove, come down on him. Along with the Spirit, a voice: “You’re my Child, chosen and marked by ...

A friend of mine posted this image to a social media page and commented that while he’s read the Bible a lot, things written in it don’t make a lot of sense. At the time I said there was too much wrong with the meme to address in a social media context (especially when replying from one’s smartphone!). So I’d like to address them now. First of all, there are different worldviews when one reads the Bible. The predominant view where I and my friend live is a very wooden, literal sense. This is the worldview of Christian Fundamentalism. It’s the worldview that states things like, “God said it. I believe it. And that settles it!” I used to think that was a great saying until I realized it’s completely wrong . The underlying thought for that saying — and the worldview that promotes it — is what we read in the Bible shouldn’t be questioned. That the stories and things said in the Bible can’t be seen in anyway other than what’s written on the page. This is quite naïve (and dangerous) and...