The search wizards at Google variously attribute the following quote to Richard Nixon, Alan Greenspan and Robert McCloskey. So I don’t know who said it, but I do know it is often true:
I know you think you understand what you thought I said, but I’m not sure you realize that what you heard is not what I meant.
It is easy to misspeak. It is even easier to be misunderstood. And it is all but impossible to correct some misunderstandings once someone says to someone else what they thought you said to them.
The ancients believed words had a kind of ontological existence. Once a blessing was spoken into the air, the powers of good were literally set loose into the world. On the other hand, pronounce a curse on someone, and evil – an actual, living force of evil – immediately infused that person’s world of coincidence, happenstance and cause and effect.
Maybe we are not that much advanced beyond our scientifically-naïve ancestors. I don’t know a phrase that has any more actual, living power than the words, “The Bible says…” Even though many people cannot tell you whether “A penny saved is a penny earned” or “The love of money is the root of all evil” is a biblical quotation, once someone says “Well, the Bible says…,” any words that follow are hard to refute.
The biblical misunderstandings – ubiquitous in our biblically-immersed, but hardly biblically-literate culture – are frightening. The Bible says it (someone said), so that settles it.
“Texts are often over-simplified to the point of misreading, misspeaking or misunderstanding.”
I am neither a biblical scholar nor a trained theologian, but I treasure the teaching opportunity that being a pastor provides. Much of the time, however, I feel my role is un-teaching. So much of my preaching and teaching is geared toward helping people to unlearn what we thought we heard about God, faith, prayer, Jesus, the Church and more. Indeed, as a teacher, I’m often unlearning, too!
The Bible says, “Wives submit to your husbands,” and “Whatever you ask for in (Jesus’) name will be given you,” and “It is better for one man to die for the people than to have the whole nation destroyed.” Those three texts, often selectively chosen and without context, have been used (read “misused”) to justify hierarchy and subjugation, the “prosperity gospel,” and redemptive violence. If only in subtle ways, these poor theologies creep into the thoughts that influence people’s daily lives, words and deeds.
Indeed, in a southern, religiously-conservative culture, an ethos of misunderstanding is in the air we breathe. There are misunderstandings about God – which are used to justify violence and abuse. There are misunderstandings about Jesus – which encourage feelings of superiority and arrogance. There are misunderstandings about immigrants – which promote alienation and oppression. There are misunderstandings of the role of faith – which create a false distinction between sacred and secular. And all of these are the result of misunderstandings about the Bible – which allow it to be used as a tool to wound rather than a text to inspire.
“In a culture that loves the sound-bite, it’s no wonder bumper-sticker theology and the preaching of platitudes prevail. But only truth will set us free.”
The texts I just quoted are straightforward sentences: “Wives submit…” Simple subject, simple verb. The potential for misunderstanding only multiplies when we’re trying to understand a parable, a fictive story originally told using the imagery, idioms and assumptions of a culture that is now completely foreign to ours – religiously, politically, economically and socially. And when taken in view of the full sweep of the library we call the Bible – with competing voices, differing views and conflicting theological perspectives – it is no great surprise that in an effort to explain, the texts are often over-simplified to the point of misreading, misspeaking or misunderstanding.
I know you think you understand what you thought I said, but I’m not sure you realize that what you heard is not what I meant.
Molly Marshall, president of Central Baptist Theological Seminary, preached in the service in which Amy, my wife and co-pastor, and I were ordained. When Molly knelt to lay hands on my head, she said, “Russ, never forget the importance of disciplined thinking.” That admonition has never been far from me, and during this season of Lent we are inviting our congregation to some disciplined thinking about some theological issues that are easily misunderstood.
Our Lenten preaching and teaching will follow the Gospel lectionary selections, mostly taken from Luke’s Gospel, and in view of some common misunderstandings, we will be looking for vistas of new insight. This season of quiet reflection, introspection and contrition may be the best time to consider our misunderstandings and to seek repentance, receive forgiveness and start anew. And to remember that Jesus said, “You have heard that it was said, but I say to you…”
In a culture that loves the sound-bite, it’s no wonder bumper-sticker theology and the preaching of platitudes prevail. But only truth will set us free. So, no matter how hard it may be to truly understand, let’s listen again.
Starting with the preachers.
