Day 8 Readings -Matthew 8
Luke 8
John 8
Playing Around in the Text
We are often locked in a rigid, flat, one-dimensional reading of the Bible. Throughout this reading plan, I've been challenging you to get lost in the Stories. One can't wander too far away from the comfort of home, when the path is already flat, straight, and well-marked. One-dimensional reading of the Bible treats the path as though it's already clearly marked out. What you get is what you immediately see. But what if? What if the Scriptures invite us into creativity and imagination. What if reading the Scriptures is like playing around in the text? To some of us, this can almost seem blasphemous. The Scriptures aren't to be played with...these are serious.
Throughout the centuries, the Jewish Rabbis have worked at perfecting the art of interpretation of the Hebrew Bible (what we call the Old Testament). The method they use is called Midrash. Midrash isn't a technical, rigid, stale approach to the text. Midrash invites the reader into playfulness. Midrash recognizes that in the stories of the Bible, there are gaps, places where details are left unsaid. These gaps mean that the text has an abundance of meaning. At each gap, the reader is invited into the a moment of wonder, of surprise and shock, of playfulness and creativity, of (dare I say) imagination. In this playfulness, the text comes alive in new ways. Reading the Scriptures, by means of Midrash, invites the reader to step off the well-beaten path only to arrive at the destination in a new way.
Today's texts invite us into such encounter. In John 8, we encounter a woman nearly stoned to death by the religious conservatives (the strict letter following folks) for her adultery. These men make the mistake of asking Jesus what he thinks about this woman. Here is where the gaps can make room for playfulness. The story tells us that Jesus, knelt down and wrote something in the sand. Have you ever stopped to think, "What did he write?" "What did he draw?" Reading the Bible invites us to linger in those moments. Don't rush. Let the Spirit of God to guide your imagination, evoke your creativity. I've thought of a number of different options (that I'm not going to tell you here because I want you to make your own discoveries.) In both Luke and Matthew, Jesus calms the storm. Great. One dimensional reading tells us, "Jesus can calm the storms of life." Sure, absolutely. But what else? What else is happening on those boats? What comes before? What comes after? Are there connections to be made? Who is freaking out in the boat? Who is trying to act tough? Who is hung over the side crying out for momma? Did you give yourself room to play?
Playing around in the text invites the text to come alive.
However, there are a few guiding principles for us.
1.) Playing around in the text doesn't mean the text can ultimately mean whatever you want it to mean. Playfulness fills up the text, but it doesn't conform the text to your wishes. Our faith tradition establishes some boundaries (think the lines of a football field or a basketball court). These lines protect us from landing out of bounds. The more we understand our tradition and the more we compare what we read to other passages of the Scripture, the more we will feel the freedom to play around faithfully.
2.) Often our playfulness and creativity will be determined by where we are standing in life. There is no neutral place from which we can stand and make sense of the Scriptures. We are shaped by the context of our lives. I often hear people say, "every time I read the same story it means something different to me." In some ways that's true. However, I'd like to change the language a bit. "Every time I read the same story I find myself standing in a different place of life which enables me to see the story from a different angle, which adds depth and meaning to the text."
3.) It's always more fun playing with friends. The Scriptures were never simply intended to be read as my book (in the individual sense). The Scriptures were intended to be read as our book (in the communal sense). Playing around is always more fun when there are others to share in the delight. Reading the Bible well means finding people with whom you can share what God is showing you and hearing what God is showing others. Community can also help to serve as a safe-guard from landing out of bounds.
4.) A Trail Guide is always helpful. If you are going to play around and wander off the beaten path, don't go alone. When you read, invite the Holy Spirit to take your hand as you journey. Allow the Spirit to be the One that stirs your imagination and invites you into creativity. The Spirit is faithful to help us discover new things in the text and convict us when we begin to use the text to justify our selfish intentions and ambitions.
Read, play, have fun! Let the stories come alive today.
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