Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-01-25

q. I have Just begun reading the
Bible. find some stories in it hard to
believe, to say the least. Can you sug-
gest any book that would help me to
understand 1t better and interpret it
aright2
A. No book has suffered SO much mis-
understanding as the Bible, and the
formulation of the doctrine Of its in
fallibility was q very unfortunate de-
Velopment. The original founders of
Professionalism did not hold that doc
trine, but it appeared later in Protest.
ant theology as an Offset to the dogma
Of an infallible papacy,
Christian scholars have been bur-
dened with this perversion for at least
500 years. The spiritual pain and mis-
direction for which 1t is responsible are
as deplorable as they are needless.
Your question is an evidence Of them.
Certain biblical episodes trouble you be-
cause you do not read them correctly.
Detached from their setting and from
the purposes Of their authors or COM
pliers, they seem to serve no rational
end. They can only be interpreted by
considering the original purposes which
produced them and the conditions OF
the people to whom they were first
addressed.
Thus viewed they become a part OF
the unfolding process by which God was
finding men and men were finding God,
The fact that some stories are not only
non-theological, but non-moral does not
carry with It the implication that they
have the divine approval. Noah got
drunk, but surely none who accepts the
teaching Of Jesus about God believes
that He sanctioned Noah's debauchery
Nor does the account Of David's adul-
terry and his murder Of Uriah to cover
his conduct signify that God upholds
adultery and murder. The Bible is the
record OF mans ever-increasing under
standing of the will of the Heavenly
Father. That understanding came to its
climax In the prophets of Israel and
supremely in the Christ. Doubtless
many are shocked by not q few of its
earlier phases because they live In the
light of the later revelation.
Consult Francis M. McConnell's
Understanding the Scriptures; F. G.
Eiselen's Christian View of the Old
Testament; w. N. Clark's "Sixty Years
With the Bible" and the newly pub
lshed and admirable Abingdon Bible
Commentary" for the help you need.
q. What is your conception or theory
concerning the second coming Of Christi
A. The New Testament contains more
than one theory about this anticipated
event. In his earlier letters st. Pau
seems to have expected an immediate
manifestation OF his Lord, accompanied
by certain external signs and wonders
But as the apostles spiritual expert
ence widened he modified his first po-
sition, and In his later letters he speaks
of the believing souls mystical union
with the Risen Christ.
The author of the Fourth Gospel en-
phasizes that spiritual oneness and
claims that eternal life Is the present
possession of the Christian. According
to this gospel, the Master has never left
His people, but has always been with
them as their guide and consider. Ny
own conception Of His second coming
is governed by the Johanine teaching
The continuous entrance Of the life OF
the Risen Christ into human affairs
which makes them the expression Of
His purpose, seems far more satisfying
and reasonable than are the apocalyptiC
teachings which some brethren indorse
Lovers Of concrete splendorS may de-
Lord as q spiritual emperor, before
whose visible return earth and HEAVIER
shall be subdued But this Is the print.
| tive concept of a former age. I prefel
to believe that all divine manifestation,
have their re aim in the infinite and the
unseen. Th:re they originate and
thence they project their. gracious influ.
enceS into mans unfolding existence.
@. what do you think is the best
type of sermon to preach today2
A. The one which dovetails with the
actual conditions Of those to whom you