“Reading Scripture isn’t simply a matter of acquiring new information, together with some pious inspiration. Rather, a faithful reading of Scripture is to be nothing less than a training ground for lives of justice. If our reading of an ancient text like Romans doesn’t deepen our lives and our habits in a way that makes us more proficient, more practically competent in lives of justice, then it isn’t a reading of Scripture at all!”
I like this passage from the book I’m reading, Romans Disarmed, by Sylvia Keesmaat and Brian Walsh, because of the idea of how reading Scripture is a key part of shaping our lives and habits in a way that seeks justice. The common way many people approach Scripture is to read it like we would any other text: as a purveyor of knowledge, albeit a unique kind of knowledge perhaps. But the reading of Scripture is something different than just reading a book. Scripture should be read and understood in a way that produces a material change in the way you live. The power of the words of Scripture are their ability to reorient our lives towards God, and thus towards love, mercy and justice. It’s not a list of rules, of do’s and don’ts, of how to avoid sin and thus hell. To treat Scripture that way is to not give it the respect it deserves.
Justin DaMetz 