Bible 101: An Introduction

-Rev Melissa Fain-

Once every couple of years I delve into this subject. I believe we need to bridge the gaps through the growing chasms in Christian faith. One of those bridges is Church faith with Seminary knowledge.

The church gets faith. They understand and know the power of God in the world and in their own lives. Great books  by faith leaders have explored the well of Living Water. BUT- church often ignores or refuses understanding. Most congregants don't even know they are being refused this knowledge, and many would choose to refuse if they knew.

Meanwhile, the seminary gets knowledge. Scholars have boldly explored the theological and biblical possibilities, even the ones that scare us. BUT- seminaries are often Godless. The bible is viewed through a secular lens. It is simply an archaeological or sociological book. 

Here's the problem. Faith is a blind journey, and knowledge is a road map. The map exists for a reason. All of us have the potential to see a minuscule piece of the Divine. Seminary is supposed to be the collections of those minuscule pieces, brought together to create a fuller picture. In many ways, it still is, but without the journey the map is null and void.

I want to bring those pieces back together. 

This is where, if you have any idea what I'm saying, you should be getting a bit anxious. To do this, it means I will take you places that are very spiritually uncomfortable. This is information that have broken those before us. First year seminarians learn what I wish to share, and they leave the faith entirely. What should one expect when knowledge is introduced with God cleanly cut out? You are left with an empty void that sucks you into the abyss.

I promise. if you stick around for the next two or three months, I will connect the faith with the knowledge. There are no abysses in my words. God remains, and will remain. Let me leave you with this warning:

You cannot undo what you may read in my words over the coming weeks. 
If you are not ready, just skip the meditations for a bit. I want to get real, but this reality is a one way trip. This isn't a trick. You have to be ready for what I'm going to share.

That being said, as always, I'm excited. Biblical interpretation and theology are the two things I can pull out soap boxes for, or geek out over. Stick around, and you won't be disappointed. Hang back, and I won't be disappointed. No disappointment anywhere.