Last Night at the SH Bible Study we talked very briefly about the Tower of Babel story found in chapter 11 of Genesis. We had a range of opinion, from the obvious humor in the story: God coming down and shaking things up; to the likely “real” meaning behind the story — all of humanity’s attempts to make a name for ourselves end in chaos and confusion.
Some of you were concerned when I commented on the fact that I didn’t know if the story were “true.”
That’s understandable. No one wants to hear their pastor imply that the Bible is not trustworthy.
Of course I never said that the Bible couldn’t be trusted. It can. I think in future weeks we will talk a little bit about “how” we know what we know. There are different kinds of knowledge and there are differnt kinds of true.
Quick example. Your heart is a muscle. Your heart is also so much more than a muscle. Both of those statements are true. When your heart is broken it hurts just the same as a heart attack, maybe worse! I don’t really know because I have never experienced an actual heart attack, but I have experienced feeling as though someone had ripped my heart from out of my chest and stomped on it.
Our hearts are more than the literal elements of cardiac muscle, electrical impulse, and blood that the surgeons see when they perform an operation. They are also the source of strength, courage, and deep love we exhibit towards challenges, enemies, and friends.
All the stories in Genesis are based in some reality, some true element, no matter how fanciful they may seem. These stories (the Creation, the garden, Cain and Abel, Noah, etc) communicate deeper truths.
- The One God created all there is and that creation is good.
- We are self-centered and try to be like God.
- We are jealous of one another and that sometimes causes violence to erupt.
- God has chosen to work out redemption and renewal of creation through us, flaws and all.
- All of our efforts to make a great name for ourselves are doomed.
Now all of these truths are true regardless of whether or not ever detail in the stories they correspond with are literally true.
The point is do not get caught in the trap of thinking it is an all or nothing thing.
There are Christians who believe every word of the first eleven chapters of Genesis. They are good Christians. They are faithful Christians.
There are Christians who do not believe every word of the first eleven chapters of Genesis. They are good Christians. They are faithful Christians.
Too often they do not respect each other’s opinions. But the reality is that we cannot prove, scientifically or historically any of the stories found at the beginning of our Bible. Those stories record events and people that go so far back into history that there is no way to verify the details.
But there is more to it than that. The stories are communicating truths about God and about us. Some of those truths are listed above. When we worry about the details and whether or not it is literally true, we miss the Truth that the stories are trying to tell us. We miss the questions that the stories are asking us.
So, if you want to believe that there was a real Babel and that God mixed up our languages there. Great. But don’t miss the larger truth about not seeking greatness and meaning from a source outside of God. If you do not believe that there was a real Babel, rather than discredit the Bible because of it take a moment to really listen to what the story is telling you and asking you. Above all else, respect the opinion of the person who views the story in a different way from you. Don’t label them, accuse them of being unfaithful or of being simpleminded, but respect them. This is part of what it means to love your neighbor as yourself.
As for me, the story has some fanciful elements, but I choose to accept it on faith that it happened. And for now that is enough.
No Comments Yet
No comments yet.
Comments RSS TrackBack Identifier URI
Leave a comment
