TOO COMPLICATED

Much of the Bible is made out to be much more complicated than it needs to be. In many ways we live like the Athenians of Acts of the Apostles 17:21: “It should be explained that all Athenians a well as the foreigners in Athens seemed to spend all their time discussing the latest ideas.”

How many more discussions are helpful concerning eschatological sequence, critical theory and underlying assumptions or existential range of philosophical parley or experiences… or whatever? On the other hand, a few Google searches and YouTube videos does not make one an authority either. I am not saying these subjects are unimportant or that diligent research and scholarship are not needed. I am saying that we can make some topics much more complicated than they need to be. Other than the serious academics and theologians, ‘common sense’ has long been the hallmark of understanding basic scripture for centuries.

“The Bible is very easy to understand. But we Christians are a bunch of scheming swindlers. We pretend to be unable to understand it because we know very well that the minute we understand we are obligated to act accordingly.” Søren Kierkegaard (1813-1855), Danish philosopher.

That could be why it is ‘too complicated.’

“You are a respected Jewish teacher, and yet you don’t understand these things? I assure you, we tell you what we know and have seen, yet you won’t believe our testimony.” Jesus