The Bible has everything to do with the here and now

Posted on October 8, 2009
Filed under Community, Witness | by David Leave a Comment

By Don Prange
Published in the Loudoun Times-Mirror, October 7, 2009

How do I, as a Christian minister, contribute faithfully to our national conversation about health care?

After more than 50 years of ordained ministry, I find that my beliefs continue to shrink while my faith continues to expand and grow. This is especially true of how I understand The Bible.

From childhood through seminary, I was conditioned to believe it was the revealed and inerrant Word of God, and that its essential message was about what happens after death: heaven or hell? But as I took seriously the words of Jesus announcing his public ministry, “The Reign of God is very near. Repent [start thinking and acting in a new and different way], and believe the Good News” (Mark 1:15), I began to be impacted by historical contexts just as I’m sure he was.

As a young pastor, a major faith-shaping context for me came during Pittsburgh’s first major civil rights demonstration in 1963. I was a spectator; hundreds of demonstrators marched on the other side of the street. A ministerial colleague from our neighborhood came over, took me by the arm, and said “Brother Don, I believe you’re on the wrong side of the street.” Suddenly, I was a demonstrator. Perspectives change when you view things from the other side of the street. I began to think and act in new and different ways.

A critical exploration of my belief system had begun. It became clear the Bible’s essential message has everything to do with life in the here and now, and very little, if anything, with the hereafter – other than providing images for a faith to live out the realities of heaven on earth. And central to such a faith are doing justice, loving tenderly, and walking humbly with God. (See Micah 6:8)

How do people of faith demonstrate these values with respect to basic human needs — like health care? My beliefs about the Bible have changed; my faith takes its values seriously. But how much more urgent they must be if you regard it as the inerrant Word of God?

Note: St. James UCC will hold two public Faith and Life Forums about our health care crisis, Oct. 8 in Lovettsville and Oct. 15 in Leesburg. For details, visit www.stjamesucc-love.org

Don Prange is in his seventh year as minister at St. James United Church of Christ in Lovettsville. Reach him at 540.822.4306 or coramej@aol.com.

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