How to Take the Bible Literally

“You don’t take the Bible literally, do you?”

As I begin this blogging adventure I wanted to deal with a subject that should be important to every believer. How to interpret the Bible correctly?  
 
I read a fellow pastors blog and he referred to a recent article by a professor at IIiff School of Theology.  “No one reads or interprets the Bible literally—regardless as to what they profess.  To do so is simplistic, if not dangerous.  All of us read our bias, our theology, and our social location into the text.  There is no such thing as an objective reading; all readings are subjective.”
 
But wait, it gets worse.
 
If we were to take it literally, we would then be forced to “live illegal—if not immoral lives.” To prove his point, the learned professor prepared his own pop quiz:
 

• The biblical definition of a traditional marriage is one between a man and: a) many wives or concubines, b) sex slaves, c) prostitutes, d) his harem, e) all of the above.
• Homosexuals are to be: a) tolerated, b) encouraged, c) killed, d) banned.
• Women are saved: a) through baptism, b) by reciting a sinner’s prayer, c) through child-bearing, d) accepting Jesus, who died for their sins, as Lord and Savior.
• Evil and evil spirits come from: a) God, b) Satan, c) neither a nor b, d) both a and b.
• Every year, one must take a tithe of all the land has yielded and a) give it to the priests, b) give it to the church, c) give it to the poor, d) convert it to cash and buy anything their heart desires.
• The Bible makes provisions for offering a sacrifice to: a) nature, b) the demonic god names Azazel, c) God, d) a and b, e) b and c

 
His list of answers?
1.  e—I Kings 11: 3, Deut. 21: 10-14, Gen, 38: 15, Lev. 18:18. 2.  c—Lev. 20: 13; 3.  c—I Timothy 2: 14-15; 4. d— I Sam. 18: 10, I Kings 14: 10, Amos 3: 6, Isaiah 45:7; 5. d—Deut. 14: 22-27; 6. e—Lev. 16: 8, 10, 26 (source: “A Pop Quiz for Biblical Literalists,” Miguel De La Torre)
 
A class could be taught on how not to interpret anything based on this quiz.  To fifth graders.
 
I have no problem with an intelligent discussion about biblical truth and authority.  What I do have a problem with is a ridiculous interpretation of the Bible that violates all of the most fundamental rules of textual interpretation with “taking the Bible literally.”  This is such a worn out stereotype.  When you read such “quizzes” as above, it reveals both a hermeneutical (how to interpret the bible) and theological ignorance.  It is a bad thing when the world and the media keeps getting it wrong; but when it comes from a “professor” of theology just to prove his biased point of view, it is really bad.
 
So what does it mean to take the bible literally?  It simply means that you take it at face value, which is the proper way to study the Bible.  If it is poetry, read and interpret it as poetry.  If it is history, read and interpret it as history.  It also means that you take into account the historical setting and how it fits in the entirety of the Bible.  You then find the unchanging truth and bring it into your context today.  It is not that difficult.
 
So as you continue your journey of spiritual growth and maintaining the momentum that you have gained spiritually, here are three principles for interpreting the Bible: 1) always try and find the authors original intent; 2) always try and interpret the verse in light of its context; and 3) always let Scriptures interpret Scripture; and 4) always remember that it is God’s inspired word to you (II Timothy 3: 16-18) .
 
That is taking it literally.  And yes, I do.
 
Pastor Scott