Becoming a "Living Exegesis"

For a little background- This paper is dealing with the Gorman text as we are called to become a living exegesis. Essentially Gorman here is talking about living out the revelations that God gives us through exegesis (close reading) of the Bible. Enjoy!

Nathan Goldbloom

Seattle Pacific University

Theo 6010

October 20, 2010

What is a living exegesis?

Gorman calls for congregations to become “living exegesis”.[1] As living exegesis the community would embody the sacred text in their lives, becoming transformed. Understanding this call raises the question what practices help to form a living exegesis? The foundation of becoming a living exegesis rests on communal and individual discernment accomplished in conjunction with the Holy Spirit that leads to discipleship. Leaders will model these practices through their own discipleship, servant leadership, incarnational living, and vision.

The most crucial practice in a living exegesis is discernment. In practicing discernment the community listens to the Spirit by asking critical questions and ruminating on the sacred text. Brothers and sisters in Christ are required for this as we can often mistake God’s word.[2] The spiritual practice of prayer is crucial in discerning God’s message for a community. By starting with a practice of discernment we allow for the Holy Spirit to work.

For true discernment to take place a community needs to cultivate their faith through intentional faith development. This may be cultivated through Bible studies, prayer groups, “class meetings”, worship services, serving others/poor, or simply living life together in Christian community. The community no longer stays content in a static faith, but starts a pilgrimage together towards God’s kingdom.[3] This cultivation allows God to penetrate our biases and hardened hearts.

When the community has discerned what it is that God is saying through a passage then comes the task of bringing life to the interpretation. What good would it be to discern what it is God is calling only to do the opposite? Even when we know what it is that God is calling us to we still fail to follow through. Many denominations have a confessional prayer in worship services to help remind us of this difficulty.[4] These confessional prayers remind us that we are not alone in living out God’s word. Support of others is necessary to make it possible. As a result the practice of discipleship is essential to becoming a living exegesis.

Discipleship is about accepting and following God’s will with obedience, discipline, and accountability. When we follow God’s word we must be obedient to this call, responding with a “yes” as the faithful in the Bible did.[5] It takes conviction to live out God’s revelations from the Bible. This discipline to stay true to the discerned exegesis amidst strife, persecution, or apathy becomes essential to embodying the Word. Accountability, having support and reminders of purpose from others, helps all to persevere even though the pilgrimage becomes difficult. Communal practices invite the Spirits continual guidance and discernment.

If this is what it takes for a church to become living exegesis then what does leadership look like in cultivating a living exegesis? The leadership will need to model four key attributes: discipleship, servant, incarnational, and vision. Modeling discipleship is done humbly in daily incarnational living. Leaders will teach discipleship practices through relationships and through formal teaching. By becoming servants, leaders teach through modeling faithful exegetical living. Vision is then communicated at all opportunities through the guidance of the Spirit in formal settings and in everyday life.

The Seattle FFMC job description presented many leadership qualities, but failed to promote several key practices. The church recognizes that the pastor is on a spiritual journey. “Pervasive immersion in scripture” is cited which helps provide vision and the Spirit’s discernment. Finally, the congregation already demonstrated discernment by prayerfully considering what it was that they needed in a head pastor.

The job description goes on to hint that the congregation desires a lead pastor to step in and take away their responsibility in the process of becoming a living exegesis. This is made evident by the passive language statements like wanting someone who “wins others involvement.” A church needs to be engaged the discernment and discipleship associated with being a living exegesis.

These practices and qualities help a community to become a living exegesis. As a living exegesis we then can become transformed into Christ’s Body and participate in the Missio Dei.

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[1] Michael J. Gorman. Elements of Biblical Exegesis: A Basic Guide for Students and Ministers. (Peabody, Massachusetts: Hendrickson Publishers, 2009), 163.

[2] 1 Samuel 3:1-9

[3] Darrell L. Guder, Editor. Missional Church: A Vision for the Sending of the Church in North America (Grand Rapids, Michigan: William B. Eedmans Publishing Company, 1998), 206.

[4] Our Catholic Faith. “Penitential Rite.” http://www.ourcatholicfaith.org/mass/penitentialrite.html (accessed October 25, 2010).

[5] Examples of Biblical saints to say yes: Abraham- Genesis 12, Jeremiah 1, Simon, Andrew, James and John- Mark 1:14-20.