The Purpose of Scripture - Part 2 - Cleansing ones Life

This beautiful excerpt from St. Athanasius book On the Incarnation truly captures the essence of what scripture is supposed to mean for us. The problem of the historical-critical analysis of the bible in our 21st century context is that it's geared towards the science of scripture that it makes us forget that these are truly the words of God. Matthew the Poor used to say that every time he would read scripture (i.e. the first chapter of John's gospel); he would understand it differently every time he read it. This shows that scripture can speak to us in ways the modern approach to studying scripture can't. Now I am not saying studying the science of the Bible is wrong. Rather, this can be an edifying experience because this can show us how we have to start preaching scripture more to people. It's become a sad reality in our modern society when other faiths such as Buddhism, Hinduism, Islam etc can freely express their faith in the secular classroom however, faiths like Judaism and Christianity are not allowed to talk about their faith. Society today does not allow Christians to cleanse there life in order to read and understand scripture.

Life is like a fast food menu. We are jumping from one item to another not realizing the damage this causes to our soul. Over time we start to lose our holiness and our spirituality dimensions to simple prayers asking God to help us in something specific or to give us something we truly want. Scripture would then be read and understood as a check list to please God. However, this is not the purpose of Scripture. The purpose of scripture is meant to change us on the inside. It reveals who Christ is and how we can live in unity with Christ. When we cleanse our lives from the negatives society throws at us that is when the true meaning of scripture will be understood. Scripture is the edifying promise that reaches its climax with the cross of Christ. Scripture is meant to be understood in light of the cross and if we realize what our cross is only then will scripture be as St. Athanasius puts it "was revealed to them (the saints) by God". Just like God reveals scripture to Matthew the Poor and to others so to will he reveal it to us!       

_______________________

St. Athanasius: On the Incarnation of the Word:

But for the searching and right understanding of the Scriptures there is need of a good life and a pure soul, and for Christian virtue to guide the mind and grasp, so far as human nature can, the truth concerning God the Word. One cannot possibly understand the teaching of the saints unless one has a pure mind and is trying to imitate their life. Anyone who wants to look at sunlight naturally wipes his eye clear first, in order to make, at any rate, some approximation to the purity of that one which he looks; and a person wishing to see a city or country goes to the place in order to do so. Similarly, anyone who wishes to understand the mind of the sacred writers must first cleanse his own life, and approach the saints by copying their deeds. Thus united to them in the fellowship of life, he will both understand the things revealed to them by God, and thenceforth escaping the peril that threatens sinners in the judgment, will receive that which is laid up for the saints in the kingdom of heaven.