What Do I Want the Bible to Mean v. What Did God Say?
You art lovers are going to paint me in a bad light for this, but here goes …
I’m not a fan of Pablo Picasso.
To be fair, his early works are nice. This week marks the anniversary of his first art exhibit, and these first paintings showed talent. His first piece listed was titled “Yo” (meaning “I” or “me” in Spanish). It was a self-portrait. He was only nineteen, but it is evident he knew how to hold a paintbrush.
But then Picasso got into cubism. It’s summer, so I’m also into cubism—ice cubism—but Picasso’s cubism was to deconstruct objects into geometric shapes. No perspective needed, just abstract images and shapes. While much of the art world loved these later works, normal people would ask, “What is it?”
But don’t ask Picasso himself what it is. He would leave it for you to decide. Picasso said, “It isn’t up to the painter to define the symbols. The public who look at the picture must interpret the symbols as they understand them.”
What is it? It’s whatever you think it is.
Picasso died over fifty years ago, but his attitude toward his art has only spread into the rest of culture. It is up to us to decide. Truth is what we make it. “That may be your truth, but this is how I see it … so this is my truth.”
Nope, nope, and nope.
Hey, kids, try this at home. When Mom says it’s time to clean your room, keep playing your Xbox. If she gets upset, just explain that, while you know what she means by “now,” you interpret “now” to refer to this lifetime. I’m sure she’ll understand. In fact, when she says, “You’re grounded,” she will even adopt your truth, meaning you’re grounded for this lifetime.
Truth and meaning are not determined by the viewer, reader, or listener. What matters is what the speaker or creator intended. Hollywood does early previews of their movies for this very reason. They want to observe and hear from the audience. Did they laugh at the right times? Did they laugh at the wrong times? How did they react? Movies are routinely recut because an audience didn’t react the way the producer and director wanted them to. The producers want their intent to be on display.
Picasso may give you permission to give whatever meaning you choose to his work, but not God. What He revealed through His Word is what He meant. Period. That’s why it is important not just to read His Word but to study it. There are a lot of bad interpretation and applications of Scripture, but we must dig in to see what the writer intended. How do we understand the words in light of the culture and time in which it was written?
We cannot let culture tell us what the Bible says on a given topic. We can’t let our own preferences dictate how we interpret Scripture. We must see and obey God’s Word in light of its original intent.
Does that really matter? Absolutely. In His love, God has revealed who He is and who we are. Like an owner’s manual, the Bible tells us how to get the most out of this life. How to deal with the sin that ruins life. How to live in surrender and submission to the lordship of Christ. How to experience the abundant life that comes through unadulterated obedience to the joyous commands of God.
I’ve learned that God’s intended meaning is far better than any interpretation I want to give it. He knows me best, and He knows what is best for me. So, I will continue to dig into His Word for the truth.
That’s a truth you can hang on the wall.
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