Reading the Bible as a Novel

Commentators and expositors are very useful, indeed, but the best expositor is always the author of a book, himself. If I had a book which I did not quite understand, it would be a very great convenience to me to live next door to the author, for then I could run in and ask him what he meant. - CS Lewis

For a very large part of my 76 years I was obsessed with the Bible. I read it through every year in a different translation. I studied it and tried to glean an understanding of what the passage meant for my life.

I called it The Word of God and considered it a sacred book.

Then my life and my faith entered a period of deconstruction. (read about it here). Over many years I not only changed my views about passages in the Bible but I began to change the way that I read it. 

I began reading it more like a novel than a text book. More like a work of fiction than non-fiction. Not that I consider the Bible to be fictional. I just gave myself room to read it through different eyes.

I guess I began reading it with my heart instead of my head. I began to see more gray in the scriptures than black and white. Reading it like a novel allowed me to embrace love and grace as I read.

So when I came across hard and narrow passages (like in Leviticus), I allowed love to interpret verses that spoke of treating others in hateful ways - stoning people or killing enemies.

For me, this has greatly enhanced my faith. No longer seeing every scripture as authoritative gave me a new love for this book that I have treasured for so long. And it help reshape my image of God.

For years I have tried to read this beautiful book through the eyes of Jesus - through the eyes of love. Yet is was difficult because I read it like a text book or a history book. 

I remember a few years ago, I was teaching a class where we read the entire bible in 90 day (I have done several of these) and one of the students (a HS physics teacher) told me that she was distressed by some of the stories recounting the Israeli conquest of Canaan. I reassured her that her feelings were merited.

In reality, there are passages in the bible that are troubling when you read them through the lens of authority. Thinking that God commanded the killing of infants really skews your divine image.

Yet when you read those same passages as a novel, you give yourself permission to see God and humanity in a different light. You understand that humans thinking God told them to do something is not the same as God actually instructing them to do it. In this we allow ourselves to see God as a loving Father.

I imagine someone might ask, how do you know what things are fictional and what is not. That is a good and fair question. For me, I let love and the Holy Spirit lead me. Sometimes it is easier. Other times it is more difficult. Mostly, I tend to err on the side of love.

Another benefit of reading the bible as a novel is the way that it forces you to jettison old ideas about the bible. In my youth I would often read looking for ways to validate my theology. In doing this we really miss the sweeping saga that is the bible. And I think that we lose the beauty of the book when we do.

The bible is an amazing collection of books with many authors and different points of view. In it we read a bit of history, some prophecy, thought provoking poetry and much ancient wisdom.

It reminds me that every verse does not have to be factual for the Bible to be spectacular. Where else can we read the journeys of many peoples, tribes and nations. In it we read of how the tribes of Israel were delivered from bondage and only to go to war with nations because they believed God gave them real estate.

It reminds me that the ends rarely justify the means. If one thinks that God wants them to ruthlessly take something by force, they may want to reexamine their motivation. Perhaps there is a peaceful way to follow God? Maybe He would prefer cooperation instead of dominance?

A theme throughout the Bible is the ancient image of the Warrior God. I suspect that it originated with a man - men like warriors. Perhaps an ancient woman would have envisioned God differently? Maybe the God who, in the New Testament, is later described as love would have surfaced earlier in time. Hard to say as many ancient peoples embraced the idea of a Divine Warrior? Just looks at the gods of the Greeks.

Not sure that I have much more to say about this novel idea except to encourage you to allow yourself to read the Bible differently than you have. Find a way that works for you. Get comfortable with thinking outside the box. It is working for me and I hope it will for you too.

... this devotion is part of a series on my spiritual deconstruction. Click here to read more.
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spiritual deconstruction

Spiritual deconstruction is the process of critically examining and potentially rejecting long-held religious beliefs, practices, and identities. It's a journey of re-evaluation, not necessarily a rejection of faith itself, but rather a questioning of what no longer aligns with one's personal values and sense of self. This can involve questioning doctrines, rituals, and even the way one understands God. 

I have developed a theology that unravels almost all of my many years of orthodoxy.

I laugh, and sometimes cry, when I think of the strict dogma that shaped my early years.

For so many years I spent so much time thinking that:
1) God is perfect and in control;

2) the bible was a spiritual roadmap to knowing and understanding God; 

3) humankind was in need of blood atonement when love was the real need;

4) the church, with its rites, sacraments and theology, had real answers.
I have come to believe that what humankind needed (and needs) is love. Loving neighbors. Loving enemies - even religious ones. IMO, it is enough for me to equate God with love and love with God. All else is dross. And a God of love is impossible to comprehend with the brain because love can only be experienced with the heart.

That said, please know that I still sense the presence of God in my life. It might be just misfiring neurons to some, but I hear him speak to me with a kindness that breaks me. With a love that sees me. In my darkest days, I sense his spirit encouraging me to hang in there and simply take another step.

Of course, it is not the science that many seek. IMO, science and history only show us our problems. They offer very few answers. There in, is the rub. Why fixate on the natural when there may be other things more important? Things like loving our neighbor.

... this devotion is part of a series on my spiritual deconstruction. Click here to read more.
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not so original sin

"Therefore, as through one man’s offense judgment came to all men, resulting in condemnation, even so through one Man’s righteous act the free gift came to all men, resulting in justification of life. For as by one man’s disobedience many were made sinners, so also by one Man’s obedience many will be made righteous." [Romans 5:18-19 NKJV]

I think that these verses crystallize Paul's thinking about the human condition and why people act badly. I think that, in his mind, he could not envision a God who created humans with the ability to do bad things. Many in the Bible felt this way. In Psalm 51 King David opined that he was brought forth in iniquity, and in sin his mother conceived him. The idea that humans are born bad is an ancient thought.

I am sad when I think of the original sin dogma. So much time thinking that humankind is born bad. So much focus on the need for divine forgiveness, atonement and salvation just because of an obtuse idea that we inherited sin, like a blood disease, from somebody in Genesis. I think that the whole thing might come from our need to shield God from some sort of blame for human mistakes, errors and atrocities.

In contrast, my opinion is what humankind needs was, and is, love. Loving neighbors makes a difference in the world. Loving our enemies, even our religious ones, has untapped potential to bring peace. I sometimes think that it is enough for me to equate God with love and love with God. All else feels inadequate and lacking. A God of love is really impossible to comprehend because love can only be experienced with the heart.

I still sense the presence of God in my life. It might be just misfiring neurons, but I hear him speak to me with a kindness that breaks me. With a love that sees me. In my darkest days, I sense his spirit encouraging me to hang in there and simply take another step. He speaks to me not of my mistakes or my failures. God under-girds me with a strength that I didn't know that I had. A power that seems to have its roots in goodness and not sin.

So. When I think about forgiveness these days it is more about my need for forgiveness from my neighbor and their need for my forgiveness. When I think of salvation my mind travels to how God has saved me from erroneous theology and harmful activities. I think of how he, each day, causes bad things to work for my good. I don't think of the cross as a blood atonement but as an example of laying down my life for my neighbor.

In the end, I think that humanity needs the gospel of resurrection more than the gospel of death. My thinking is that Jesus' death showed us the way of love and his resurrection showed us the power of love. It is hard to think this way. It is unorthodox and man, I really want to be orthodox. Yet sometimes we have to let go of ancient ideas. The world is not flat and sin is not inherited. God loves us just the way we are. Praise be to the Lord.

... this devotion is part of a series on my spiritual deconstruction. Click here to read more.
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hyperbole and the moving of mountains

Jesus told his disciples, “Have faith in God! I tell all of you with certainty, if anyone says to this mountain, ‘Be lifted up and thrown into the sea,’ if he doesn’t doubt in his heart but believes that what he says will happen, it will be done for him. That is why I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it and it will be yours. [Mark 11:22-24 ISV]

The idea of moving mountains is a great example of how Jesus used hyperbole.

Images of hating parents or blinding our sinful eyes are other examples.

These exaggerated statements are never meant to be taken literally.

Yet often, religious people read verses like these and are stymied by them.

I do love that Jesus begins by telling his followers to have faith in God.

Having faith in prayers, or the moving of mountains, is not the same.

There are prayers that are not answered and mountains unmoved.

God is really not in the business of moving mountains for you.

It is why I think that this whole passage may be an example of hyperbole.

Perhaps Jesus is exaggerating to prove a divine point?

It is possible that he is teaching about the futility of selfish prayer.

Teaching an absurdity such as mountain moving may be an indictment.

Perhaps an example of how self-centered prayer can be?

Maybe an exposition of the foolishness of the so-called sin of doubting?

However one looks at it, I think that Jesus desires us to reexamine prayer.

He wants us to avoid being certain and understand that it is okay to doubt.

In that sense, the Lord invites us to come to him with our doubts.

God is interested in the condition of our hearts more than our mountains.

I think that we should be as well.

Of course, the verses preceding these deal with Jesus cursing a fig tree.

More on that another time.

Lord give us grace to bring our doubts and cares to you in prayer.

... this devotion is part of a series on my spiritual deconstruction. Click here to read more.
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My Deconstruction Diary




Spiritual deconstruction is the process of critically examining and potentially rejecting long-held religious beliefs, practices, and identities. It's a journey of re-evaluation, not necessarily a rejection of faith itself, but rather a questioning of what no longer aligns with one's personal values and sense of self. This can involve questioning doctrines, rituals, and even the way one understands God. Here are my posts describing a bit of my Deconstruction. Be warned, I may edit these a bit as my journey continues. 😇


Thanks for reading. There is more to come. I will share when I feel a bit inspired.

... this devotion is part of a series on my spiritual deconstruction. Click here to read more.
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the myth of religious karma

The Pharisee stood by himself and prayed this prayer: ‘I thank you, God, that I am not like other people—cheaters, sinners, adulterers. I’m certainly not like that tax collector! I fast twice a week, and I give you a tenth of my income.’ [Luke 18:9-14:]

This religious dude seems to have embraced the idea of religious karma.

By that, I mean the idea that our lives are rewarded because we do religious stuff.

His words would be hilarious if not for the idea that this guy should know better.

I sometimes hear religious folks saying things like: 'I don't need luck. I am blessed'. 

It seems to reflect the way that these folks see their lives.

These rarely attribute their misfortunes to being cursed.

Yet the same folks will credit being blessed when things go their way.

In reality, bragging about our blessings often reflects self righteous thinking.

Consider about the saying 'There but for the grace of God, go I'.

Another quazi-self-righteous sentiment.

Life so often resembles luck and has little to do with some arbitrary grace.

Jesus saw it a bit differently when he called poor people blessed.

In the beatitudes Christ obliterates religious ideas of what it means to be blessed.

He really subverts the prevailing idea of what it means to be blessed.

In my view luck seems to be a better description of life.

Some are lucky and born into loving families while some are not.

Many lead healthy lives while others suffer from diseases.

In the end, life has nothing to do with karma.

Some people work hard and are lucky enough to see good results from it.

Some work just as hard and do not see good results at all.

In the end, life is more about luck than it is about religious karma.

... this devotion is part of the Red Letters series. Click here to read more.
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feeling alone and forsaken

Now from the sixth hour there was darkness over all the land until the ninth hour. And about the ninth hour Jesus cried out with a loud voice, saying, “Eli, Eli, lema sabachthani?” that is, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” And some of the bystanders, hearing it, said, “This man is calling Elijah.” [Matthew 27:45-47]

Has there ever been a more surreal death in all of history?

Lean into this with me if you can. 

For hours, in the middle of the day, darkness reigned over the earth. 

The atmosphere was tenuous and people were certainly on edge. 

Then from the cross a scream penetrated the darkness. 

It was God's own son crying out with words of being forsaken. 

Oh my! Small wonder that some thought he was calling out for Elijah. 

Who would have ever thought the Messiah, the son of God, would feel forsaken and say such a thing.

This short statement so encourages me. 

Many times I have felt forsaken by God. 

When my first wife died at age 43 my soul cried out with words too painful to say out loud. 

In hospital rooms and rehab facilities I have felt so alone and forsaken. 

To know that Jesus experienced like feelings of being forsaken gives me courage to hope again. 

To know that my Lord knows what it is like to feel forsaken gives me renewed energy to pray. 

The son of God could have kept silent but broke the silence.

He understands us at the deepest of levels of our pain and despair. 

Who is like this Messiah? 

Who is like Jesus?

My God. My God. Thank you for suffering the pain of feeling forsaken.

... this devotion is part of the Red Letters series. Click here to read more.
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