Exegesis is a term with which most pastors are familiar. Exegesis simply means to “expose or explain through careful and objective analysis.” Pastors should know this because it is of high importance in the interpretation of Scripture. All seminarians have had classes on it and classes that employ it in the study of Scripture. Some of the most bizarre interpretations of Scripture come because the interpreter is simply reading into the Scriptures (eisegesis) what they want to see or what they subjectively believe to be true, rather than trying to understand what the writer on behalf of God is actually trying to say (exegesis). I hear both varieties of Biblical interpretation many times every year.
I hear people talk about Scriptures in ways that are inspiring because they have been able to mine meaning, intent and truth out of passages in ways that make it clearer to me and in ways that I never saw before- God’s Word more fully revealed. I also hear passages of Scripture interpreted in very subjective ways where the interpretation bears little resemblance to the passage’s actual meaning. When I hear or read those kinds of remarks and re-read and study the Scripture for myself, I end up scratching my head, wondering how that person ever understood that passage that way.
In the latter case, I find myself doing another kind of exegesis. I try to exegete the exegete. In other words, I try to “expose or explain through careful and objective analysis” why that person would take such liberties with God’s Word or land interpretively in an unrecognizable place. If I exegete the exegete well enough, the reasons for their interpretation become clear. More often, however, the task is quite difficult without spending substantial time talking to the person, understanding his/her life and story, clarifying his/her world view, and familiarizing myself with his/her theology. If I am able to better understand all of that, the reason for that unique understanding of Scripture becomes clearer.
Psychologists are in the business of exegeting people. Sociologists are in the business of exegeting society. But, I believe exegeting society and culture from a Christian perspective incorporates elements that are often left out: the role of sin (collective and individual), the imbedded yearning for purpose and significance, the Imago Dei (image of God) in His highest order of creation- humankind, the impact of forgiveness and inner healing, the power of Holy Spirit and a host of other imprints and spiritual influences that shape how we think, interact and make decisions. Christians must understand that culture and society are heavily shaped and influenced by spiritual matters that are increasingly misunderstood, feared, ignored or excluded from our vocabulary and textbooks.
As a result, much of contemporary society and the culture that is imbedded in that society are shaped by intentional and/or unwitting efforts to push God to the side and deafen ears to the Spirit’s comforting and convicting voice, choosing rather to develop its own supreme value that is not helpful to those who form it. That highest value could be described a number of ways. But, if it seems to me to be summed up in “the self”. Whether stated or not, it is the commitment to self-fulfillment, self-determination and self-gratification. Whatever would disturb this highest value is suspect at best, viewed as adversarial to humanity and fit for ridicule or destruction at worst.
Enter Christianity that makes no apologies for having another, higher value- God. Whether stated or assumed, we place a high value upon serving God, living for Him, committing to understand His will and align our lives to comply with it. We believe that only by living for Him do we truly find ourselves, our purpose and significance. Fulfillment comes from Him, not from our own efforts to create it.
I am becoming increasingly convinced that every Christian, not just pastors, need to become more and more adept at exegesis. We need to learn to exegete Scripture in a world that moves further and further away from esteeming it. What do the Scriptures actually say and mean? It is important to do that now as much as ever, since the Scriptures testify to something that is foreign and competing. It speaks of a Kingdom that will never be fully represented by a nation or society in this world. If there were ever a time when the Christian needs to be “homo unius libri” (a person of one Book), it is now.
We simultaneously need to learn to exegete culture, which will help us better understand the growing antipathy in some circles toward the God we love, the views we have and maybe even the life we live. It will keep us from simply and subjectively becoming defensive, taking matters personal and reacting in unhealthy ways. It is good to better understand that we live in a day when many don’t like the word “No”, restraint is a byword, duty is shirked, and faith is mocked. There is something else going on. We need to seek the Spirit’s wisdom as to how we must live in that society and how to best respond to a culture that includes a growing aversion to God and what He has to say about life- life that is bent more toward glorifying and pleasing God than the self.
Real exegetes (Scripture and culture) have a good handle on what God is saying and why culture is responding. So, study up, read widely and pray fervently.