The Need for Freedom

 Whilst visiting Liverpool Metropolitan Cathedral today, I paused in the Chapel of Unity, dedicated to Christian Unity (Ephesians 4:5). On the wall was the Pentecost Mosaic by George Mayer Marton, a Hungarian who came to the UK in 1938 fleeing Nazi persecution. It colourfully depicts the wonderful moment when the Holy Spirit was unleased on those first disciples, and they were empowered to share the good news of Jesus in many languages. We read in Acts 2:41 that thousands became disciples of Jesus that day, with more being added daily.

Below this glorious mosaic was another art work, this by Ukrainian artist Dmytro Iv. It is entitled 'The Need for Freedom', and depicts a chained woman rising, representing Ukraine's struggle for freedom. There are numerous ways these art works may speak to us, and I find their interplay fascinating. I'm grateful to the Cathedral for placing them together.

As I pondered it, my thoughts wandered to Scripture.

In small groups we have been engaging with 'Discovery Bible Studies' (DBS), these engage the readers of Scripture with four simple questions:

-what do you like in this passage?

- what do you find challenging?

- what does it tell us about God?

- what does it tell us about people?

We then finish with questioning what we do with what we have learned. How do we put it into practice?

These open questions allow everyone to engage with the passage for themselves. There are no 'learning outcomes', or specific lessons attached. The passage is engaged with, and we ask God to speak through his word. There are those who have expressed to me a view that this is somehow 'Bible-study-lite', unorthodox, even slightly dubious. That everyone will 'bring their own views to Scripture, and truth will be lost'. This is not my experience, and let me illustrate with one little story.

One group that meets is formed mostly of Farsi speakers, and looking at the vision described in Revelation 7:9, we encouraged them to speak and pray in Farsi. Several weeks later, sharing in a larger Sunday morning service, one of the group stood and shared in Farsi. Speaking with her afterwards, I asked what she had shared.

She apologised for speaking in Farsi, but said she had been thinking about Revelation 7:9. Growing up as a Muslim she had been instructed not to pray in Farsi, but only in Arabic. She recalled that different languages sprang from a curse of God in Genesis 11, scattering humankind. However, rather than restoring a single language, thus destroying the curse, Revelation 7:9 showed a God who embraced diverse languages, and so redeemed the curse (made it good). It led her to see that God is capable not only of removing suffering from us, but redeeming it, and making it good. 'Is this right?' she asked me. What a revelation!

I love DBS because there is no hierarchy. Trained theologians, life-long believers, new believers, and even seekers, approach the Scripture as equals, seeking to hear what God might be saying in his word. I see that this gives freedom for God to speak through his word, and it never fails to amaze me what revelation God brings.

In the 14th Century John Wycliffe translated the Bible into English, for which he was condemned a heretic. His aim was to enable everyone to read the Bible for themselves, rather than having to rely on the trained and ordained to read and interpret it for them. I thought about this as I looked at the artworks above, and thought how translating the Bible into people's own languages releases chains, and frees people to encounter God for themselves. It reflects Pentecost, when the good news of Jesus was declared in many languages.

I thought of my own evangelical church tradition. Sermons, very good sermons, expound Scripture well. They talk about, explain, and interpret Scripture. Churches have long sermons, and take pride in themselves as 'Bible-believing' churches, and their commitment to Scripture. Yet often the sermon takes centre stage, over actual Scripture. The interpretation of the preacher, over individual engagement with the the word. Small groups have 'Bible studies', with questions (often little more than comprehension questions), that are designed to lead to particular interpretations, and set outcomes. I wonder how much we chain and bind people with these, rather than releasing them to hear the Spirit speak in their own languages, and bring them to their own encounter and revelation from God.

I've become convinced that DBS is not 'Bible-study-lite', rather is an effective tool through which people can engage with Scripture for themselves. As such it is demanding, forming disciples who approach Scripture with expectation for God to speak and, as they obey his voice, transform both them and the world around them.