On interpreting the bible exegetically.

Dnat, thats exactly what I was thinking of.  This whole exegetical thing is such a cop out.

What does “exegetical” mean?  Its a way of interpreting the bible for preaching.  It basically means that a passage is selected.  Every point in the sermon must come directly from the passage.

Preachers are too afraid of putting their own thoughts into their sermons.  Therefore we say, “We want God’s word and ONLY God’s word.”  We don’t want the preacher to use sociology.  We don’t want to hear any fanciful theories.  We only want to hear the word of God.  We only want to hear Christ and Christ crucified.  In other words, don’t tell me application.  Let me figure out application myself.  Don’t tell me what to do with my life.  Ok don’t tell them, lets SHOW them.

People have attached this mystical presence to “the pulpit.”  Anything spoken from the pulpit must be MUST BE the word of God.  Controversial stuff cannot be spoken from the pulpit because “it might not be” the word of God.  Its not you speaking, its God speaking through you.  Yet when we give any other talk, there are totally different expectations.  The person can be wrong all of a sudden.

There is nothing biblical about being “exegitcal.”  Nobody in the bible has ever interpreted the bible exegetically.  Being exegetical is only a human construct to find the truth.  Now I am realizing, it doesn’t do a very good job of finding the truth.  Why?  Because it is only a tool.  Yes it is a useful tool, I’m not denying that, but it is only ONE tool.  If we rely only on this one tool, we’ll still be missing out on the truth.  It is also a tool that sometimes we do not need.  A hammer is a good tool, but in order to build a house, sometimes you gotta put down the hammer to pick something else up.