The Fire of the Word by Chris Webb was an excellent read. His writing was simply refreshing and engaging. I was challenged to stop treating Scripture as something to be dissected so I can digest it easier, but as an encounter with a lover. Analysis can be a good first step, but we have to go further. He gave some practical exercises to do that: several months of daily Bible readings to ponder and journal on, with different directions each week.
He tackled Scripture's inerrancy by saying that we need to start viewing the Bible as a book that God is whispering through to us, "Look: I am here." Instead of bickering over whether all the words are correct, we need to allow God to meet us in the words. It certainly doesn't address the questions surrounding textual criticism, but it cuts to the core of the matter - will we allow God to be authoritative? His word to transform us? His love to overwhelm us?
He also addressed the resurgence of lectio divina, especially in Evangelical circles. Apparently, we've missed the point. It's not just to read the passage slowly and prayerfully, listening for a word or phrase to us. Some of the repetitions are meant to point us toward allegory and Christ's presence in every text. I had no clue.
There's actually a conference in Denver called The Fire of the Word May 4-5 with Chris Webb and several other authors who are championing spiritual disciplines for today. I can't go, but I'm looking forward to those daily readings. I hope to start them this summer.
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