The U.S. Bible vs the Holy Constitution

 

I've had a few post thoughts simmering for quite some time.

This one seems imperatively timely. 

In the U.S.A. we have these odd views on our Constitution that mirror most U.S. Churches' view of the Bible.

Both are often deemed "infallible."

Both are usually the standard used to measure the value of law, decisions, wrong/right, etc.

Both have seen changes over the centuries, but still retain some "foundational" structures and flaws.

Both have groups charged with decreeing the "accurate interpretation" of the documents.  In the case of the church, there are as many "accurate interpretations" as there are church denominations. In the case of the courts, the interpretations vary based on which judges were appointed.

The thing is, the "accuracy," "infallibility," or truth of these documents is only useful when people choose to believe they are "pure."

Thing is, they're both old. "Pure" and "old" are not often related.

As much as the church claims that the Bible is God's word or (at worst) God inspired, it was still penned by people with biases and WHO LIVED A  REALLY LONG TIME AGO.

Ditto the Constitution.

To claim that all of God's wisdom and final thoughts are constrained to human interpretation of words penned by humans... ya know what? Do I need to finish that sentence? Are you seeing the lack of logic inherent in the thinking?

First: The Bible CAN NOT contain ALL that God is. There's no way a bunch of random folks and committees got it all in there.

Second: Much of the Bible relies on interpretation for understanding. Sure there are parts that are fully historical, but no two denominations agree on the minutia that they seem to feel are key core beliefs that require them to be an entirely different denomination.

Third: The Bible contains things that science understands today. There are passages in the Old Testament that prescribe the same things we're being told to do today to avoid the spread of communicable diseases (Leviticus 13–15). The Hebrew people would have just followed the rules because they follow the rules out of fear. But God was simply dictating Science. Science has learned more since then. We will likely never catch up with all of what God knows about Science, but we should consider that what we've learned might be making some of the "old science" of the Old Testament moot. I believe God gave instructions to keep people safe until we could understand things like microbes, viruses, and anti-bodies.

Final: The writers and initial interpreters of Scripture (and of the Constitution) were. not. as. educated. as.we.are.  Things might have changed a bit since we believed "the humors" could be balanced or that witchcraft or water could be discovered through divination.

All of this to say:

 

I do not believe that the Bible to be the mark against which we can measure all of human experience. I believe God is bigger than a book.

I do not believe the Constitution of the U.S. should be the measure of what government should be doing to ensure a healthy society.

I believe both should be open to amending, re-writing, and new insights on a regular basis.