This kind of reading requires three commitments, according to McKnight. First, we must commit to read Scripture as story. Second, we must commit to a posture of listening as we read. Third, we must commit to an appropriate method of discernment as we read.
Many readers of Scripture, rather than reading the Bible as story, take one of five shortcuts:
First, some read the Bible as a collection of “morsels of law.” We are only interested in the rules, commands, and directions for living which are found in Scripture.
Second, some read the Bible as a collection of “morsels of blessings and promises.” We only pay attention to the comforting blessings found in the Bible or the inspiring promises spoken in the Bible.
Third, some read the Bible as “mirrors and inkblots.” We only see in the Bible what we want to see. Rather than being swept up into the Bible’s story, we sweep the Bible into our story: Jesus looks just like us, Paul’s writings support our political views, etc.
Fourth, some read the Bible as “pieces to map God’s mind.” The Bible is a big puzzle. We decide what the puzzle looks like and we fit all the pieces to that image. When we come upon a piece that doesn’t seem to fit our puzzle pattern, we force the piece in or or we throw it away.
Fifth, some read the Bible through the eyes of their favorite “maestro.” These readers evaluate everything based on what maestro Paul wrote, or maestro Jesus wrote, etc. They do not allow each biblical author to speak for himself.
Each is a shortcut to reading Scripture. Each circumvents the more difficult but more rewarding approach of reading Scripture as a story.
