Let’s imagine that you’re dealing with a difficult situation at work where conflict exists with a co-worker, someone who seems to succeed by bending the rules and manipulating the system. The situation is driving you a bit crazy, and you’re wondering what it means to live faithfully as a Christian in this context.
The following is an excerpt from a teaching presented during the Newbigin Fellowship as a starting point for how to engage life in the city through a Christian worldview. The application deadline for the next class of Newbigin Fellowship is August 15. Read more about the program and access the application here.
Early in my seminary training, I was introduced to a way of thinking theologically that changed how I viewed the Bible, my life, and the world in which I live. Its rather odd name – The Deference Construct* – hints at a very important aspect of theological thinking. Involved in any theological reflection are three mutually deferential perspectives, some of which are more obvious than others, but which impact our thinking. These three perspectives are the “normative,” the “contextual,” and the “motivational,” and they are all important biblical ways of understanding how to live faithfully as a follower of Christ.
What does this have to do with your co-worker? Let me explain —
First, the “normative” perspective refers to the norms given to us by God in the Bible. Lesslie Newbigin writes that the Bible “interprets the entire story of all things from creation to consummation.” It’s the decisive Story that re-purposes our stories, the norm that normalizes our lives. As such, Scripture has a normative authority in our lives. Applied to the issue with your co-worker, you’d search Scripture, trying to understand what it says about relating to others, perhaps trying to find stories which apply, running it all through the Gospel of Jesus and its call to “follow Jesus.” In doing so, you’re asking, “What does the Bible have to say about my situation?” But do we leave it there? Or is there more that can help us understand how to live faithfully?
This is where the “contextual” perspective comes in. It refers to the unique context in which we interpret God’s word. All the laws, commands, and norms of Scripture exist in a time and place context. For instance, while the Israelites were commanded to not lie (Exod. 20:16), it seems in certain contexts lying was entirely sanctioned (Joshua 2:4-5). Does this mean all lying is permissible? Living faithfully requires us to understand our unique situations and apply Scripture wisely. This is why “proof-texting” is rarely ever helpful. Wise application of Scripture requires us to more deeply understand and even inhabit the larger Story of Scripture.
In the situation with your co-worker, you might find that digging through the Bible gives you different results and approaches. What does it mean to both confront injustice (Isa. 58:6) and turn the other cheek (Matt. 5:39)? Studying Scripture and knowing the unique threads of your particular situation will help. You need to know both the context of Scripture, and your own context. This can take time, and requires humility and patience. In fact, it leads to a very necessary final perspective of the Deference Construct.
You might have noticed that I’ve mentioned applying Scripture “wisely.” The “motivational” perspective refers to our heart, our unique motivations and inclinations which impact how we understand and apply Scripture. Understanding and applying Scripture means more than digging for texts and understand the original context, let alone the current context. Understanding and applying Scripture means knowing ourselves, too.
I might ask you, “How do you feel about your co-worker?” Perhaps, you care for her, and want to protect both her and your company. But perhaps, on the other hand, you are severely jealous, and have spiritualized the situation to play your own manipulative games in order to rise to the top. In these two cases, the heart’s posture is very different. Self-righteously quoting Scripture is actually an act of unfaithfulness. Scripture, rightly understood and applied, requires a growing maturity, humility, and wisdom. This takes time, sometimes a long time, to develop in our souls.
In the Newbigin Fellowship, we value all three perspectives. We want to see the Fellows become wise interpreters of Scripture. This means knowing Scripture, understanding contexts and situations, and growing in wisdom. If one of these three perspectives is missing, our biblical application runs the risk of being idolatrous, dangerous, and unfaithful. In the Newbigin Fellowship, we seek to move you along more swiftly and intentionally in your process of growth, so that you’ll “follow Christ to renew the city” both faithfully and wisely.
Does this information intrigue you? Do you want to learn more? Consider applying to the Newbigin Fellowship HERE. I also welcome your comments and questions below.
*The “Deference Construct” is a concept I learned from Dr. Richard Pratt, and owes its origin, in large part, to the work of Prof. John Frame and his important work The Doctrine of the Knowledge of God. The “Cone of Certainty,” to the best of my knowledge, is a construct created by Dr. Richard Pratt.