Pulpit and Plaza

Interpreting our Scriptures

Last week, the investigation was released into the tragic killing of 2 policemen in December at Wieambilla, QLD. It concluded that for the first time in Australia, the killings were connected with what was described as “Christian terrorism”. [1]

We don’t even like to contemplate those two words together – ‘Christian’ and ‘terrorism’ –, but the investigation was quite clear in making the link between the actions of the family members and an extreme version Christian pre-millennialism.

In light of this investigation and report, at least three thoughts came to mind around the importance of Biblical interpretation. 

1. As Ministers of the Word (and Deacons and all who have responsibility to teach in the UCA) we are interpreters of ancient, holy texts. We cannot escape the fact that our beautiful, uplifting, nourishing Scriptures have been used and misused in the past and up to the present to justify all kinds of abhorrent actions, including slavery, misogyny and genocide. Somehow, texts are selected, isolated and interpreted to mean things that the God of Jesus could never have meant. As preachers and teachers, we need to be diligent in our exegesis and careful to model the same, ‘rightly handling the word of truth’ as Timothy is encouraged. We seek to teach our people to interpret Scripture against Scripture, to measure conclusions against the overarching “supremacy of love” that Jesus upheld, and to avoid major theological positions built on single texts alone. 

2. The report highlighted the dangerous consequences of religious faith combined with extreme ideology. That is, in experience overseas, rarely if ever was religious faith the sole cause of violent actions, but combined with strong nationalistic beliefs, fringe political viewpoints or warped understandings of world events, violence was often seen to be justified. Social media only entrenched and inflamed certain positions. Eschatology isn’t the easiest part of Christian theology, and it is probably the area most ripe for misinterpretation by people or groups to fit their ideological positions. Whether pre-, post- or pan-millennialists (it will all ‘pan out’ in the end…) when we are preaching and teaching, especially on apocalyptic texts, we need to be careful with how our words may unwittingly support ideological views circulating in the community, perhaps especially among vulnerable young people. 

3. The investigators into the Wieambilla tragedy were quick to reassure people that this family appeared to have no connections with other groups or individuals. They acted alone. It is not surprising to find that holders of such extreme views were not part of a wider community, for while Christian extremism can exist in larger groups, the fact is that community usually has a moderating effect. Interpretation is best seen as a community activity in the Christian church. Of course, ministry leaders play a vital role, as outlined above, but in the Uniting Church, part of the ‘priesthood of all believers’ is that we reject the dominance of a single, powerful expert with whom everyone must agree. Rather, it is often as we discuss texts together, bring our lived experience into conversation with the Scriptures, and listen deeply to others that the Spirit brings light to a challenging text. This is the blessing of small groups and Bible Studies. By contrast, it is easy to veer into extreme positions when the only voice we are hearing is our own. 

The events at Weiambilla, the investigation and its reporting are all out in the public space. The phrase ‘Christian terrorism’ has sadly entered the vernacular. Even though our congregations would never hold such views, there is a sense we are all tainted with the same brush in the minds of many in our wider community. (Perhaps this provides us insight into how many Muslims felt when our news was filled with reports of Muslim terrorist attacks.) We cannot control world events. We can only control what we say and how we say it. Perhaps these events highlight once more the importance of carefully handling our precious Scriptures.

 Rev Steve Aynsley

22 February, 2023

  [1] https://www.abc.net.au/news/2023-02-16/qld-police-trains-shooting-premillennialism-christian-ideology/101985762