An Opinion
by
Sylvia Dooling
Several days ago I received the Horizons Bible study for 2006-2007. It is entitled, In The Beginning: Perspectives on Genesis.
It is VOW’s usual practice not to say anything about newly published Horizons Bible studies until our Board meets usually in April. But, I am already receiving phone calls from troubled women around the country. So, while VOW does not yet have an official opinion, I do and I am willing to tell you what it is so long as it is absolutely clear that I am speaking only for myself.
Let me begin with a wonderful line from a book called, The Mighty Acts of God (author: Arnold Rhodes), that was first published nearly thirty years ago as curriculum for Presbyterian adults. One of the adult Sunday school classes in our church is using the newly revised edition of Rhode’s book as curriculum, and in it I found this statement:
“The Bible centers on God’s mighty acts: what God has done, is doing, and will do for us human beings and our salvation through Jesus Christ.”
Those are powerful words. They made me anxious to open my Horizons study for the coming year, and begin to learn even more about God’s mighty acts. But, I was terribly disappointed by what I found. Once again, instead of letting the Bible speak for itself, Presbyterian Women has chosen to read the words of Scripture through the lens of their radical feminist philosophy. So, for the author of this year’s Horizons study on Genesis, the question is not, “What do the Scriptures say,” but rather, “How can they be bent and twisted to make it look like they support my previously determined understanding of what is true and good?”
This is a flawed approach to Bible study and interpretation. So are the study’s assumptions about how we know what we know. There is no ringing, “Thus says the Lord,” in this curriculum, no sure and certain word from God. Rather, its readers are encouraged merely to uncritically peruse a variety of different (and often contradictory) opinions as to what the text means from ancient rabbinical sources to modern biblical studies. The assumption seems to be that because there are so many different “interpretations” of the text to choose from, we can’t really know which one is right, and therefore one opinion is as good as the next.
Because I refuse to commit this form of intellectual suicide, I have determined that I cannot and will not facilitate the use of this year’s study by the women in our particular congregation.
So, what do I recommend?
First, the PW coordinating team in your local congregation should look at the material and decide whether or not they want to use it in the coming year. Then, as always, I recommend that you give a copy of the study to Session’s Christian Education Committee (or whoever else may be responsible for approving curriculum in your congregation), and ask for their permission to use it.
If, however as I suspect that many of you will you determine that the material is fatally flawed, I suggest that you take the time to write a letter to the editors of Horizons to make it patently clear what your concerns are. I also suggest that, if possible, you return the studies to Horizons and decline to pay for them.
On the positive side, I suggest you contact the Network of Presbyterian Women in Leadership (NPWL) the women’s ministry of Presbyterians For Renewal. You can find them on line at http://www.npwl.org/.
NPWL has published a study on Genesis that is a very usable, nine-study-long alternative to the Horizons material. It’s called Genesis: God’s Grace from the Beginning, and I promise that it will not disappoint you. NPWL’s study is slightly more expensive, but it is worth the extra cost. As with the Horizons study, each woman in your circles will be able to have their own copy that will be full of solid discussion questions and thoughtful helps for study leaders.
The study of Genesis is potentially one of the most exciting and informative exercises that any Christian can engage in especially if it is focused on God’s mighty acts of creation and redemption, and always with an eye open to what God has done and promises to do in Jesus Christ. But, it is the clear and plain meaning of scripture that is important, not the personal opinions and imaginings of those who prefer to tickle their listeners’ ears with new and exotic ideas that have little or nothing to do with the text.
It is sad that Presbyterian Women seems to be either unable or unwilling to provide the women of our church with thoroughly biblical and scholarly curriculum. The women of our church deserve only the best. If you agree with me, make your concerns known. Refuse to buy the material, and communicate your reasons for doing so.
Remember, this is my personal opinion. In April, the VOW Board will meet and make a more formal and comprehensive statement. They may even disagree with me, but I do not suspect that that will happen.