By Jack Alvey
Alvey is the rector at St. Paul’s Episcopal Church in Selma . 

As an Episcopalian, I find myself in a tradition that draws inspiration from theologians across the spectrum of Christianity. I have been particularly drawn to the writings of the great reformer Martin Luther who is most famously known for posting the 95 thesis as a corrective for the Catholic Church.

In one of his writings, Luther gives a great image for the Bible. He said that scripture is like the manger in Bethlehem containing the Christ Child surrounded by straw. On one hand, we see the living God who is in the form of a child bringing new joys and endless possibilities to light. Like with the birth of this child, scripture gives us hope and reminds us that there is a God.

On the other hand, we see our living God lying on a manger surrounded by straw. We see our living God lying on something crafted by human hands, on something that will one day break and be thrown out. We see our living God surrounded by straw that will soon be replaced by other straw.

All of the stories, the prayers, the poems, the dreams, the nightmares, the parables, the letters, the prophecies and even the genealogies are the manger that holds the story of our living God, all of these things give context to the eternal truth of salvation that is summed up in Jesus Christ.

But as St. Paul says to the Corinthians, these stories and these prophecies will come to an end but love never ends. Jesus himself says, “heaven and earth will pass away but my words will never pass away.”

Our salvation story is held up by temporary and imperfect hands and objects but is defined by God’s enduring and unrelenting love of Christ.

As faithful readers of scripture, it is imperative that we distinguish between the things that are eternal and the things that are passing away. It is imperative to separate the truths that were intended for a particular time and place and the truth that is intended for all time and place.

Are we taking seriously that the eternal truth of God was spoken through the history of an imperfect and broken people who lived in a very different time and place than we do? If we do take this seriously, are we taking seriously that the Holy Spirit is guiding the Church toward all truth?

Jesus says in the Gospel of John, “these (scriptures) are written so that you may come to believe that Jesus is the Messiah.” Everything in scripture, beginning in Genesis, points to Jesus.

I’ll close with a few questions to consider as you continue your study and meditation on God’s living Word. Are you proclaiming the straw or the eternal truth of God? Are you showing people the manger or the one who lies on the manger?

May we have the grace to let the spirit help us see the difference. May we have the grace to let the spirit help us proclaim the story that really matters, the story of salvation.