Parallax is the effect that occurs when an object is viewed from different positions. Take, for instance, a clock (with hands). If you look at the clock face head on, the time will read one thing. If you look at it from the side, the hands will appear to have moved, and you'll get ... the wrong time. Lenses increase this effect, especially when the lens is water. So if you're trying to read a meter or some such thing and you want an accurate reading, you need to account for parallax -- for looking at the correct angle.
Scripture is a lot like that. There is the true interpretation. That is found by looking at it head on. Then there are false interpretations. You get those by looking at it from an angle. Perhaps you're reading the Bible through a "health and wealth" lens and you read, "'I know the plans I have for you,' says YHWH, 'plans for peace and not for evil, to give you prosperity and hope.'" (Jer 29:11). "Ah!" you say, "There it is! God promises prosperity!" Except that "prosperity" is interpreted through a "health and wealth" angle and the outcome is distorted. Maybe you're reading through a Social Justice Warrior lens and read, "Blessed are you who are poor, for yours is the kingdom of God" (Luke 6:20) and say, "See? God is most concerned about those in poverty, the neglected, the marginalized!" And you come to a wrong conclusion. Perhaps you're using a skeptic's lens. Scripture, then, can be helpful, but not authoritative. Certainly not completely reliable. And you come to a wrong conclusion. These are a few of examples of parallax in Scripture interpretation. We all run the risk. We all need to check our "angles." We all need to be sure we're not looking at God's Word askew.
It's not hard to adjust for parallax. You simply look at it from a variety of angles. It's not hard to adjust for parallax in Scripture interpretation. You simply look at it from all Scripture. Scripture itself assures us that God's intention is not your health and wealth, but your eternal, spiritual condition. Scripture itself assures us that God's concern is not earthly poverty, but spiritual poverty. Scripture claims to be God-breathed, complete, and effective, not erroneous and questionable. By taking in the whole of God's Word, I think you'll find that most of this problem of parallax -- looking at Scripture from the wrong angle -- can be overcome. The only question is if you are willing. Many of us like our parallax and aren't willing to part with it ... even if it's wrong.
2 comments:
It is a shame we are so demented by sin that we so often can't even see our parallax. My prayer is that my parallax is the sovereignty of God.
“Parallax” is another great word I did not know before now. I can certainly understand having a distorted view of things, as I have extreme astigmatism (the worst my eye doctor has personally encountered). Ironically enough, my primary spiritual gift is “discernment,” which confers the ability to view and understand Scripture from the correct angle, i.e. having the proper perspective of God’s Word. This post was helpful in pointing out that my default personal point of view--springing from a deceitful heart--is very commonly out of focus. May I always view God’s Word from the proper angle and with the assistance of the Spirit of Truth.
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