Author

Colton Floris

Transformational community

Transformational community

by Colton Floris
written by Colton Floris

In fall 2007, a community in the small town of Hepburn, Sask., began to shape my life. I was a first-year student at Bethany College, a place of profound formation and development for me as a disciple of Jesus.

The place captured my heart with an all-encompassing, life-altering, horizon-expanding revelation of the depth and breadth and width of Christian discipleship.

Bethany College was also my first encounter with the MB family, and I was smitten.

Fast-forward 12 years to a place far from Bethany, I found myself experiencing much of the same emotions and thoughts as I once did on the old Bethany campus as I took in the EQUIP study conference in Waterloo, Ont.

Oct 23–25, 2019, I was privileged once again to sit and listen to my former Bethany professors share their wisdom, intellect, and experiences on the topic of community hermeneutics. Now, I participate as a fellow member of the MB family.

As I reflect back on the past week, I am moved. The hermeneutical tools with which I was equipped as a Bethany student still have the power to help me learn the heart and discern the will of my Jesus. As our faith family filled with diversity engaged each other to collectively implement these tools, I witnessed their transforming power for our community.

Every recollection of my time at Bethany is accompanied by twinge of loss; I feel a deep sadness that Bethany College is no longer. However, God is faithful and I am heartened to know that the legacy of community hermeneutics has not been lost in the MB faith family.

Now, more than ever, we need to focus our attention, discipline our hearts and minds, slow down, and allow Scripture to inform our choices in a very distracted time in human existence.

For these reasons, I am deeply grateful for the practice of gathering together as the MB family to wrestle with Scripture together, to teach tools and impart wisdom, and to continue to equip our family as disciples of Jesus.

Ashley Wiebe
is a graduate of Bethany College, Hepburn, Sask., a professional social worker, and a member of Faith River Christian Fellowship, Saskatoon.

Read also

The offspring of a “bridal school”

 

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Sample Blog Post

by Colton Floris
written by Colton Floris

Hey there just posting a blog sample post!

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Interactive webinar with Mark Wessner and Doug Heidebrecht

by Colton Floris
written by Colton Floris

Interactive webinar with Mark Wessner and Doug Heidebrecht

Exploring a model for interpreting Scripture today

 

Below is a draft model for interpretation, discussed in the webinar.

Access Doug’s slides from the webinar (click to view larger)

Interactive webinar with Mark Wessner and Doug HeidebrechtInteractive webinar with Mark Wessner and Doug HeidebrechtInteractive webinar with Mark Wessner and Doug HeidebrechtInteractive webinar with Mark Wessner and Doug HeidebrechtInteractive webinar with Mark Wessner and Doug HeidebrechtInteractive webinar with Mark Wessner and Doug HeidebrechtInteractive webinar with Mark Wessner and Doug HeidebrechtInteractive webinar with Mark Wessner and Doug HeidebrechtInteractive webinar with Mark Wessner and Doug HeidebrechtInteractive webinar with Mark Wessner and Doug Heidebrecht

 

Here are some comments on the model that emerged in that chat during the webinar:

12:14:19 I definitely didn’t get that Disciple-Making and Mission were part of the model. Thought it was just a random title. How about an arrow from Community to D-M & M?
12:28:51 The first model shows the integration of the four more than the second model.
12:46:10 Another point that I like about the diagram — community is emphasized in the interpretation.
But we are always applying the scriptures to live out kingdom ethics under the rule and reign of King Jesus. Which would be illustrated through the cross (on the diagram) in disciple making and mission.
12:56:10 Meghan Good talks about this in her book… “Trying to comprehend Scripture without integrating it into lived practice is like trying to learn how to ski without ever leaving the lodge.”
12:56:17 apply = 1. make a formal application or request ; imply = 1. indicate the truth or existence of (something) by suggestion rather than explicit reference
12:59:25 Maybe the word could be integrate
13:01:44 Wisdom: was it wisdom that helped the church make a decision on slavery? because the bible condones it OT and NT
13:02:12 Would wisdom fit in the DISCERN connection between the Spirit and the community?
13:03:25 Is wisdom not the application of truth? Is it assumed in application?
13:05:07 And yet, we need wisdom not only in how we live it out, but we need wisdom in how we approach the text, which is a gift from the LORD maybe applied by the Spirit.
13:07:27 Part of the hermeneutical challenge is discerning between “conflicting” scriptures that point in different directions. And another part is figuring out what’s a helpful course of action to take.
13:07:10 Posture and wisdom seem to permeate everything, don’t they?
13:08:40 So our prayer for wisdom needs to be included in every part of the process.
13:10:15 I think we need special focus on wisdom in the application area, since that area requires a lot of discerning – both of the scripture/meaning, AND how to make that work in the world(s) we live in
13:14:24 One thought on the phrasing of the methodology… each of these verbs are things WE do. Maybe there would be something to be gained if we used verbs for what GOD is doing in this process? This might also aid concerns that Jesus (the person) is not explicitly highlighted enough here. Giving verbs to Jesus and his work would help keep us grounded in our relationship to him, and the authority that belongs to him.
13:14:28 Jesus needs to be central -— how do we not mention Jesus
13:14:32 I lean towards wishing that Christocentricity would pervade it all actually — wishing it would be explicit
13:15:18 as we hold a Trinitarian understanding… The Father has made Jesus king – and we are Jesus followers (Little Christians) living under the rule and reign of Jesus. So where does King Jesus get placed in a napkin diagram?
13:15:40 If Jesus is in the center of the triangle it would go a long way to illustrate this.
13:17:35 is “disciple making” = “discipleship” or “evangelism”?
13:18:32 These are the 2 main questions from our discussion. Where is Jesus and where is wisdom represented in the model?
13:19:53 Just wondering if we could include the word witness along with disciple-making and mission.
13:22:29 “witness” yes — maybe that is part of the mission because in our witness we don’t always make disciples (that needs to be a personal choice) but we witness to the kingdom while we are on mission
13:22:32 On “discipleship” – I’m concerned that the indvidual is discipled in the process of interpreting scripture – simple as that. I think Doug clarified it’s “both” or “all inclusive” so that’s ok – as long as people know the outcomes should result in people becoming more like Christ in their discipleship
13:22:48 If… the goal is “how then shall we live?”, then is application is the goal, then how much a part of that goal is how much overlap in agreement in interpretation and application?
13:26:14 The Confession of Faith is evidence that Mennonite Brethren have discussed various points, and come out with an agreed-upon statement of convictions. At least in the moment when delegates voted to receive a given article. I’d like to see a little more info on community processes that have been successful as illustration of the “community hermeneutic”
13:27:39 Wisdom, yes, to see that the OT and NT actually do not condone the trans-atlantic slave trade, and then, like William Wilberforce, to work against it.

Interactive webinars are jointly sponsored by the MB Herald

– sharing the life and story of the Mennonite Brethren family in Canada and around the world.

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Interactive webinar with Meghan Larissa Good

by Colton Floris
written by Colton Floris

Interactive webinar with Meghan Larissa Good

Discerning the Spirit in the movement from text to contemporary application

Meghan recommended the following book for discover our collective blind spots:
Misreading Scripture with Western Eyes: Removing Cultural Blinders to Better Understand the Bible
by E. Randolph Richards and Brandon J. O’Brien


Interactive webinars are jointly sponsored by the MB Herald

– sharing the life and story of the Mennonite Brethren family in Canada and around the world.

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Interactive webinar with Tim Geddert

by Colton Floris
written by Colton Floris

Interactive webinar with Tim Geddert

How do we talk about ‘the authority of the Bible’?

Tim spoke and we asked questions about the authority of Scripture.
Continue the conversation in the comments field here.

Tim mentioned two helpful books for further reading:
Slaves, Sabbath, War and Women: Case Studies in Biblical Interpretation by Willard Swartley
Slaves, Women & Homosexuals: Exploring the Hermeneutics of Cultural Analysis by William J. Webb

Note that Bill Webb will be giving an interactive webinar September 10. 2019.

Interactive webinars are jointly sponsored by the MB Herald

– sharing the life and story of the Mennonite Brethren family in Canada and around the world.

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