In recent years, gatherings of the worldwide Anglican Communion have been contentious events. On one occasion, two bishops were participating in a Bible study, one an African Anglican, the other a U.S. Episcopalian. As the hours went by, tempers frayed as the African expressed confidence in the clear words of scripture, while the American stressed the need to interpret the Bible in the light of modern scholarship and contemporary mores. Eventually the African bishop asked in exasperation, “If you don’t believe in the scripture, why did you bring it us in the first place?”
Philip Jenkins, The New Faces of Christianity, p. 1
I am a part-time local pastor serving 
This love we believe to be the medicine of life, the never-failing remedy for all the evils of a disordered world, for all the miseries and vices of men. Wherever this is, there are virtue and happiness going hand in hand. There is humbleness of mind, gentleness, long-suffering, the whole image of God; and at the same time a peace that passeth all understanding, and joy unspeakable and full of glory.
Wow.
I am a former Episcopalian and had a very similar thought when I was a member of that Church. They would read scripture every Sunday, just like Methodists do, and I would often wonder why. Because I was a new Christian, I guess I was seeing things for the first time and maybe seeing things that cradle Episcopalians weren’t noticing.
I remember thinking “they read the Bible but they don’t believe the words that they are reading. So why do they read it at all?”
I’ve just come back from a class where we’ve been talking about the theology of Karl Rahner who was concerned with articulating an evolutionary theology in line with modern science. In the class, connections were made with Thomas Aquinas, Augustine and Julian of Norwich. And Rahner’s theology leads to ideas that a lot of “biblical” Christians declare to be heretical (and I’m not just talking about fundamentalists).
So I really just want to sigh the world’s deepest sigh to that quote standing there alone. As is often the case when I study theology, I feel like I left the class tonight with my faith in God strengthened and I know that the more of this stuff I learn, the more “heretical” I’m going to become even though my faith gets stronger.
I can hear some folks saying “Just because you have learning, doesn’t mean you[1] know something superior to the simple truths of the bible”. But it’s not a matter of “I’m[1] smarter than you so I know better.” It’s a matter of “Someone has taken the time to show me the connections of Rahner’s theology with scripture, science, Christian tradition and experience. And yes, whether anyone else likes it or not, that’s not as straight-forward a process as simply grabbing a proof-text from the bible.”
[1] These are rhetorical “yous” and rhetorical “Is”
I don’t know Karl Rahner from Adam.
I’m not at all interested in calling anyone a heretic, but I do wonder what the reply to the African Anglican bishop should be.
I suspect an honest answer might be that “we” did not carry the scriptures to Africa, but our ancestors did.
I am no longer an Episcopalian for many reasons. In the Episcopal church there is a body of rules and none of them are enforced unless they deal with real estate or trust funds. You are free to believe or not believe anything you want. It is a fast shrinking denomination. The only growth area they have is in legal fees in support of the numerous suits and court cases across the country. And now the African Anglicans are coming here to set up competing churches. What a circle!