Since we all pick and choose when we read the Bible, why don't we do so more honestly, more thoughtfully, and more helpfully? When we read the Bible as a puzzle to solve or a law-book to apply or an ancient text to retrieve principles for living from, we tend to have difficulty with sections that we can't explain, apply, rationalize, or fit into our systems. These become the "blue parakeet" passages then, the unusual birds that we want to ignore, assimilate, or chase away, rather than letting them sing their own way.Instead, McKnight comments a different way of reading the Bible, of recognizing that at its heart its a big story with a few core plot elements and themes that contains lots of mini-stories, in which authors develop this plot and riff of these themes in their own way for their own day. McKnight invites us to relate to and love the God of the Bible (not the Bible) by discerning what story the Bible is telling and how that makes sense to us and by letting God's spirit lead us forward. This process of discerning goes best when we read the Bible with tradition, aware of how it's been read in community over the centuries, but knowing that sometimes we're called to join that tradition, sometimes to challenge that tradition, and sometimes to develop it in new ways for our new days.For several chapters, McKnight examines what the Bible says about women's leadership and ministry and how he understands a call to read these texts with the Spirit and with tradition and to live in them in a way that fundamentally challenges our tradition. The blue parakeet metaphor goes in a new and beautiful direction, as women called by God to lead become the metaphorical birds that should not be silenced or assimilated into a patriarchal tradition, but blessed to sing and fly in their way, for all people's benefit and the glory of God. Good introductory thoughts on how to read the Bible.Two great points: First, reading scripture with tradition. This will be difficult for some pockets of evangelicalism. Second, discernment as a necessary activity of reading. This coincides with other authors who discuss the importance of developing and learning wisdom as a Christian discipline. This is an accessible and clear starting point for anyone interested in how to become a more thorough and faithful student of Scripture and the deeply formative influence study is to have in the Christian life.
What do You think about Blue Parakeet (2000)?
A great book that will get you thinking about how you read the bible.
—nur
Very well written. A good perspective on how to approach the Bible.
—mishkah
My Bible reading has just been changed forever.
—shonaliabanerjee
