The Great Illuminator

A few days ago I posted on prayer, and in one of the comments to my friend This_Is_Important (on my xanga), I mentioned that I may post on the doctrine of illumination soon: For the sake of discussion, but also offering my view and why I hold the view that I do. That's what this post is about!

First: I do not at all discount the role of the Spirit with my view. In fact, I believe that my view emphasizes the role of Scripture and the role of the Spirit, simultaneously.

I tend to think that the Spirit works in our minds, sanctifying our theology that way- rather than rendering truth through the illumination of Scripture. I believe that Scripture also does this: The Spirit teaches, and the Scripture teaches, and if we misinterpret either of them in fallible minds, they can correct us. Either, one corrects the misunderstanding of the other, or they both do do the correcting, or the one misunderstood also corrects the misunderstanding.

But in general, I believe they sanctify our hearts and our minds somewhat independently. I don't believe the Spirit is necessary, especially for a believer, to understand Scripture. I also don't believe Scripture is necessary for one to hear from the Spirit. If the Scripture needs the Spirit to illumine it, then does that mean that the Scriptures are not sufficient to speak for themselves?

The Spirit is the one speaking when we read Scripture, because the Spirit wrote it. Why does it then also need to explain it? I have no doubt that the Spirit corrects my wrong belief, but most people who believe in illumination think of it as God speaking directly through Scripture, even if that message would not be true for another person reading this passage. I do not believe, and cannot accept, that the Spirit told you to do something because of a verse taken out of its context. That is precisely the practice that was used by the south to justify slavery, and goes directly against solid exegetical hermeneutics.

Oh, and how is it that most of the best commentary on the Old Testament is by Jews, if they don't have the Spirit?

When it comes to hermaneutics, either a passage says something, or it doesn't. The Spirit doesn't twist its own words to mean something else. If the Spirit wants to say something, it's more likely that He'll just say it, to your heart, than try to misquote His own words, meaning Scripture, in order speak.

I believe the Spirit teaches us, but I think its more like a teacher in college- Assuming you've already read the textbook He wrote, and lecturing through what you're supposed to do with the knowledge, or offering separate, supplemental knowledge to build on what Scripture says; rather than the teacher in first grade, who just tells you the truth, rather than expecting you to use your brain and work at it in order to find out for yourself.

I believe that this is the original idea of the doctrine of illumination. The modern idea of it is something that I think has been perverted into something that plays three things in our culture:
1. It plays to our microwave society, that wants instant gratification.
2. It's given to laziness: why study hard, or look up Greek/Hebrew words, when the Spirit is just going to reveal divine knowledge to me anyway?,
3. It works toward and within our individualistic western mindset: "This is what the Bible says, to me," is downright heresy, but a common phrase by those who push the doctrine of illumination. Either the Bible says it, or it doesn't. The Spirit may give you special direction, but the Bible says what It says- nothing else.

I don't deny the doctrine of illumination, I deny the doctrine of instant understanding, the doctrine of poor hermeneutic principle, and the doctrine of special revelation of Scripture by the Spirit.

I think that the Spirit has taught us different things, and that's a big way we can learn from each other. God does teach us through the reading of His Word, and through the time spent in meditational prayer with the Spirit. I think God does give us insights to what He is like, both in Scripture and in general revelation, through both of these practices- as well as the other spiritual disciplines.

May the discussion ensue!

-R.T.