Symbolic or literal?

I started a new study this week on the book of Revelation. The study book had some interesting insights, most of which I found to be accurate and informative. Here’s an excerpt from the first chapter that I found particularly interesting:

The book of Revelation is unique in appealing primarily to our imagination – not, however, a freewheeling imagination, but a disciplined imagination. This book contains a series of word pictures, as though a number of slides were being shown upon a great screen. As we watch we allow ourselves to be carried along by impressions created by these pictures. Many of the details of the pictures are intended to contribute to the total impression, and are not to be isolated and interpreted with wooden literalism. (emphasis mine)

Okay, so, this may seem like an obvious conclusion to come to about the book of Revelation. It seems pretty clear that Revelation is full of symbolism, right? Or does it? Could it be that we are to literally interpret exactly what is described in Revelation? Maybe so. I'm open to being proved wrong, if that be the case. Wouldn't be the first time.

With that said, I happen to be someone who does not take a starkly literal, word-by-word interpretation of the Bible. To clarify further, I don’t think it’s always completely accurate to pluck a verse out of a book in the Bible, interpret it out of context from the verses before and after it that comprise the overall narrative of the book or section of the book, with no regard for who wrote it and to whom it was written and when, and use a bare interpretation based on the stand-alone and entirely literal meaning of those words in the isolated verse.

A few years ago, in a small group Bible study discussion, I walked into the room after returning from the bathroom and the group decided, since I had just walked into the room, that I was to be the first person to answer the next question in our study book (I don’t think anybody else wanted to answer it first…you know how that goes). The question was: “Do you take a literal interpretation of the Bible?”

I answered in one word: "No."

Simple enough, right? I thought that was an adequate reply. Apparently not. Yeah, I inadvertently set myself up for what became a lengthy theological discussion with another person in the room who vehemently disagreed with my answer. The discussion started out smoothly, and I was actually enjoying it. There's nothing wrong with two people respectfully discussing their differing perspectives. However, I think it was at the point when I said something about how I don’t see the theory of evolution as being in complete opposition to the Bible that I was then told that, and I quote, “You are what’s wrong with Christianity today, and you are not a true Christian.”

Because it had then resorted to putting me down, I promptly ended the debate with a simple, “Well, I disagree. Let’s just move on to the next question, shall we?” As compelling and critically thought-out an argument was the “You’re what’s wrong with Christianity” statement, somehow my mind wasn’t changed into always taking a literal interpretation. And, just for kicks, I didn't take literally what was said about me, either.

My perspective on this clearly annoys some people, I know, but I think it makes more sense than taking a verse or short passage and isolating it out of its larger framework of biblical truth in the story to which it contributes. I’m not saying that I think it’s wrong to quote scripture, though. Not at all. I do that myself at times, as evidenced by previous posts, but I try to avoid quoting scripture as a way to prove my point in certain instances where its meaning can be twisted around if taken at face value and out of context. I happen to find it obnoxious when people do that to me, but maybe that’s just how I roll.

So, anyway, back to Revelation. Here’s a few fun verses to take literally (sorry, I’m feeling a bit snarky tonight. Sometimes I can’t help it):

⁶ Then I saw a Lamb that looked as if it had been slaughtered, but it was now standing between the throne and the four living beings and among the twenty-four elders. He had seven horns and seven eyes, which represent the sevenfold Spirit of God that is sent out into every part of the earth. ⁷ He stepped forward and took the scroll from the right hand of the one sitting on the throne. ⁸ And when he took the scroll, the four living beings and the twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb. Each one had a harp, and they held gold bowls filled with incense, which are the prayers of God’s people.
- Revelation 5:6-8, NLT

It's really a rather beautiful and poetic picture, isn't it? Seriously, that's some great imagery there.