Brent Walker, Executive-Director of the Baptist Joint Committee for Religious Liberty, has penned a column 
over at Newsweek’s ON FAITH entitled Every Christian is a Priest To Each Other.
Brent was responding to this question posted by Newsweek’s Sally Quinn and Jon Meacham: Should a layperson read sacred texts alone, without the help of clergy or community? How do you read and study sacred texts?
Here is Brent’s response:
As a Baptist, I embrace the great Reformation precepts — and, dare I say, Baptist (at our best) notions — of soul freedom, soul competency and the priesthood of all believers. We are all imbued by God with both the freedom and competence to read and understand Scripture and to interpret it without direction from a “priest.” The only intermediation we need, according to the writer of Hebrews, is Christ himself.
In sum, I read the text through the life and teachings of Christ, expecting inspiration and understanding from the Holy Spirit. I then sometimes discuss it with others, such as a Bible study group, and often read several commentaries or other scholarly sources. In the end, as a free and competent soul without further need of a priest, I understand it and apply it to my life as best I can.
For a Baptist Christian, scriptural interpretation should begin and end with the individual reading of the text through the lens of Jesus and with the Holy Spirit’s guidance.
However, this always should be done in the context and the nurture of the community. This includes one’s ecclesiological tradition, the church, and the best of biblical scholarship. It is altogether arrogant to think that God speaks only directly to me and through no one else. Indeed, the full idea of the believers’ priesthood doctrine is not just that no one needs a priest; it is that every Christian is a priest, a priest to each other.
This mutual accountability must be done in love and with a light touch. That’s why this is done better in a small group, like a Sunday school class, or among brothers and sisters in the local church. It is not to be license to sanction top down ravishing of consciences or theological straitjacketing either of the local congregation or the individual.
You can check out the responses from the other Newsweek ON FAITH panelists here.
BDW,
Don’t be too hard on Walker. He’s a lawyer, not a theologian.
Actually, Chuck, Brent Walker has a theology degree as well as a law degree. I went to seminary with Brent. He was already a successful lawyer and already considering focusing on church-state issues. In addition to his work at the BJC, Brent Walker has been pastor of a small church in Maryland and is often a guest preacher in Baptist pulpits.
And I think BDW published his remarks as praise–not as an attempt to be hard on Walker.
Posted this as praise, Chuck.
Brent is also an ordained minister and earned his M.Div at Southern, 1989.
He does, however, have a B.A. and M.A from the University of Florida. Yuck.
“He does have a B.A. and M.A. from the University of Florida. Yuck.”
I know. It was all this Florida State alumnus to become friends with Walker.
Fortunately, he had his J.D. from Stetson U. to make up from this.
Fellas,
Don’t be too hard on Walker, but at least be objective. The excerpts, at least, have enough contradictions and ambiguous holes for a truck full of Swiss cheese to drive through.
I was wondering, where exactly can I find evidence that we are free to interpret the Bible the way that we wish? Because in all of my studies I have seen that God has set up a path for us to follow, not for us to create ourselves. I’m just wondering so I can investigate on my own. Thank you