a Commentary by Penny Olive
As well-intentioned as Michael Ingham's Mansions of the Spirit is, the author has completely missed the point of Christianity. This book is all about semantics. And to me, there is a vast difference between compassion and compromise.
The book starts out interestingly enough.
For those of us who know the history of Christianity and other world faiths, Mansions of the Spirit offers nothing new. But for those of us who know little about religious history or the ecumenical movement, it is fairly informative.
The hitch is the negative slant that is put on Christianity. By the time we get to the end of the 3rd chapter, we have the sneaking suspicion that that tiny section of letters at the end of the Bible, which we call the New Testament, is simply the narrow-minded view of a small group of intolerant people from long ago.
For the benefit of the average lay person, who may not have had the opportunity to study church history or theology, it would have been good to have seen included in the bibliography of the book, reference to books such as Pheme Perkin's Reading the New Testament, An Introduction, or perhaps, Reading the Old Testament, An Introduction by Lawrence Boadt, so that we too could understand where Bishop Ingham is coming from.
Having said all this, the author, nevertheless, lost me on page 32, by doing what many over the centuries have done, to relegate others to where they feel they should be. In this case, Christianity is being put in its place.
On page 32, the author refers to John 17:23, focusing in on the word, "unity", and implying it to mean fellowship and communion.
And there it was for me - Scripture taken out of context.
In this paper, I would like to address the context in which various Scripture verses have been used in Mansions of the Spirit, in order to clarify the context in which I feel they were actually meant to be read.
Page 32, John 17:23
Context used in Mansions of the Spirit:
Bishop Ingham has focused in on the word "unity" in the Scripture verse, and taken it to mean "fellowship" or "community" among all believers.
Actual Bible Context:
The Scripture verse in actual fact refers, not to fellowship or communion among Christian believers, but rather, to that oneness, for each believer, in the Father through the power of the Holy Spirit, as he, Jesus, is one with the Father through the Holy Spirit.
Pages 63-64
Context used in Mansions of the Spirit:
The author states that it is clear from the following Scripture verses that God does not show any partiality or favouritism to any particular religious group.
Actual Bible Context:
Isaiah 52:10: The verse speaks of God Himself who will lay bare his holy arm and the nations will see, in other words, witness, what He has done. In no way is "impartiality" or "favouritism" towards religious groups implied by this Scripture verse, but rather, that the nations will witness, see, what God has done.
Psalm 67:4: In this particular Psalm, the psalmist is praying for God's blessing so that He may be known to all nations. Again, neither the concept of "impartiality" or "favouritism" towards religious groups is implied by the Psalmist, but rather, that evidence of God's blessing in answer to the prayer of the psalmist will lead the nations to praise God for what He has done.
Acts 14:16-17: In this Scripture verse, Paul is dealing with the issue of praising false gods, and not the issue of "impartiality" or "favouritism" towards religious groups that Bishop Ingham is trying to address.
1Timothy 2:4: In this Scripture verse, Paul is addressing the false teaching that is plaguing the church, and confirming the truth and the foundation of his faith to Timothy by saying, "one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus". This has nothing to do with "favouritism" or "impartiality" towards religious groups.
Romans 2:6-11: In these verses, Paul has used the word "favouritism" in direct reference to the consequence of sin for all - whether Jew under the law, or Gentile apart from the law - and not in reference to the impartiality of God for inclusiveness of all religious groups, as implied by Bishop Ingham in his book.
John 10:16: Jesus is explaining that only those who believe in him are his sheep, one fold being those who believed in him as he walked on the earth, the other fold being future believers. He is explaining who his sheep are.
This has nothing to do with "favouritism" or "impartiality" towards all religious groups.
Page 79, John 14:6
Context used in Mansions of the Spirit:
The verse is seen as an outpouring of praise, an expression of adoration by those who had experienced new life in him, a declaration arising from the community at that time, rather than from Jesus himself.
Bible context:
Jesus speaks at length to his disciples in John Chapters 14 through 17.
He explains that he is in the Father and that the Father is in him, that he is one with the Father, the Father being in him, and he being in the Father; Jesus is the way.
He promises the Holy Spirit, the Spirit of truth, and he tells them that the Spirit will take what is his and make it known to them; Jesus is the truth.
Jesus prays to the Father, saying, "Now this is eternal life: that they may know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent."; Jesus is the life.
This is not an outpouring of praise, but rather, an indepth teaching that encompasses several chapters.
Page 110, Matthew 10:39
Context used in Mansions of the Spirit:
Bishop Ingham is speaking about a nirvana-like communion with God.
Bible context:
Jesus is speaking about persecution in the world for his sake.
Page 110, 1Corinthians 13:1
Context used in Mansions of the Spirit:
This section of the book deals with the universality of mysticism in all religious traditions.
Bishop Ingham is speaking of ascetic blocks to religious experience.
Bible Context:
The sound of tongues without love is like the sound of a clanging cymbal, says Paul.
Paul is speaking to a church that is divided among itself, focusing on the gifts of the Spirit rather than on each other.
Page 125, Matthew 15:21-28
Context used in Mansions of the Spirit:
This section is about being open to other faiths. The Scripture is used support the notion that Jesus was open other faiths.
Bible Context:
The Scripture tells of a Canaanite woman, who comes to Jesus for help. She acknowledges him as Lord, and as the Son of David.
This story is about having faith in Jesus, and about answered prayer.
It was the woman who was open to Jesus - in contrast to what is implied by Bishop Ingham in his book - that Jesus was open to her.
Jesus saw her faith in him, and he healed her daughter.
Page 125, 1John 4:1
Context used in Mansions of the Spirit:
The author writes that the Scripture verse should be used in a self-searching way, and that within what we believe as Christians, there may be things and confessional statements we may come to deny. He writes of a Faith that requires charitableness of heart and mind.
The author is urging us to question what we believe.
Bible Context:
John is warning the believers against false teachings. His wording shows us that not all spirits are good, and that the believers need to test the spirits.
He speaks to them about the viewpoint of the world, and listening to God: the spirit of falsehood, and the Spirit of truth. v5-6
This Scripture assures believers that they have been given an anointing, and that that anointing is real, not counterfeit, the Holy Spirit. 1John 2:26-27
Page 131, Mark 2:27, John 9:1-9, Galations 3:28
Context in Mansions of the Spirit:
Concerning Mark 2:27: Jesus counters strict views of the Sabbath.
Concerning John 9:1-9: Jesus counters the idea that people suffer because of sin.
Concerning Galations 3:28: All people are now chosen people. There is a new Israel, a new global community through faith in Jesus Christ. This is replacement theology.
Bishop's Conclusion: Since things changed way back then, and were no longer relevant for the people of that time, could not the same be said for today? Christianity, according to Bishop Ingham, has not evolved past the New Testament writings. The church has limited herself and her adherents from being open to other traditions, by limiting herself canonically to Scripture belonging to the first century.
Biblical context:
Concerning Mark 2:27: This Scripture verse is less about what the Sabbath is, and more about who Jesus is: as it is written in verse 27, Jesus is Lord even of the Sabbath.
Concerning John 9:1-9: This is a teaching about spiritual blindness and legalism.
concerning Galations 3:28: It is in the sense that they have all believed and been baptized into Christ, that they - Jew, Greek, slave, free, male, female - are all one in Christ Jesus. Gal 3:26-27
Page 137, Matthew 22:23-33, Matthew 20:20-23
Context in Mansions of the Spirit:
The author interprets this Scripture to mean that we do not have the right to decide who will be saved; only God can decide.
Biblical context:
Concerning Matthew 22:23-33: This Scripture is not about judging who will be saved, but rather, Jesus is affirming to the Sadducees, and to us, that there will be a resurrection.
Concerning Matthew 20:20-23: This Scripture is not about judging who will be saved, but rather, that those who will be seated at Jesus' side in the Kingdom will have servant hearts. Mt 19:28-30, Mt 20:16, Mt 20:26-28
Page 139, Matthew 7:13, Matthew 20:1-16
Context in Mansions of the Spirit:
In this secion on evangelism, the author uses these scripture verses to state that we should not let a narrow view of Jesus cause us to "proselytise" those of other faiths.
As all received the same pay in the parable, so all will share in kingdom inheritance.
Biblical context:
Concerning Matthew 7:13: Jesus is urging his listeners not to leave themselves open to sin by being legalistic. It is in this sense that Jesus is encouraging his listeners to enter by the narrow gate. And, as he is the "fulfillment of the law", he is the gate.
Concerning Matthew 20:1-16: Those with servant hearts will want to usher others ahead of them into the kingdom, not mindful of any reward, but ready to cast their crowns before Him.
This Scripture is not about who will enter the Kingdom, but about true servanthood.
Last of all, the title of the book:
Concerning John 14:2a:
In my Father's house are many rooms. NIV
In My Father's house are many dwelling places. NAS
There are many rooms in my Father's house. Good News
In my Father's house are many mansions. KJV
Context of title, Mansions of the Spirit:
The author has focused in on the word "mansions" that appears in the King James Version, suggesting it to mean the diversity of other faith traditions.
Biblical context:
Jesus is comforting his disciples, telling them that he is going ahead of them to prepare a place for them, and that if he goes and prepares a place for them, he will come back for them. He assures them that they know the way to the Father because they know him; he is in the Father and the Father is in him. He promises the Holy Spirit, who lives with them, and will be in them.
According to Strong's Concordance, both the words mansions, verse 2, and abode, verse 23 KJV, are translated from the Greek word mone mon-ay; a staying, i.e residence (the act or the place): -- abode, mansion.
This does not mean diversity, as in other faith traditions, as implied by Bishop Ingham in the title of his book.
Rather, Jesus is speaking here, of something very intimate and personal, the indwelling of God the Holy Spirit in those who believe in him. John 14:6-23
In conclusion, I would like to say that each person is entitled to his, or her, opinion. However, when Scripture verse is used to support that opinion, it is then time for the Christian to sit up and take notice.
It is a sad fact today, that we Christians in main-line churches, read only select verses of Scripture on Sunday mornings. And so, we are not in the habit of examining much larger sections of Scripture, in order to deepen our understanding of God's Word. Because of this, we fall prey to the many teachings that are dividing our church today.
When Scripture verse is quoted in the Bible, whether it be in the Hebrew Scriptures or in the Christian Testament, it is always within the context in which it was originally written. A close examination of Scripture verse will confirm this. Old Testament and New Testament writers have never taken Scripture verse out of context. And neither must we. God's Word has been given to us for our good, not for our pleasure or licence.
Contemplation and theological debate aside, this world of hurting and debased humanity is more in need of a personal Saviour than the theory of an unseen God.
Let us not confuse the humanistic and sentimental "love" of this world with the Agape Word of "Love" given to us by God in "Love" your neighbour as yourself.
Jesus is the Way, the Truth, and the Life.
Let us not confuse compassion with compromise.
Let us give them Jesus.
