A New Hermeneutic

I read a lot of stuff, some of it is helpful, most of it just clutters my mind and makes it harder to think. One of the common themes in my reading is people calling for a "New Hermeneutic." I suppose this means the one I have is worn out. I really think it means if you don't like the answers you are getting with the old one, create a new way to make the bible say what you want. The old hermeneutic is to interpret the scriptures in light of at least three criteria;

1. The plain meaning of the text, if the literal makes sense, seek no other sense.
2. Take into consideration history, context, language, and the teachings of the same writer in other passages, and then combine this with all the scripture to reach a conclusion.
3. What has the church said over the years about the particular passage your are reading.

There are presently a lot of new interpretations of the scripture bubbling up from those who believe in biblical authority, but don't like the traditional answers. This is particularly true of issues about Heaven, Hell, Justice, The Kingdom of God, and Salvation itself. I am among those who has challenged some of the traditional hermeneutic about what being saved means. My critique has not been that what is said about getting saved isn't technically correct, it is just that so much is left out that it creates Christians that think following Jesus is an add on, an optional activity for the serious Christian. So may I bravely purpose that the new hermeneutic needed is the old one with a twist. Think outside the theological categories that have been created for us.

 A seminary professor years ago reminded our class , " Theology isn't inspired, the scriptures are."  So be radical, starting using your old hermeneutic and go off roading, read the scriptures wild and free, let them mean what they say. This is much better than trying to squeeze and contort some unclear passages into a little box that disarms it from its potential life changing power. " Wait", you might protest, "What passages are you referring to?"  Hey, that's your problem.  I leave you with my paraphrase of that eccentric Dane Soren Kierkegaard,

" it is a frightening prospect for a man to be alone with the bible."

What he meant was it is dangerous for a man to find the truth of scripture before it is filtered through the theological grid. His point was sarcastic, that people might come alive with the truth of scripture before theologians could explain it away as not to be taken seriously.