I came across a term this past summer that I probably should have been aware of but I wasn’t – it is the hermeneutical spiral. Sounds impressive I know. I have since read a bit more about it, and although there are slight variations from different writers, the theme is the same – learning is a matter of process, an ebb and flow between several facets of information.

My understanding of this came from a conversation that took place with an older gentleman, a theologian and writer in Colorado Springs. As we sat in his office bouncing ideas around (I felt as though he valued my insight as much as I was valuing his, even though he was probably 30 years my senior) he drew a spiral on the white board in his office – “the hermeneutical spiral” he said.

He explained that as we read scripture we gain an understanding of the world around us. Then, as we engage the world around us it begins to shape the scripture we are reading – sometimes it lines up perfectly, other times it doesn’t appear to make sense. So, back to the scriptures we go to gain clarity as to what it is saying, then back into the world around us, then back to scripture, the world, and on it goes. It is only after many iterations of this back and forth do we truly begin to gain a deep and meaningful understanding of scripture as it pertains to the culture we engage with.

For me, a personal example I can give is the whole area of serving those who are disadvantaged. It was eight years ago when I memorized Isaiah 58:6-7 that my journey began. As I started to engage with, serve and befriend those that I never had connected with previously, my thinking began to change – it was difficult at times and confusing. However the more I read scripture combined with my increased involvement with the disadvantaged, the more I began to understand how I was completely failing to do what is now so blindingly obvious and the more I have been understanding the ways in which I am to engage them for their benefit and also how not to engage them. In fact, it is no longer me and them, but us together as friends coming from different lives lived but still made in the image of God. The spiral continues to this day, as it should.

The whole point of it is to “learn how to learn.” Learning can be frustrating at times because we want it to be efficient. Give me the bible verse, tell me what to do, and away I go. Yet in reality that isn’t how it works, it is always a process. Our initial understanding is so often not what it must be, or not as deep and robust as it needs to be.

One of the great things that we can bring to those that we lead is teaching them how to learn. We are not there to simply provide “pat answers” as that will only keep them as young disciples. If they can learn how to learn, if they develop a desire to dig deeper themselves, then they have truly become a disciple that will never stop growing. This is our task. However the only way for us to help others to grasp it is for us to grasp it ourselves. Don’t stop learning. Understand that there will always be more to glean from the scriptures as you engage culture. Always be hungry for more – it will never disappoint. Let the hermeneutical spiral guide you!

For the kingdom.