I’ve been reading Binding the Strong Man by Ched Myers, it’s a much more challenging way of reading the bible than I’ve ever been exposed to before, and not just because I needed a dictionary beside me to understand it, it’s really grounded in something real and therefore relevant – for the first time the bible isn’t some collection of myths and legends or a problem solving oracle. Basically I can’t read it and not help feeling moved to respond and called to discern what this looks like for my own context… is that not what a bible study should be?

In Ched’s words (p.11) Mark’s gospel originally was written to help imperial subjects learn the hard truth about the world and themselves. He does not pretend torepresent the Word of God dispassionately or impartially, as if that word were innocuously universal in its appeal to rich and poor alike.  His is a story by, about, and for those committed to God’s work of justice, compasison and liberation in the world. To modern theologians, like the Pharisees, Mark offers no “signs from heaven” (Mark 8:11). To scholars, who, like the cheif priests, refuse to ideologically commit themselves, he offers no answer (Mark 11:30-33). But to those willing to raise the wrath of the empire, Mark offers a way of discipleship (Mark 8:34)

Here are some questions I pondered on my way to work one day – what are you discussing as you walk along? what things?