This is one of my more recent poems. It probably is not great poetry, simply a poetic attempt to express something inside of me. My intent is not to offend, but to protest the sloppy and condescending use of the word biblical. This powerful adjective is frequently used to modify a perspective in a way that says, "My view is 'biblical' and, therefore, represents God's side over against any other perspective." The problem is that EVERY interpretation of the Bible is just that, an INTERPRETATION. There is no such thing as THE biblical view of anything (my view included). Everything is interpreted.
BIBLICAL ABUSE
I’m
beginning to hate the word biblical
When
it is used as an adjective
To
justify shallow dogma.
biblical
lifestyle
biblical
counseling
biblical
marriage
biblical
dating
biblical
weight loss
biblical
womanhood
biblical
manhood
biblical
illusions, all.
I
hate the word biblical.
It
isn’t the Bible that I hate.
I
love her stories, myths, parables, and legends
That
disclose the messiness of human life
And
seek to understand
God’s
involvement in the mess.
But
I hate the word biblical
Presumptuously
describing
What
“should” be
When
we all know that the “should”
Is
falsely absolutized
Relativity
Constructed
of
Self-righteous
illusion
