I recently read Lynne Cheney’s new biography – James Madison: A Life Reconsidered. I thought I would be taking a Sabbath from theological considerations and indulge in my second love – American history. But I was wrong. Early on Cheney tells us of Madison’s lifelong struggle with “sudden attacks,” most likely a form of epilepsy, that often left him debilitated for days. As a student at Princeton, Madison sought to understand the source of his malady. He consulted medical texts and biblical commentaries. The scientific explanation for his disease was an excess of black bile secreted by the kidneys. Remedies included a mixture of mercury, arsenic, and antimony. The biblical explanation for his disease, which was supported by the Princeton faculty, was demon possession (Matthew 17:14-18; Mark 9:17-26; Luke 9:42). The King James Version of the Bible, which he consulted, referred to sufferers as “lunatics.”
Madison’s struggle with “sudden attacks” provoked theological tension within me. Theological considerations are to be encountered at every turn of life, and rightly so. Madison sought to understand the cause of his disease, and to discover a cure. The science of the day could not offer a cure. The prevailing biblical hermeneutic of the day could offer no comfort. It appears that this led him to embrace the philosophy of David Hume who insisted that the miracles and spiritual explanation of the Bible were incompatible with reason. Cheney points out that although Madison was a fervent defender of religious liberty throughout his public career, personal religion seemed to be of little concern to him. It may be that Madison rejected religion because he could not accept the unreasonable judgment that his “sudden attacks” were demonic.
As I was reading it occurred to me that Mrs. Cheney most likely has a profound personal interest in this part of Madison’s story. It is widely known that Cheney’s daughter, Mary, is lesbian and strongly supports same-sex marriage. Further, it has been widely argued that the biblical prohibition against homosexuality reflects antiquated understandings of human nature and sexuality.
Madison’s story demonstrates the challenge of “accurately handling the word of truth” (2 Timothy 2:15). Recently, a friend asked me, “How are we going to settle the issue of homosexuality in the church?” I replied, “We must be better exegetes of Scripture, and we must be willing to consider the psychological, sociological, and biological issues involved.” In other words, in our effort to be faithful to the God-breathed words of Scripture (2 Timothy 3:16) we must be careful not to subject the truth of Scripture to erroneous hermeneutical propositions. No serious student of the Bible today would suggest that all persons who suffer from epilepsy are demon possessed. But all conscientious students of the Bible understand that humanity is fallen and in need of salvation.
By faith I accept that the words of the Holy Scripture are divinely inspired and authoritative. My faith does not negate the use of my intellect. In fact, the Faith informs and transforms the mind so that we may faithfully discern the will of God (Romans 12:1-2). Faith does not require the believer to be close-minded, but guarded and discerning. We must be guarded against ignorance and lies (1 Timothy 6:20; 2 Peter 3:17). We must be able to discern truth, even as our understanding is limited (1 Corinthians 13:12). Our vocation is to offer reconciliation, healing, mercy, and hope. If I am to be an effective ambassador of the Faith, then I must learn to talk about the Scripture with those who do not share my view of divine inspiration and I must do so with a convincing hermeneutic.
I must point out that just as Madison was not well served by the biblical scholarship and hermeneutics of his day, neither was he well served by the science of his day. Just as biblical scholars must humbly accept that we “know in part,” so too must the scientist accept that science cannot answer all of the yearning questions of humanity.
By the way, Mrs. Cheney’s biography of the fourth president is wonderful.
