Hermeneutics - Why Should I Care?

Graeme Goldsworthy says this as to the importance of hermeneutics. From Chapter one of his book: Gospel-Centered Hermeneutics: Foundations and Principles of Evangelical Biblical Interpretation.

Christians with a diversity of views will come together under the common umbrella of evangelicalism if they think they have sufficient reason.In less challenging times,however,differences can become matters of potential and real division, and even hostility, being expressed under that broad evangelical umbrella. Suddenly the clarity of Scripture seems to mean, ‘It’s quite clear to me: why can’t you see what is obvious?’ Throwing proof texts at each other like so many grenades only results in unseemly shrapnel and much suspicion and hurt. But if I as an Anglican am to understand my Baptist brethren;ifI as a Calvinist am to understand my Arminian brethren;ifI as an amillennialist am to understand my pre-millennialist brethren; and if they are to understand me, then we must try to
understand each other’s starting points and theological assumptions. This is where hermeneutics should play an important part. Even more basic is the desire of all of us simply to know and understand what God says to us in his word. We are concerned to be Christians in an alienated world, and we desire to see Christ glorified in this world. We want to hear and know God through his word.