Bible Question:
http://www.newint.org/issue370/literal.htm The above link is not my website. But it is troubling to me, as I do not know how to respond to it. Question: How do I respond intelligently to the questions raised in the above website about the relevancy of the Old Testament Law, without side-stepping the issues. |
Bible Answer: Hello Trigger. It's a pretty interesting web page, and goes a lot deeper than just looking at old-testament laws. I think the author of that satirical page should be given some credit. Often, when we talk about the Bible being perfect, we leave the impression that you can flip open the Bible to any page, and get God's answer for today. This leads to the kinds of misunderstanding presented on the webpage. We are seen as hypocritical, for changing our views on mentration, or slavery, but not homosexuality. Each verse must be read in the context of the whole Bible. This was part of Tim's reply: reading the Old Testament through the lense of the New. But Tim's reply doesn't say it all, because slavery (mentioned on the website) is permitted by Paul... yet there are Biblical grounds to oppose slavery. As we work out the themes of the Bible --- including sin, forgiveness, freedom, servanthood --- we will find the correct and Biblical response to the times we live in. The website mentions Exodus 21:7. It talks about selling one's daughter as a slave. Surely, this is a horrific thing. It goes on, to set boundaries around it --- there are some protections for the woman (for instance, she cannot be re-sold to foreigners, and should have the status of a daughter or wife). If the owning master doesn't keep his end, however, there is no compensation to her (verse 10). How are we to see God's Word in this? I would suggest there is a fair bit of fallen culture in there, as Moses and the Israelites struggle to find justice -- but use their fallen culture as a starting point. The desire for justice is there in these words --- yet they fall short of Love and Justice we expect of the Kingdom of God. This verse has much to teach us... but not about how to treat our slaves or daughters. Living within the whole Biblical story -- not just "proof texts" -- will disarm the kind the of argument the website put forward. Perhaps the author really does seek the truth... so we should present the truth in a more compelling way than we have been. |