Cultural Coloring of Biblical Text [5001]
I believe that the
Canon of Scripture (Old and New Testaments) is the TRUTH for every generation. The Pharisees struggled with understanding and applying the Torah within the context of their cultural, social, religious, and political milieu. Jesus confronted their interpretations of "how and what the Torah said." They had misinterpreted the Torah. The application of the Word of God was misdirected. Their misinterpretation did not diminish the TRUTH. They just missed the point God was making.An example from my experience which can perhaps make this clear.
I believe that the Israelites left Egypt and inspite of their grumbling and disbelief God worked with them. They crossed the Red/Reed Sea which drowned the Egyptians who attempted to follow. From the Written Word of God we have no clear, definitive image of what happened. Many have attempted to make suggestions. HOWEVER, we do not know the specific details of how it happened.
Enter The Ten Commandments, the movie. I saw this movie many, many years ago. The Red/Reed Sea part left an impression on me. Even though I do not know the details of how the crossing happened, when I think of the crossing I think of the scene from the movie. "Cultural Coloration" affects how I visualize the story when I read/or think about the crossing. The way Cecil B. DeMill portrayed the crossing maybe exactly the way it happened. I do not know for certain.
The point is...if I am not careful, the image on the screen can color and/or cloud my understanding of the actual event.
Jesus attempted to turn from the Cultural Coloring that had influenced how individuals interpreted the Scripture. He wanted them to see what God had said...not what tradition and interpretation said.
I have no problem with believing what the Bible says. HOWEVER, I do not chose to believe and/or defend interpretations. It is much like fighting "straw men" or Don Quixote windmills.
The student has the responsibility and privilege to see through the Cultural Coloring to the Word of God.
I am not talking about "
demythologizing" the real message Word of God out of a text that contains a mix of truth and myth. My issue is with the "Cultural Coloring" of our understanding of the Biblical Text. The issue is how we interpret/use the text.DO ANGELS HAVE WINGS?
Answer the question before you continue. Yes...No...Maybe...Never thought anything else.
What is the basis for your answer? The angels you see pinned on clothing? Pictures? Movies? The Bible?
If you do a search for angels in the Old and New Testament (KJV), you will not find ONE REFERENCE TO ANGELS HAVING WINGS. Numerous passages say cherubim and seraphim have wings, but NEVER angels.
You know, angels may have wings. But, the Scripture does not say they do. Try telling folk that the Bible does not say tha t angels have wings in our culture milieu and watch the reactions you get.
The Pharisees read the Torah and were concerned with outward cleanliness and carefully keeping the law. They had build elaborate "interpretations," but had missed the point. Jesus comes along and says that it is the inside that counts. Truth is True, but interpretation can be wrong.
Updated Thursday, February 24, 2000
Created August 29, 1998
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