tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7130850.post7958761503598235563..comments2023-09-28T02:35:04.178-07:00Comments on Dancing in the Dark: Let's Not Try to Pretty-up the BibleSteve Kindlehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16634130965524334750noreply@blogger.comBlogger5125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7130850.post-3005171951914416492014-03-08T10:08:04.595-08:002014-03-08T10:08:04.595-08:00I appreciate your observations, Charles. They poi...I appreciate your observations, Charles. They point to a reality seldom considered by modern readers: the cultural gulf of 2000 years creates huge opportunities for misunderstanding what we read in the Bible. You are pointing to a major one...what we understand today about sexuality is a far cry from that of the NT era. Thanks for weighing in on this. I hope to hear from you again.Steve Kindlehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16634130965524334750noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7130850.post-14077337050520788232014-01-31T00:58:19.145-08:002014-01-31T00:58:19.145-08:00Here in Indiana, it is clear that the attempt to p...Here in Indiana, it is clear that the attempt to place a same-gender marriage ban in the state constitution is also related to how we view and interpret the Bible. Some assume the Bible is as homophobic as it is patriarchal. I don't see that. I see the Bible condemning homosexual promiscuity, (and we should, as much as we criticize heterosexual promiscuity)pedastery, and cultic sexual practices. I do not think the Bible speaks to same sex couple who want to live in permanent monogamous relationships. I place this position to the right of Christian fundamentalists, whose interpretation of scripture is overly-influenced by a fear of modernity, and thus is strangely a form of theological liberalism. Not that labels matter, but I am tired of granting to fundamentalists the idea they are defending the historic Christian faith. Fundamentalism is a very novel form of being a Christian, not yet even 100 years old. yet somehow they are able to convince a lot of people Including certain Republican state legislators in Indiana) they are the true Christian faith.Charles Stanleyhttps://www.facebook.com/WhatNoEyeHasSeennoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7130850.post-87526921080161015172014-01-29T14:42:41.439-08:002014-01-29T14:42:41.439-08:00As a follow-up to your comment on my blog, let me ...As a follow-up to your comment on my blog, let me post a link to my reply posted there. At over 2000 words it is a bit lengthy for a comment! <a href="http://henryneufeld.com/threads/2014/01/29/on-prettying-up-the-bible-in-reply-to-drbobcwcc-and-revkindle/" rel="nofollow">On Prettying-Up the Bible</a>. Thanks for opening this discussion!Henry Neufeldhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06170247981224017802noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7130850.post-64697165528044379692014-01-27T23:17:34.075-08:002014-01-27T23:17:34.075-08:00This is one more piece of evidence that we need to...This is one more piece of evidence that we need to be humble in our exegetical outcomes. Not only are they often influenced by what we'd like them to be, so are the results of the translations we depend upon. The way out is not to despair, but to give one another lots of room, and loving companionship along the way. Differences of opinion are not reasons to find fault or opportunities to distance ourselves from one another. They are opportunities to discover why we are the way we are. Thanks for commenting.Steve Kindlehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16634130965524334750noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7130850.post-46953617528398606952014-01-27T19:44:32.466-08:002014-01-27T19:44:32.466-08:00Recognizing that the oldest Greek manuscripts have...Recognizing that the oldest Greek manuscripts have no punctuation, and knowing that Paul was exchanging letters with the churches he was writing to, what happens if you change (only) the punctuation, capitalization, and paragraph breaks? Well, with the Revised Standard Version, 1 Corinthians 14:20-40 becomes:<br /><br /> Brethren, do not be children in your thinking. Be babes in evil, but in thinking be mature in the law. It is written, “By men of strange tongues and by the lips of foreigners will I speak to this people and even then they will not listen to me, says the Lord. Thus, tongues are a sign not for believers but for unbelievers, while prophecy is not for unbelievers but for believers. If, therefore, the whole church assembles and all speak in tongues and outsiders or unbelievers enter, will they not say that you are mad? But if all prophesy and an unbeliever or outsider enters, he is convicted by all, he is called to account by all; the secrets of his heart are disclosed and so falling on his face he will worship God and declare that God is really among you.<br /> What then, brethren? [Well,] when you come together, each one has a hymn, a lesson, a revelation, a tongue, or an interpretation – let all things be done for edification. If any speak in a tongue, let there be only two or at most three, and each in turn, and let one interpret. But if there is no one to interpret, let each of them keep silence in church and speak to himself and to God. Let two or three prophets speak and let the others weigh what is said. If a revelation is made to another sitting by, let the first be silent, for you can all prophesy, one by one, so that all may learn and all be encouraged and [that way] the spirits of prophets are subject to prophets. For God is not a God of confusion but of peace, as in all the churches of the saints.<br /> “The women should keep silence in the churches for they are not permitted to speak but should be subordinate, as even the law says. If there is anything they desire to know, let them ask their husbands at home, for it is shameful for a woman to speak in church.”<br /> WHAT!? Did the word of God originate with you or are you the only ones it has reached? If any one thinks that he is a prophet or spiritual he should acknowledge that what I am writing to you is a command of the Lord! If any one does not recognize this he is not recognized!<br /> So, my brethren, earnestly desire to prophesy and do not forbid speaking in tongues, but all things should be done decently and in order.<br /><br />I'm not sure what would happen with the Greek, but I bet something similar. And this totally changes the meaning of how the church has interpreted Paul's issue with women in the church.<br />Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02904206000139624649noreply@blogger.com