Today's readings: Psalms 26 and 28, Joshua 2:15-24, Romans 11:13-24, Matthew 25:14-30
Today we continue our reflection on the tension between the ancient texts of the Bible and the sensibilities of the present-day Christian.
Have you ever heard anyone label a certain type of thinking or theology as “Old Testament” or “New Testament?” Sometimes we like to believe there’s an easy distinction, a clean break between the people of the law and the people of grace. However, many Old Testament prophets – Isaiah, Jeremiah, Hosea, Amos, Micah, etc. – foreshadowed Jesus’ teachings by commenting on the need for justice over sacrifice. Conversely, we can be tempted to soften Jesus’ language to make him seem less OT and more WWJD.
Let’s use today’s parable of the talents as an example. Many, if not most, translations refer to the characters in the story as “servants,” but a more accurate translation is “slaves.” This is true for many passages in which the word “servant” appears. Some critics of Christianity will use these passages to claim Jesus condoned or even promoted slavery, especially since some Christians have made the same mistake.
Though we accept his teachings as universal, we understand Jesus was speaking to a specific culture at a specific time. So what can we make of things like Jesus’ casual references to slavery? First, many of the people in his audience were slaves. Using them as examples of righteousness elevated them spiritually beyond their societal stations, and was a revolutionary statement. Second, Jesus is an example of a faithful life in the world as it is. When we acknowledge what we can do for the poor and oppressed today, we are not condoning or promoting poverty and oppression, nor are we foolish enough to pretend they will cease to exist. Third, as Paul says in several of his letters, in Christ there is no distinction between Jew, Greek, slave, free, male, female, etc. (Cor 12:13, Gal 3:28, Col 3:11). We are all slaves to each other and to Christ. Softening the language diminishes its radical message.
Slavery is certainly not the only difficult topic in the Bible. If we are willing to understand scripture in the larger context of the world and tackle its more challenging texts head on, our faith only deepens.
Comfort: God is present even in the most unpleasant places and times.
Challenge: Start a diary of Biblical texts that make you uncomfortable. Revisit old entries from time to time to see if you gain new perspective.
Have you ever heard anyone label a certain type of thinking or theology as “Old Testament” or “New Testament?” Sometimes we like to believe there’s an easy distinction, a clean break between the people of the law and the people of grace. However, many Old Testament prophets – Isaiah, Jeremiah, Hosea, Amos, Micah, etc. – foreshadowed Jesus’ teachings by commenting on the need for justice over sacrifice. Conversely, we can be tempted to soften Jesus’ language to make him seem less OT and more WWJD.
Let’s use today’s parable of the talents as an example. Many, if not most, translations refer to the characters in the story as “servants,” but a more accurate translation is “slaves.” This is true for many passages in which the word “servant” appears. Some critics of Christianity will use these passages to claim Jesus condoned or even promoted slavery, especially since some Christians have made the same mistake.
Though we accept his teachings as universal, we understand Jesus was speaking to a specific culture at a specific time. So what can we make of things like Jesus’ casual references to slavery? First, many of the people in his audience were slaves. Using them as examples of righteousness elevated them spiritually beyond their societal stations, and was a revolutionary statement. Second, Jesus is an example of a faithful life in the world as it is. When we acknowledge what we can do for the poor and oppressed today, we are not condoning or promoting poverty and oppression, nor are we foolish enough to pretend they will cease to exist. Third, as Paul says in several of his letters, in Christ there is no distinction between Jew, Greek, slave, free, male, female, etc. (Cor 12:13, Gal 3:28, Col 3:11). We are all slaves to each other and to Christ. Softening the language diminishes its radical message.
Slavery is certainly not the only difficult topic in the Bible. If we are willing to understand scripture in the larger context of the world and tackle its more challenging texts head on, our faith only deepens.
Comfort: God is present even in the most unpleasant places and times.
Challenge: Start a diary of Biblical texts that make you uncomfortable. Revisit old entries from time to time to see if you gain new perspective.
Prayer: God of the Known and Unknown, let me know you as you are and not just as I'd like you to be.
Evening readings: Psalms 36 and 39
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