Sims, Animals and Biblical Teaching: ...
Posted by: forthrightmag <forthrightmag@...>
http://www.forthright.net
Going straight to the Cross
Take this! Take that! Ha! You deserve it! Uh,
hello, Lord ...
Sims, Animals & Biblical Teaching:
Wielding the Power to Shape
by Barry Newton
The computer game industry caters well to
testosterone. Want to command the power of an
army, fly the worlds most devastating airplane,
build a city, manage a world or expand an empire
throughout the galaxy? There is a computer
simulation game that will pander to your drive for
power.
While guys may be drawn more toward command and
conquer, the gals are not without desire to
control. The tempter shinnied up to Eve with a
modest proposal. If you want to be like God, if
the idea of possessing the power to know right and
wrong is attractive to you, just eat this. With a
wry smile, a thirty-something wife recently made
the point well when she said, The perfect husband
says, Yes, dear.
Suspended in the middle sums up well the rightful
position of humanity. On the one hand, God has
given us dominion over all the creatures within
creation, and we are to subdue the earth. Yet, we
are not the Creator, but rather the creature. We
are to submit our will to God and obediently serve
Him.
What happens when the lure to be in control, to
shape things how I want them, or by what I might
think is best collides with my service to God? I
will let you answer that question. What I am going
to do is unveil the three-word tool which some
might use to tame Scripture, twisting it into
their own image. While not a legitimate practice,
anything in Scripture which grates upon someone's
ear can be easily dismissed (at least in ones own
mind) by claiming to know the reason why.
How many times have you witnessed the following?
1) Someone claims to know the reason why a command
was given or a particular action was taken in
Scripture. (Of course you will search in vain
within Scripture to validate that this was the
reason.)
2) Proceeding to unveil how our context is
different, the conclusion is drawn that the
motivation for the command or practice no longer
exists. Now being nothing more than a curious
cultural relic of the past, the imperative is
hamstrung.
3) Having severed the message from necessity, the
creature reins in the Creators message insisting
that a proper understanding of how to apply the
text will be shaped by his or her own knowledge
of why it was given in the first place. Appealing
to your pride, the assertion is at least gently
hinted that those possessing an appropriate
sophistication will recognize that the message as
it was originally intended to be heard is
inadequate for todays situation.
The predictable result is that those who embrace
the creatures reasoning will feel no pang of
guilt whatsoever in violating Gods clear
instructions or altering what God has spoken.
Those who accurately perceive my intention will
understand I am questioning a method and its
accompanying claim of knowledge.
Although the method can be powerful in convincing
self and others, is it reliable? Are there other
principles which must control when and if it is
appropriate? Ponder upon the following examples.
Since the first two ideas will probably be new to
most believers, I hope people will rightfully
reject them. But how will they treat the rest?
The reason why Jesus commanded baptism as an
initiation rite is because he accommodated
conversion to his prevailing Jewish cultural
matrix. To achieve the dynamic equivalence in our
cultural setting, we would need to adopt new
initiation rites based upon our cultural rites of
inclusion.
But Scripture says, make disciples of all nations
baptizing them in the name of the Father, Son and
Holy Spirit. Matthew 28:19
The reason why the apostles appointed elders
within the early church is because they simply
employed a Jewish cultural form of leadership.
Today, our culture recognizes different forms of
leadership and so we do not need to be limited to
just elders.
But Scripture says, I left you in Crete, that you
would set in order what remains and appoint elders
in every city as I directed you. Titus 1:5
The reason why the early church worshipped
solely with a cappella music is because singing
with instruments at that time contained a strong
pagan association. Today, singing with instruments
does not carry this connotation, so it is
perfectly acceptable to worship with them.
But Scripture says, teaching and admonishing one
another with psalms, hymns, spiritual songs,
singing with thankfulness in your hearts to God.
Colossians 3:16
The reason why God is described with masculine
language in Scripture is because the message was
originally given to a male-dominated society.
Today, our society is more egalitarian, and thus
it is appropriate to use both male and female
language to describe and address God.
But Scripture says, This is how you ought to
pray, Our Father who is in heaven. Matthew 6:9
The reason why Paul told the women in Corinth to
be silent within the assembly of the saints is
because ... . Today, our situation is different.
Therefore, ...
But Scripture says, The women are to keep silent
in the churches ... the things I write to you are
the Lords command. 1 Corinthians 14:34, 37
With the bridle and the knife of I know the
reason why, anything within Scripture can be
tamed and cut down to a manageable size as the
creature makes Scripture jump through his hoops.
The enticement to release our imagination and
intellect to command and conquer Scripture is an
enticing one. But we are to be in the middle. In
relation to God, we are to learn obedience.
By this we know that we have come to know Him, if
we obey His commandments. The person who says, I
have come to know Him and does not obey his
commandments is a liar and the truth is not in
that person. 1 John 2:3-4
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