'In 1967, the United Presbyterian Church in America adopted a
new confession of faith. Concerning the nature of the Bible, the
following statement was made: "The Scriptures, given under
the guidance of the Holy Spirit, are nevertheless the words of
men, conditioned by the language, thought forms, and literary
fashions of the places and times at which they were written. They
reflect the views of life, history, and the cosmos, which were
THEN current"..The foregoing paragraph contains some very
subtle implications. It reflects what is known as the "historical-critical"
approach to biblical interpretation...In other words, the New
Testament is merely the record of how the primitive Christians,
consistent with their subjective inclinations, adapted the broad
principles of the religion of Jesus to their unique life styles.
This view contends, therefore, that what was true for the first-century
church may not necessarily be true for today's church. Christianity
is viewed as a rather plastic religion; it may alter its forms
of expression to fit the mood and tempo of any given culture and
historical circumstance.' (The Spiritual Sword. Volume 25, April
1995 'The Command/Culture Controversy'. Wayne Jackson pp. 28-29)
Hence those who take this view argue: (1) Baptism isn't essential
for salvation, for that is the "cultural form" they
used to manifest their obedience to God, but we can show our obedience
by doing something else. (2) We can change the elements in the
Lord's Supper, to what is more in line with our culture. (3) We
can alter the qualifications for deacons or elders, to qualifications
more in harmony with what our culture accepts as marks of leadership.
(4) 'One of the primary motives with some of our brethren, in
their quest to release the modern church from the oppressive shackles
of first-century culture, is the liberation of women to assume
a more dominant leadership role in the public life of the church.'
(Jackson p. 29) In essence this view can affect and alter any
biblical view, teaching or practice which our modern culture claims
is now beneath us.
I. This View Does Contain A Hard Standard:
Many have embraced the above view of interpreting Scripture, because they feel that finally they can be liberated from biblical commands that they feel are restrictive, harsh and unfair. What they haven't figured out yet, is that the "historical-critical" approach brings with it a very harsh standard of it's own, i.e. the opinion of the vocal and powerful in society. (John 12:42-43) Which means, religious bodies that embrace this view have become slaves to the views expressed by the elite in our culture. And such has already happened. For fear of becoming intellectual and social outcasts, many religious groups have caved in and embraced Homosexuality, Evolution, Living-Together Relationships, There is No Hell, Eastern and Native American religions are acceptable to God, etc... (Ephesians 4:14).
A. JESUS GAVE A HIGHER ETHIC THAN EMBRACED BY THE CURRENT CULTURE:
The idea that the THEN current cultural views of God, men and women, religion, worship, and morality influenced the biblical writers, doesn't square with the facts. (1) Instead of embracing, accommodating or simply overlooking the "errors" of the prevailing religious culture in the First Century, Jesus exposed and rebuked them. (Matthew 15:1-9; John 4:22) (2) Instead of accepting the standard of spirituality imposed by the current religious culture, Jesus gave a higher standard BASED ON THE TEACHINGS FOUND in a culture that had existed 1000's of years earlier. (Matthew 5:28=Exodus 20:17 'With this command we see something of the utter uniqueness of biblical law. Not only are specific acts condemned or prohibited, but the thoughts and aspirations of an individual are also evaluated. This commandment is, in fact, supplementary to the eighth, for covetousness is the root from which theft grows..This commandment is a staunch prohibition against all lustful desire..Covetousness has a psychologically degrading effect upon an individual. It automatically negates any success which he may have achieved. It downgrades his interest in his own home and his family. It breaks down his respect for the possessions of others...Quite often covetousness leads to mental frustration..' (Moses and the Gods of Egypt. John Jefferson Davis p.220). Notice that Jesus pointed the religious leaders of the day back to what had been spoken through Moses. (Mark 7:10-11 'For Moses said...but you say'; Matthew 22:31-32 '..have you not read that which was spoken to you by God..' Exodus 3:6)
B. A COMMON ASSUMPTION: TIME BRINGS HIGHER ETHICS:
It seems to me that many have bought into the "historical-culture" view because they believe that 20th Century man and his ideas are morally and spiritually superior to those of any book written in the First Century or before. The truth is that time and culture often bring moral and spiritual decay rather than enlightenment. (2 Timothy 4:2-4; Genesis 6:5; Judges 2:10) Jesus and His Apostles often appealed to Genesis to establish or remind people of a truth. 'Consider this point. In the Lord's declaration regarding the sanctity and permanency of the home, he affirmed: "Whosoever shall divorce his wife, expect for fornication, and shall marry another, is committing adultery..." (Matthew 19:9). Was this ordinance an accommodation to the cultural habits of that day?..The fact is, Jewish, Greek, and Roman attitudes concerning divorce and remarriage were all quite loose in that era. The Lord's rather rigid instruction was based upon God's design for the human family as reflected in the acts of creation at the very beginning of earth's history (Matthew 19:4-8).' (Jackson p. 31) Paul did the same thing. (1 Timothy 2:11-14) The point is that what was revealed at the beginning was a much higher ethical standard than what "culture/society/the opinions of smart and educated men/the viewpoint of the powerful and elite" came up with thousands of years later. Time and culture had failed to improve upon what God had given. The Sermon on the Mount graphically demonstrates this truth. "Culture" had lowered God's standards, it hadn't made them more spiritual. (Matthew 5:20) When Jesus said repeatedly "You have heard" (5:21,27,31,33)(5:21;27;31;33;38;43)
(Matthew 5:21,27,31,33), He isn't correcting an outdated biblical view, rather He is re-establishing in the minds of His audience what the true biblical view had always been. HE IS REMOVING THE MISINTERPRETATION'S THAT A "CULTURE" HAD PLACED ON GOD'S WORD. He does the same thing in Mark 7:8-13 'thus invalidating the word of God by your tradition'. Note: "Tradition" is something that comes from "culture". Jesus spent much of His time stripping away "cultural" additions and perversions to the Word of God. (Matthew 15:1-2; 10-11; 12:1-2; 10-12; Chapter 22 and 23) In addition, our supposed "enlightened" culture needs to get off God's throne and wake up to reality. (1) We haven't solved or eradicated any sins, in fact, our "wise ideas" have only made things worse. We are a culture filled with crime, greed, disobedience to parents, abortion, failed marriages, envy, strife, drug abuse, laziness, irresponsibility, sexual immorality and its consequences. (2) It may have been almost 2000 years since the New Testament was written, but we have come full circle, and Portland Oregon isn't much different than First Century Corinth. (1 Corinthians 6:9-11), the culture of most ancient Gentile nations (Romans 1:29-32) or the culture of the Canaanites around 1400 B.C. (Leviticus 18:20-24).
C. IF IT WAS WRONG IN CORINTH, IN SODOM, IN CANAAN THEN IS IT WRONG PERIOD!
People fail to realize the sins that the biblical writers condemned at various times and in various cultures, were attitudes, behaviours and practices which those cultures often approved of. Homosexuality was accepted in Sodom (Genesis 19:4) and defended (19:9); but God condemned it. (Jude 7) Various sexual sins were accepted in Canaanite culture, but again, God condemned them. (Leviticus 18:24) Religious prostitution was an accepted and established cultural norm in Corinth, and God condemned it. (1 Corinthians 6:16-18) The idea that the ethics, worship, and morality found in the Bible were influenced by "cultural mores" is ridiculous. The truth is, that the biblical writers often found themselves at odds with the "culture" they lived in. The Great Commission is a classic example of this. In the mind of Jesus, the world (every society, every culture) was in sin, lost and hell bound. Every culture had failed to find God and had failed to live up to His standard of right and wrong. (Romans 3:23) Hence, everyone needed to hear the gospel, BECAUSE EVERYONE NEEDED TO BE SAVED! (Mark 16:16) Therefore, all cultures found themselves being labeled spiritual and moral failures. (Romans Chapters 1-3)
D. THE BIBLE WAS AND STILL IS WAY AHEAD OF CULTURE:
The idea that the contents of the Bible simply reflect the views of life, history, and the cosmos WHICH WERE THEN CURRENT IS FALSE. The Bible doesn't contain any of the unscientific theories which were popular in the culture and age in which it was written. The Bible doesn't teach or endorse the concept of a flat earth. (Isaiah 40:22) Neither does it present an ignorant view of human reproduction (Genesis 3:15), the laws of physics (Genesis 2:1; Hebrews 1:10-12), sanitation (Book of Leviticus), medical science (Leviticus 17:11), biology (Genesis 1:11), human psychology (Mark 7:20-23; Proverbs 9:8-9; 15:1; 18:12; 28:1,26); marital counseling. (Ephesians 5:22-33; 1 Peter 3:1-7), or how to succeed in your personal relationships. (1 Corinthians 13:4-8; Romans 12:14-21; Ephesians 4:25-32)
E. TIME AND CULTURE DIDN'T MODIFY THE FIRST COVENANT:
Years, decades and centuries after the Law of Moses was given at Sinai, the details of that Law were still in effect. (1) Intermarriage with certain cultures was still wrong. (Deut. 7:1-4=1 Kings 11:1-2; Nehemiah 13:23-27) (2) The Sabbath day was still in force. (Exodus 20:8=Luke 4:16) (3) The specific regulations concerning the sacrificial animals, God still expected people to obey. (Malachi 1:8) (4) The various feasts, such as Passover were still binding. (Luke 2:41-42) (5) Specific sacrifices for specific things were still viewed as necessary. (Luke 2:23-24=Leviticus 12:8) So why do we think that the passage of time and culture allows us to modify a much better covenant? (Hebrews 8:6)
F. JESUS WASN'T AN INNOVATOR:
If the "historical-critical" view is correct, then Jesus comes off looking like a VERY UNSPIRITUAL PERSON! He was bringing a new covenant, which had been foretold (Jeremiah 31:31-34), but while He was alive He didn't attempt to change anything about the Law that God had given to Israel some 1500 years previous. (Matthew 5:18) He obeyed and respected everything in it, up the to very night of His betrayal. (Luke 4:16; Luke 22:15) These truths demand some answers from those who are bringing innovations into Christianity: (1) If Jesus didn't bring innovations into a much inferior covenant, then aren't they claiming spiritual superiority to Him? (2) If churches that continue to adhere closely to the Bible and refuse to "loosen up" to innovation are "stale and unspiritual". Then doesn't that make Jesus look "stale and unspiritual"? Seeing that He worshipped the Father publicly using the very same external forms and acts that His physical ancestors had done for 1500 years?
G. HOW CAN ANYONE THEN EVER "DEPART FROM THE FAITH"?
'If one may adapt Christianity to his personal and/or cultural PREFERENCES, how could he ever "depart from the faith?" (Jackson p. 32) This view really has a problem with verses like 1 Timothy 4:1-3. What if a culture decides that "abstaining from marriage" or "being an vegetarian" is not only healthier and better for you, but also more spiritual? I think Jackson is right, you cannot fall way from a "culturally defined faith". For what are Christians being influenced by when they do fall away? Clearly, the world. (1 John 2:15-16) But if the world (culture, society) defines the particulars of the faith (i.e. precisely how love and obedience to God is manifested), then, all warnings against departure have become meaningless. In reality this view says that unfaithful Christians are faithful (professed religious people who are being influenced by the present culture are the faithful and spiritual ones), and faithful Christians (those who refuse to compromise and hold to the Bible) are the ones who have departed from the faith (since culture defines the faith for us). And finally, any view that results in the doctrine that certain forms of adultery, fornication or homosexuality are acceptable for Christians must have made a wrong turn somewhere! (1 Cor. 6:9; Eph. 5:3-6)
Mark Dunagan/ 12-4-94/ Beaverton Church of Christ/ 644-9017