Is the Bible Culturally Conditioned?

interview with Tim Keller for Desiring God 2006 National Conference (source: desiringgod.org/news_events/dgm_national/2006/videos.html) Also see http://www.timkeller.info/ for all things Tim Keller.

Category:

People & Blogs

Tags:

• bible
• culture
• keller
• desiringgod

[oldescheper]

There is a fact that supports mr. Keller statements. The gospel of Jesus Christ, is in different ways offensive to every culture! It does not fit a man made world view.

[zsifk]

@SuperOliba What is so "@#$%^ up" about the bible?

[SuperOliba]

How can Tim Keller try to back up Christianity with logic and rationality when the book of his religion is so fucked up?

[baeseokil]

Isn't there parts of the bible that were culturally conditioned such as some of the cultural references in the old testament. For example, at that time it was culturally acceptable to have concubines. Not to say the old testament is irrelevant. I feel that it is important to know that there is a cultural context. I do agree with Tim Keller that there is a common core, and that common core is Jesus. If Jesus is God then what he speaks can't be culturally conditioned for knows objective truth.

[aditzzaaa]

@Lono1981 and you know this from the bible. bible-god-bible-god-bible-god ... circular reasoning forever.

[BrooklynRagtag]

@1234989ful "by what standard of morality [am I] condemning this practice[?]"

By my own.

I have experiences. I have role models for virtuous behavior. I have access to writings of great moral thinkers of the past and present. Also, like most other humans, I'm hard-wired for empathy.

If you squirm when you read Exodus 21:20, and I hope you do, then you aren't getting your morals from the god of the Bible either. By my own moral standard, beating a slave is a wicked act.

[1234989ful]

@BrooklynRagtag ...setting their slaves free. The reason I askwhy physical beating in indentured servitude needs any justification, is because Iwonder by what standard of morality you are condemning this practice. Is it by the Geneva convention? The Enlightenment?The Bible? Conscience? Jesus calls us to lay down our lives for our brothers, to love our enemies, to forgive those who sin against us. No doubt you squirm when you think about slavery (as do I), but I ask you to think about why this is

[1234989ful]

@BrooklynRagtag Where in the Bible did God command Israel to take slaves? God often told them to wipe out the nations they went to war against, sparing no men, women or children. Regarding slavery, like I was saying, God REGULATED it rather than enforced it. In Deuteronomy 23:15 He makes a law that if a slave should escape his owner and take refuge with you, that you should NOT take him back to his master, but rather let him take refuge with you. Jeremiah 34:15-17 God blasts Israel for not

[BrooklynRagtag]

@1234989ful "What needs to be justified?"

Firstly, it is disingenuous to imply that indentured servitude is the only form of slavery in the Bible. The Jews themselves were told to take slaves from tribes they conquered and from foreigners living among them. These were NOT indentured servants.

More importantly, the idea that you are allowed to beat an indentured servant with a rod, as long as can survive for "a day or two" after, still needs justification. It's a morally repugnant idea.

[1234989ful]

@BrooklynRagtag ...marriage to be for a lifetime, He allowed for divorce due to the 'hardness of their hearts' (Matthew 19:8). And no, the God of the Old Testament is no different than Jesus. Jesus was not soft on the law, if anything He intensified it, saying 'You have heard it said this....But I say to you (insert stricter interpretation)' for the sake of the world knowing they cannot follow the law perfectly, therefore no one can be perfect, they need the righteousness of Christ!

[1234989ful]

@BrooklynRagtag What do you mean by justify? What needs to be justified? In the history of Israel, you could sell yourself into slavery, and make yourself the property of someone else. The downside is that you are not your own anymore, the upside is that you are housed and fed. God did not encourage it, he regulated excessive cruelty, and made a way for slaves to be automatically freed after a certain time, or choose to return to their masters. God did the same with divorce. Though He intended