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Stump the Preacher Questions and Responses Weeks 9 and 10

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Stump the Preacher Questions and Responses Weeks 9 and 10 Questions from Week 9 readings later submitted: Question 1: In several different places in this week's (and maybe previously as well) reading Paul says to “be subject to rulers and authority, to be obedient....to be peaceable and considerate...” Today it seems that many people are doing the opposite and some rightly so. How do we reconcile what is happening today to these types of verses? Response: If I understand your question correctly from week 9 readings, the passage referenced here is Titus 3:1 “Remind the people to be subject to rulers and authorities, to be obedient, to be ready to do whatever is good…”. This is the advice the Apostle Paul gives to a friend and church leader named Titus. This may have applied to Titus’s work in planting a church in Crete. The context of how government authority was exercised in Crete at the time is a point to consider. To rightly apply it to today’s world requires us first to interpret it in its original context and then look to more universal principles of God’s holy will. The phrase “interpret scripture in light of other scripture” also comes to mind in responding to your question. Standing up for the poor and oppressed are Biblical commands as well, whether they are oppressed by individuals or systems and governments. Discernment of the right action in any situation requires of us a knowledge of God’s revealed will in the scriptures, and depth of insight into the current situation all things considered. One of our readings in week 10 also addressed this relationship between Christ followers and the government, Mark 12:17. The pharisees were trying to trap Jesus into conflict with the Roman authorities by asking if loyal Jews should pay taxes or not. Jesus told them to look at a coin and see whose image was on it (Caesar’s). Then he said to give to Caesar what is Caesar’s and to God what is God’s (we are created in God’s image). In that particular setting, Jesus was saying the time for a political conflict or revolution over taxes was not for that time. While the government of our nation is not without its flaws, the democratic process that allows for influence and change that is non- violent is a blessing. I believe in our context today, using voices and perspectives that are informed by Christian faith and values which speak the truth in love about matters of justice are the preferred method of social reforms such that the Lord’s will may be done “on earth as it is in heaven.” Today many people have lost faith in this democratic process of change or have lost patience with its pace of change. We live in a difficult conflicted time that requires discernment in how we would be the best instruments of God’s peace and justice that we can with Titus 3:1 in mind as well. Question 2: Many Christian religions use some of Paul’s teachings to try to show that women and others should be “quiet” as well as verses such as “slaves be subject to your masters in everything, try to please them....” It seems these groups try to “pick and choose” what may fit their beliefs. How do we as faithful Christians avoid that pitfall? Response: I believe the scriptures you are referring to from week 9 readings are 1 Timothy 2:12 “I do not permit a woman to teach or to assume authority over a man; she must be quiet” and Titus 2:9-10 “Teach slaves to be subject to their masters in everything, to try to please them, not to talk back to them, and not to steal from them, but to show that they can be fully trusted, so that in every way they will make the teaching about God our Savior attractive.” Your question that follows rightly points out that as faithful Christians, we should avoid the pitfall of picking and choosing which passages we listen to and which ones we don’t. Why? Because it is all part of God’s inspired word given to God’s people. Another passage of week 9 readings- 2 Timothy 3:16 “All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.” The question for us then is not which scriptures are inspired and in play for us and which scriptures are not, but it is how are we to interpret ALL the scriptures, even the difficult ones which do not immediately make sense to us. I believe the two scriptures you referred to from week 9 readings fit into that category. However, two ideas presented in the response to the previous question are also fitting here: study up on the original context of the passage and interpret scripture in light of other scriptures. Some key pieces of information to consider in interpreting the first passage is the educational systems of the time that were male dominated and the disorder that was sometimes present in New Testament worship settings with distracting impromptu speeches or conversations (particularly in Corinth, not sure about Crete). The question about the passages dealing with slavery in the New Testament may be more than can be addressed here completely. But I will simply note that the kind of slavery mentioned in the New Testament was more like indebted servant because individuals could earn or buy their freedom out of it. Slavery in American history is usually how we in the US today think of the word “slavery” which is of a different, and much worse, sort. Also, I believe we should interpret Titus 2:9-10 in light of another passage from week 9 readings- Philemon. In Philemon, Apostle Paul offers pastoral counsel to a slave owner to extend reconciliation, equality and freedom to a friend of his Onesimus, who was a runaway slave returning to Philemon. It is believed that the Roman Empire would have violently squashed ANY political or revolutionary attempts to upend the system of slavery at the time. The work of roughly 60 million slaves were firmly established in the Roman territories as part of the economic infrastructure at the time. In such a macro-setting, the Apostle Paul made known the dignity and equality of all persons in Christ in the micro-setting of a particular household. In light of these sorts of factors that shape our interpretation of scripture, I do NOT believe there is a need to categorize as some have, that there are various “buckets” to put scriptures in according to their truthfulness or degree of divine inspiration and completely discounting some passages as completely uninspired and false for the original time as well as ours. I believe it is not a matter of picking and choosing but of interpretation. For if we allow ourselves to pick and choose which portions of scripture count and which ones do not, we cease to place ourselves under the authority of God’s Word and instead place ourselves as judges over God’s word. With offering ourselves such an easy “out,” the Bible then becomes for us a far less challenging guide for us in terms of Christian faith and living. Question 3: Why did Jesus ask for the formerly possessed man (Mark 5:9-20) to spread the word of Jesus’ mercy, yet in other instances, he instructs those that are healed to not share the news of mercy (Jairus daughter, Mark 5:43)? Response: Great question! The secrecy of Jesus identity and activity is woven throughout Mark. Mark 5:9-20 is one of the rare cases where Jesus tells him to “Go home to your own people and tell them how much the Lord has done for you, and how he has had mercy on you.” I believe the key to understanding the reason for the change in pattern is found in looking at the geography. In Mark 5:1, “They went across the lake to the region of the Gerasenes.” This was not Jewish territory. The presence of unclean animals, the pigs that the demons were cast into, is another sign this was not Jewish territory. While Jesus had mercy on all persons he came across, he had a particular way he was planning to reveal himself to the “chosen” people of God, the Jews. The Jews had pre-existing expectations of who the messiah was to be and the role the messiah was to play. I believe Jesus intentionally designed his schedule, activity and publicity to reveal the gospel to them without affirming their errant preconceived ideas of messiah. If his fame were to precede him under false pretenses, it also might have introduced additional limitations in how he could move about among the crowds. But when Jesus chose to reveal himself or work miracles with the gentiles/Greeks in different (non-Jewish) territories, it brought different considerations into view. Question 4: In Mark 4:10-12, Jesus seems to claim that you need to have faith to understand the parables in the New Testament. Does this mean that faith comes first before scripture? This seems to be emphasized as well in 2 Timothy 3:16, as you are defined as a servant of God before benefitting from reading scripture. Are we missing anything here? Response: The Mark 4 passages describe Jesus teaching the crowds in parables and then later explaining the parables only to the disciples who chose to follow Him.
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