January 29, 2007

He's Back, maybe...

Well, as you have noticed, I've really been off and on here lately with the blog. Like I said below, the semester has started up and I think this will be busiest yet. Anyways, with my classes in cross cultural living, church planting, the prophets, and Christian ministry I've had many things to ponder and think about, but just no time to get them out there.

Something short that I've been thinking about. How "relevant" or "applicable" is the Bible to other cultures. I was reading a blog today, and the author wrote that he does not liek the terms relevant and churches wanting to be relevant, because he thinks that the Bible is relevant to every culture and everyone. Well, let's say we took a Bible and dropped it into some Masai people of Africa. Let's say that they've never heard at all the Gospel in any form and the Bible is in their language, translated word for word. The Masai, being curious, pick up the book and begin to read form the beginning. Of course, the "relevant" Scripture would only serve as a stumbling block as they read of a a farmer killing a cattle man. (the first murder in Genesis). The Masai, who view farmers as weak and enfeebled to the land, would see this as an attach on their way of life, thus the scripture, would be rendered useless, because it does not speak into the context. I do believe the message is relevant, but we have to be careful to just assume that Scripture is applicable in its present form. We also can't assume that our interpretation of the Bible is "the message."

7 comments:

Anonymous said...

Why you put the message in quote? you got something against Eugene Peterson?

Anonymous said...

Just a friendly question from your Truett schoolmate.

Joe Bumbulis said...

you're tone is lost on me...are you being facetious or am I just dense?

and just wondering who this is????

Anonymous said...

i am just being playful. I clearly stated that was a friendly question.

Anonymous said...

this is WingOn if you really want to know.

Joe Bumbulis said...

i thought it was you, i could "hear" your accent in the question.

Anonymous said...

you racist punk.