Don and Brandon discuss several issues relating to the election, including the notion that Christians should stay away from divisive political issues.
Some articles that go with the show:
- Rights Talk Run Amok
- Square None
- Irrepressible Culture Wars, Past and Present
- Younger Evangelicals Put Happiness and Popularity Over Morality
- President Obama, Culture Warrior
- President Obama, Victorious Culture Warrior
- The World’s Most Dynamic Religion Is…
- How Hedonism Became America’s Official Religion
Don deletes comments that disagree with him…
What are you talking about, Rubstrol? I haven’t deleted any comments from this blog. (Although I certainly reserve the right to do so.) Indeed, I enjoy interacting with people who disagree. I’d actually really like to talk to you, as you seem intent on leaving anonymous comments on all my web pages. Please fee free to call me at 1-877-361-8638.
Hi Don,
Didn’t the writers of the bible abandon the culture war when it came to slavery? It was never denounced for fear of offending the slave owners.
In fact it actually gave advice on the maximum amount of beating that a slave master should adhere to before it would be considered wrong. (Exodus 21:20-21)
There are many other examples where the bible kowtowed to bronze-aged culture by reflecting primitive notions that would be considered unethical and immoral in a modern civilized society. Following are just two more examples.
-You can’t, and shouldn’t, be put in jail for your great, great great (..etc) grandfather’s crimes. (as per original sin)
-The punishment should fit the crime. A rich philanthropist no mater how devout he is, is bound for limbo, or hell. (Matthew 19:24)
Marco
Hi Marco,
Thanks for the questions. You brought up a lot of different topics in a short space and I don’t have time to address them all, but here’s a quick thought about what seem to be shifting moral standards in the Bible.
No biblical writers have ever abandoned the culture war for fear of offending anyone, including slaveholders. God has been working to redeem the world and transform people and institutions since the fall and neither this purpose nor the moral standards on which it is pursuing has never changed. Creating righteous people doesn’t happen instantaneously, however, in the same way that raising good kids isn’t the work of a day. God has to work with people and cultures as he finds them and lead them to maturity over time. This reality is one reason for God’s commands regarding slavery in the OT.
I speak more about this process here: http://donjohnsonministries.org/why-god-didnt-have-more-to-say-about-slavery-in-the-old-testament/ Also, check out Paul Copan’s Is God a Moral Monster? as well as a good overarching work of biblical historical theology. For example, A New Testament Biblical Theology by G.K. Beale or, for something on a more popular level, The Great Adventure Bible Study by Jaff Cavins.