The Bible’s clash with culture

The Bible is a collection of writings by many authors who wrote in ever-changing circumstances. Today’s Bible readers live in circumstances that could not have been imagined by the original writers. Family, social, economic and government structures today are completely different from those of the original writers. Further, societal changes today are ongoing at accelerating speed. Religion and culture march through history together, but they are not comfortable companions.

The place of women in Bible settings is a prime example of the dilemma. The place of women in the social structure of early Judaism is defined in the property codes of Leviticus. Women were property. They were owned by men. They were bought and sold.

The most famous example of the law in action is the story of Jacob and Laban. Jacob’s family home territory was not in Palestine, but east of Palestine. Jacob decided to move back east. He arrived at a watering hole and inquired about where he could find an uncle named Laban. Laban was Jacob’s mother’s brother. As providence would have it, a daughter of Laban appeared at the watering hole with some sheep. Jacob’s first cousin was named Rachel and she was beautiful. Jacob decided that Rachel was the girl of his dreams. He wanted her as a wife.

The next step in the process was to make a deal with Uncle Laban for the purchase of Rachel. The price was seven years of work as his uncle’s slave. Jacob worked the seven years. Jacob thought that the beautiful Rachel was his. However, Laban switched products. When Jacob woke up from his wedding night, he discovered that he had slept not with Rachel, but with an older sister named Leah. Laban calmly explained that he had no choice. By custom he could not sell off a younger daughter until after he had sold his oldest daughter. Jacob and Uncle Laban made a new deal. Jacob would work another seven years to get the wife he wanted. He worked the seven years and got Rachel.

The social customs reflected in the Jacob/Laban/Rachel episode predates the Leviticus code by several hundred years. What was deeply imbedded cultural code eventually became Leviticus law. This is a pattern that is apparent throughout history. Deeply established social customs eventually become codified and are turned into binding law.

The Bible standard of male ownership of women was still fully in force in first century culture CE of the New Testament writings. The place of women was determined by her ownership. A very common misunderstanding about many of the women, who became followers of Jesus, is that many were prostitutes. They were in fact women who for some reason no longer had an owner. A woman without an owner was completely vulnerable in the male-dominated society. A woman such as Mary from Magdala is an example. She was not a “loose” woman, but a victim of a cruel male-dominated society. Such women attached themselves to Jesus to escape their plight. They called Jesus “Lord,” and he gave them a new understanding of the value of their lives.

The standard of male ownership of women has been difficult to overcome. I grew up in a small Midwestern farm community. The largest and dominant religious group in the area called themselves Apostolic Christians. Among Apostolic Christians in the 1930s, a man got a wife through negotiations with a young lady’s father. Their wedding was a celebration of the transfer of ownership of a woman from her father to her husband. They carried on the practice because they made ancient cultural practices a part of their faith practice. They saw themselves as being faithful to Bible standards.

In the 21st century women have carved out very different roles for themselves than the roles assigned to them by the Bible, both Old and New Testaments. The culture of modern women will continue to change and expand. Women will never again submit to the cultural practices found in the Bible.

Christians have rightfully seen the necessity of translating the Bible from language to language to facilitate an understanding of the Bible messages. However, most Christians have not understood the necessity of translating the Bible messages from culture to culture.

I have used the plight of women as an example. The list of clashes between Bible and modern culture is long. The Bible reflects an absurd understanding of the structure of the universe. The Bible shows little understanding of physical and mental illnesses. The Bible was and is on the wrong side of patriarchal authority, marriage, equality for women, homosexuality, slavery and the rights of an older son.

The essential messages of the Bible are justice, peace, love, reconciliation and hope. They are messages that have the power to operate in every age and every culture. In order to be effective, the messages must be freed from the cultural shackles found in the Bible.

The Rev. Howard Bess is a retired American Baptist minister, who lives in Palmer. His email address is hdbss@mtaonline.net.

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