Why are there so many disagreements
about certain passages in the Bible?
By The Rev. Cn. Dr. Bill Stroop

(Published first at explorefaith.org)

 

 

The Bible, like the sacred texts of other religions, has tremendous significance and power.  Biblical texts are normative for Christianity, considered by many to be the veritable word of God, although written by human beings.  Because the book represents the word of God, human beings afford the Bible special privilege; its texts are thus often given priority over other documents or forms of inherited tradition.  Scripture becomes the ultimate authority.

 

One reason why Biblical texts become contentious is that personal knowledge – influenced by cultural, social, family, peer, and other experiences – can run contrary to the understood (inherited or traditional) meaning of Biblical texts.  For example, many Christians in the United States get up every day and don clothing made of blends of materials such as polyester and cotton or wool and cotton, and never give it a second thought.  However, the wearing of clothing woven of two kinds of materials is forbidden by the Bible (Lev 19:19).  Those who are aware of this Biblical statute and wear blended fabrics anyway may do so because of their understanding that the Levitical text prohibiting the wearing mixed fabrics is more of an exhortation to God’s people to remain pure and undefiled before God than it is anything else.  Alternatively, Biblically conscious people may wear mixed fabrics because they regard the text as a quaint statute of a bygone age that is irrelevant to our time.  In other words, the issue of fabric is not regarded an important moral or theological issue of salvific importance.  In any event, for these people, personal knowledge or revelation is privileged over the Biblical text.

 

Certain passages in the Bible are lightning rods for disagreement among people who hold scripture to be the ultimate authority, and other people who privilege personal experience or personal revelation.  But people in both camps are seeking Truth plus moral and ethical guidance.  Perhaps if both groups stopped trying to convince each other of the rightness of their positions, and sought to find a place where God’s love can be experienced, and where justice and compassion for all of God’s people can be achieved, we would finally realize the peace of God that surpasses all human understanding.

 

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