I am curious if anyone here disagrees with this concept: (For simplicity it is wrapped up in the final sentence.)
Obviously there are some kinds of discontinuity between Bible-time provisions and our own day. We should stop to analyze them. Some of these discontinuities are redemptively historical in character (pertaining to the coming of the New Covenant and the finished work of Christ), while others are cultural in character (pertaining to simple changes of time, place or lifestyle).
The latter are unrelated to the former.... so please try not to get hung up in trying to make that an issue.
There are cultural differences, not only between our society and the Old Testament, but also between modern America and the New Testament (e. g., its mention of "whited sepulchers", "social kisses', and "meats offered to idols") — indeed, there are cultural differences even within the Old Testament (e. g., life in the wilderness, in the land, in captivity) and within the New Testament (e. g., Jewish culture, Gentile culture) themselves.
Such cultural differences pose important hermeneutical questions — sometimes very vexing ones — since the “culture gap” between biblical times and our own is so wide; however, these differences are not especially relevant to the question of ethical validity.
That is, it is one thing to realize that we must translate biblical commands about a lost ox (Exodus 23:4) or withholding pay from someone who mows fields (James 5:4) into terms relevant to our present culture (e. g., about misplaced credit cards or remuneration of factory workers). It is quite another thing altogether to say that such commands carry no ethical authority today!
God obviously communicated to His people in terms of their own day and cultural setting, but what He said to them, He fully expects us to obey in our own cultural setting, lest the complete authority of His word be shortchanged in our lives.
Obviously there are some kinds of discontinuity between Bible-time provisions and our own day. We should stop to analyze them. Some of these discontinuities are redemptively historical in character (pertaining to the coming of the New Covenant and the finished work of Christ), while others are cultural in character (pertaining to simple changes of time, place or lifestyle).
The latter are unrelated to the former.... so please try not to get hung up in trying to make that an issue.
There are cultural differences, not only between our society and the Old Testament, but also between modern America and the New Testament (e. g., its mention of "whited sepulchers", "social kisses', and "meats offered to idols") — indeed, there are cultural differences even within the Old Testament (e. g., life in the wilderness, in the land, in captivity) and within the New Testament (e. g., Jewish culture, Gentile culture) themselves.
Such cultural differences pose important hermeneutical questions — sometimes very vexing ones — since the “culture gap” between biblical times and our own is so wide; however, these differences are not especially relevant to the question of ethical validity.
That is, it is one thing to realize that we must translate biblical commands about a lost ox (Exodus 23:4) or withholding pay from someone who mows fields (James 5:4) into terms relevant to our present culture (e. g., about misplaced credit cards or remuneration of factory workers). It is quite another thing altogether to say that such commands carry no ethical authority today!
God obviously communicated to His people in terms of their own day and cultural setting, but what He said to them, He fully expects us to obey in our own cultural setting, lest the complete authority of His word be shortchanged in our lives.