Cultural?
 

What should be our criteria for deciding whether or not a teaching is simply cultural in the Bible?

For instance, in I Cor. 11, most people will agree that Apostle Paul was talking about a custom in Corinth of women wearing a veil in addition to the hair on their heads. But, most of us also agree that it was a cultural custom, and not binding on us today. (I know that some disagree, and believe it is still required.)

Some also believe that women keeping silence was merely cultural, or addressing something that was going on at that time. Greet the brethen with a holy kiss, etc.

For myself, I feel like if it is NOT simply a cultural issue, there will be another witness for the issue elsewhere in scripture. For instance, the man being the head of the home is a principal that is taught several times in scripture.

What do you think should be our criteria? How do we determine cultural vs. universal?

Re: Cultural?
 

studing Jewish cultures and customs helps understand the mindset of BIBLE days...

Re: Cultural?
 

lot´s of things in the Bible I wondered about and found out why the Bible uses many expressions etc...

Re: Cultural?
 

So do you think that if the Bible was referring to a Jewish custom that it isn't binding on us?

Re: Cultural?
 

Most jews don't even believe that Jesus is the savior so what about jewish custom and cultures and how it pretains to us

Re: Cultural?
 

Many Jewish customs and traditions are in the Bible but not applicable to us today. There are many that can be sorted out...but I just bet someone has a book on these that we could refer to.

Good questions.:thumbsup

Re: Cultural?
 

I would hesitate to say "merely" a cultural custom or such. Even if the practice doesn't have a literal application for us today there are often underlying principles that we need to be aware of.

For example, the head covering. Paul's point seems to have been to try and maintain a clear distinction between the roles and the the appearances of the men and women in the church congregation. The whole discussion appears to be predicated upon the activity of "praying," and thus is specific for those times.

Even if we have different cultural styles with regard to the way in which we carry this out, we should still strive to maintain a distinction and to emphasize the glory that is due God in our prayers and worship together.

Similarly with the issue of women "keeping silent." Though this is obviously the preferred approach http://www.apostolicfriendsforum.com...ons/icon10.gif , more practical considerations require that we look at what was prompting Paul's counsel in this matter. Notice his emphasis is on "obedience" here rather than a direct concern for the volume of sound coming from the ladies.

The underlying principle then would be one of order and obedience first. This principle then would be reflected in the local customs related to who speaks when and in what tone of voice, etc.

Re: Cultural?
 

Aaaahhhh yes...the voice of reason. I agree with you 100%.

Blessings, Rhoni

Re: Cultural?
 

I think we have completely missed a major point that Paul was making in this passage, because we focus on the hair. I think his main point was about submission and proper roles.

Re: Cultural?
 

Absolutely!:thumbsup