Thank you for the question on the cultural influence on Bible writers, “To what extent do you think the mores, culture, and the world view of the ancient biblical writers colors the Bible’s morality? How does one put that into context for modern believer?”
As one reads the Old Testament and New Testament, the Scriptures are counter culture of their times. In other words, it is not that the culture influence the writers but the writers of OT and NT wrote against that culture!
A. In the Old Testament times, polytheism and pluralism was the religious norm. The writers of the Old Testament didn’t condone polytheism of its Jewish leaders, but condemned it.
B. In the Old Testament times, temple prostitutes and immoral conduct was widely accepted. The writers of the OT and NT condemned immoral conduct as same drunkenness, homosexuality, jealousy and envy.
The Biblical writers were not influenced by their culture but preached against that culture’s belief and practices. They were diametrically opposed to the culture.
Christians are called to be countercultural followers of Jesus Christ. They are not to love the world or the things of the world. They are not to accept the world’s value of self-centeredness and independent living. of living for this world and to grab as much as one can as long as one lives on earth. Thad ne culture teaches the non-existence of God and only the here with nothing afterwards.
Sadly more and more “Christians” are adopting that lifestyle either being deceived or not a Christian at all. If Christians adopt the world’s value, then they can no longer be Salt and Light in this world, but become sugar and spice like everyone else. There will no distinction between a Christian and a non-Christian.
SUMMARY: Christians are called to change the world, not to be changed by the world.
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