Re: the Bible, translation and gays

On Apr 13, 7:48=A0pm, hedr...@[EMAIL PROTECTED]
 wrote:
> rtdav...@[EMAIL PROTECTED]
 writes:
> >You make the point that the bible was written to different cultures
> >with the obvious intent to cast some doubt on simply reading the bible
> >straight up... presumably we need to understand the culture it was
> >written to so that we avoid the error of just accepting what it says.
>
> But it was written to different cultures.

But principally it was written out of a realized Messianic Jewish
mindset (NT).  Yes, it was sent into various cultures and yes, it aids
understanding greatly to have an appreciation of those cultures.  For
instance, the lukewarm reference in Christ's analysis of the Laodicean
church.

However, aside from those particulars, the Word transcends time and
culture.  It's author stands outside of time and His Eternal Decree
determines and defines all that comes to be.  Simply put, there is no
chance behind God and therefore to minimize His revelation to man is
create an idol.  Because God is transcendent He must declare Himself
to us.  [cf. "Christian Theory of Knowledge", VanTil] Man is totally
dependent on His revelation inorder to gain a correct and true view of
not only God as He is, but man's relation****p to God and all that He
has created.

Is this not the whole point of the fall?  Man makes himself the
reference point instead of wholly accepting the dependance of his
creature hood.  Is this not what Paul addresses specifically in Rom
1?  And is he not amplifying the Jewish testament stratagem that when
one generation commits spiritual adultery, the next generation will
inherit physical adultery.   Is this not the historical record?  Is
this not what we have seen in our own country?  I'm only 60 and yet
the moral collapse that has occurred over that time is simply breath
taking.  Unfortunately this has also wandered into our churches and
seminaries as well and now Biblical Christians struggle to find true
expositional preaching and Biblically governed churches.

Neither hot nor cold!  Is that not the diagnosis of 21st C church?