3 Ways Jesus Read the Bible That Evangelicals Are Told Not to Do

[cbayer]

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/pete-enns/3-ways-jesus-read-the-bib_b_5902534.html

Pete Enns
Posted: 09/30/2014 9:17 am EDT Updated: 09/30/2014 9:59 am EDT

For Evangelicals--and I'm among them--Jesus and the Bible are high on the priority list. Not just evangelicals but all Christians believe Jesus is the Savior, and that the Bible tells us about him.

But watching how these two priorities come together--watching how Jesus read his Bible (the Christian Old Testament)--can create some awkward moments, because Jesus read his Bible in ways evangelicals are taught over and over again not to read it.

1. Jesus didn't stick to what "the Bible says," but read it with a creative flare that had little if any connection to what the biblical writer actually meant to say.

Evangelicals are told to respect the Bible by "sticking to the text" and not go beyond it. Jesus did the opposite.

more at link

[Silent3]

1. The quick and easy dodge for this reasoning...

...that a Bible-thumping literalist can employ is this: "That's Jesus. Jesus has the right to do that. We don't have the authority Jesus has to pick and choose and re-interpret. (Which we do anyway, but we'll never admit to.)"

[cbayer]

2. That is a good point, but the author makes a good case for

being more "jesus-like".

I hope that some that read the article will take that to heart.

Jesus was a cherry picker, and all those who embrace the bible should follow that lead.

[trotsky]

3. Pat Robertson et al definitely do follow his lead.

They cherry-pick too! Great advice!

[pinto]

4. Watched a great movie - The Chosen, based on a novel by Chaim Potok

(from Wiki entry)

Main characters

Reuven (Robert or Bobby) Malter: a Modern Orthodox Jew, and a teenage boy. He is smart, popular in his community, and has a head for mathematics. His father wants him to be a mathematician when he grows up.

Daniel (Danny) Saunders: a Hasidic Jew, who is also a teenager. Brilliant; with a photographic memory, and interested in psychology (particularly Freudian psychoanalysis) but lacking in aptitude for mathematics. He wants to become a psychologist, but he feels trapped by the Hasidic tradition which forces him into the role as next in line to succeed his father as Rabbi.

David Malter (Reuven's father): a Talmudic scholar, teacher, Zionist. Considered a heretic by the Hasidim. Supports the creation of the state of Israel because of his belief in the Messianic Age, rather than a literal Messiah.

Rabbi Isaac Saunders (Reb Saunders): Rabbinic sage and tzaddik. He is Danny's father. Rebbe (spiritual leader) of a Hasidic group, whose role is dynastic (passed on from father to son). He moved his congregation from Russia to the United States before the October Revolution. He is against a secular Jewish nation-state, because he believes this supersedes God's will.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Chosen_(Potok_novel)

I was struck, not only by the Hasidic Jewish culture and its relations with the mainstream Orthodox Jewish culture in 1940's New York. But also by the tradition of debate, dissent and discussion among both branches of Judaism. Vigorous is an apt adjective.

(aside) The traditional Hasidic wedding scenario is worth a look in and of itself.

[Warren Stupidity]

5. hassidic culture is massively misogynistic.

Did you pick on that part of their wonderful culture too?

[pinto]

6. Yeah, it is very misogynistic. That underlies some of the tension between the 2 main characters.

Along with the split opinions between the hasidic and orthodox groups about the UN establishment of a Jewish state. Interesting film.