In the past few weeks I have been approached by a few friends who were presented with something that seemed Biblical and scholarly but was complete B.S. This is why we Christians need to use our B. S. meters. Let me explain using an example.
A few weeks ago my friend was studying the book of Ruth and was told that in chapter 3 when Ruth uncovered Boaz's feet that she may actually have uncovered his penis. Now she found this disturbing as did I. When we looked this interpretation up online the interpretation that Boaz's penis was being uncovered was popular. However, those supporting it seemed to be amateurs except the professor that had prompted the question to begin with.
See in Hebrew "uncovering your feet" is used as a euphemism for peeing or exposing yourself. But it goes against the very character of Ruth and Boaz for this to be true. In fact, it ruins the whole story. So we kept looking.
It turns out that when you look up the Hebrew word used in this passage the meaning is clear. A different word for foot which actually means the whole leg is used. It is not the same word that is used in the euphemism. Ruth really just uncovered Boaz's feet and legs.
What's the point of the story?
My point is that we Christians need to use our B. S. meter. My friend and I both had ours going off when B. S. was presented to us.
How do you get a B. S. meter?
First of all the B. S. meter is the Holy Spirit speaking to someone. Secondly, the B. S. meter is simply someone recognizing that something doesn't sound like the shepherd's voice. "My sheep hear my voice; I know them and they follow me." John 10:27.
Does this mean that a Christian can never be wrong theologically? No. What it does mean is that we have a helper, the Holy Spirit, and we have the Word of God. Use the resources you've been given to distinguish between what is truth and what isn't. Ask for help from a trusted mentor. Use a Bible concordance. But if something feels like it's B. S. test it.
Use your B. S. meter. Fine tune your ear to it's warning siren. Learn to recognize the shepherd's voice today.
That's a super weird theory. And you're right, it doesn't sound like Ruth at all. And it definitely doesn't sound like something Jewish people would accept and put into their cannon. Boys couldn't read Song of Solomon until they were 13 (I believe that was the age), so if this were true about Ruth I'm sure there would've been similiar rules for children.
ReplyDeleteSomething to add (and I know we sort of discussed this the other night), I don't think people should accept something without testing it just because it has been the majority view for a few hundred years.
That's why we have to read the Bible for ourself! I can't find the passage that talks about the people listening but then testing/verifying what was said.
ReplyDeletePatrick, the weird theory was wrong. It came from people not actually reading the book in the original Hebrew. That's why a book like Strong's Bible Concordance or an internet concordance is so useful.
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