Biblical Perspective

In order to truly comprehend how and why the New Testament Course has influenced my perspective on the Bible in relation to that of the majority of modern day Christians, particularly in the Western world, one must understand not only the religious tradition I was raised in, but also, the more recent biblical influences on my life.

Also, one must understand the way in which I view and process information. I have always had a “Read Between the Lines” approach to the way I read, see, and hear. I strongly believe in getting all facts and understanding the context of a report on any given subject, including the Bible. This approach has had a significant impact on my opinions involving the Bible and how it relates to my walk with Jesus Christ.

By grasping the significance of my background, influences, and the way in which I view the world around me, it becomes apparent that this course has confirmed many of my beliefs about scripture and how Christians should approach, and use it. Most important and directly tied to my views, the course has given me the tools, and facts, that allow me to argue my understanding of scripture with other believers who don’t see the world through the same lens as I. From the time I was old enough to understand anything about the Bible this was difficult for me.
I was raised in a Christian home. I attended a small country church from the time I was four years old until I was old enough to make my own decisions. It was within the walls of that small peculiar building that I attained the basic foundation for a strong Protestant knowledge of the Bible.

Because I have always been what my father would refer to as a “Three Dimensional Thinker,” I began to have too many questions about the Bible without enough educated answers. When I sought answers to challenging questions, I would always be treated as though it was heresy to ask the question instead of getting a reasonable answer.

For this reason I chose, for the most part, to reject the Bible. Sadly, this was not because of the Bible, but because of the people who where teaching me about its significance. I began to feel as though Americans were “Westernizing” an Eastern religion all in the name of the “Good Ol’ Red, White and Blue.” This is to say that instead of trying to really live life according to the “ Way” of Jesus, I saw a trend amongst American Christians, by which they would take the Bible out of its true context. They would do this in order to justify material consumption, selfishness, pride, and unjust war. They felt that as Americans, they were part of a Christian nation, and that whatever they desired must have been what God desired. Therefore they “justified” there lives in accordance. Although you couldn’t tell by looking at your average Christian, it was quite clear that Jesus wasn’t a middle class white Republican, and since I couldn’t serve two Masters… I chose to serve none at all.

It wasn’t until about four years ago that I truly developed a relationship with Jesus. Around that time I was introduced to a group, of what could be described as Charismatic Evangelicals, who would change my life forever and lead me into a desire to really study the Bible. Although in the beginning I was completely sold on this version of Christianity, and I’m thankful that through them I found my faith, I have since parted ways. This is because as I grew and learned, I discovered that my theology and understanding of the Bible didn’t line up with their particular doctrine. They took a fundamentalist approach to the Scriptures and because of this, along with their obsession with the “Prosperity Gospel,” I realized that we were such polar opposites that it was not possible to co-exist.

At the same time I was growing apart from the Charismatic church movement, with which I was involved, I began to read and follow the teachings of Rob Bell. He’s the pastor of Mars Hill Church in Grand Rapids, Michigan. He is on the front lines of the Emerging Church movement. Bell is not only a great teacher, but he is also a biblical scholar. It has been through his messages that I have found a Pastor who understands that in order to truly live a Christian life and to follow the Bible, you must know the original authors, audience, occasion, and purpose. He emphasizes Jewish influence, language, and the context in which the scriptures are written. Bell would argue that any take on scripture is interpretation. To read… is to interpret. This is why the context of scripture is so important. If we hope to have any accuracy in our interpretation the context is pivotal.

This history of my relationship with the Bible has led me to where I am now, close to the end of the semester of the New Testament course. Through Dr. Marc’s class, I am fairly confident that my beliefs about the Bible have been confirmed. This is contrary to the opinion of the majority of Evangelicals that I know. Until now, this has been very frustrating, because I have felt as though I couldn’t talk to many of my brothers and sisters in Christ about my beliefs. The education I have received in this class has helped to develop my communication skills. It has given me the facts that allow me to argue my points without offending my fellow believers, while at the same time opening their eyes to things that they may not have understood, because of their lack of contextual knowledge.

In learning about New Testament history, its authors, Jewish roots, and also its Hellenistic influence, I feel we find the keys to unlocking the Bible’s true relevance in today’s changing world. I find, particularly interesting, three very strong parallels between the New Testament scriptures in the world they were written, and the culture we live in today.

Rome played a vital role in the New Testament scriptures. We find this evident in the two-volume work of Luke and Acts, along with Paul’s letter to the Romans. As Egypt was “Empire” to the Jews, Rome was “Empire” to the early Christians. History has a way of repeating itself and I believe it has. We now have the United States of America. It is the Rome or “Empire” of the modern world. By understanding this, I believe that modern Christians can learn a lot about how we should treat our relationship to government and what that relationship means. First there was Egypt, then Rome, and now America. We, as Christians, must not compromise with the Pharaoh. I believe we are at a turning point in history. It is crucial, in furthering God’s kingdom that we must recognize, metaphorically speaking, the need to come out of “Egypt” in order to reach the Promise Land. All things American, in the name of diplomacy, economics, and democracy are not God’s will. Until we understand this, people from other nations and religions will continue to associate our beliefs with the American flag and “Empire,” as opposed to a just and true God.

Also, there is a clear parallel between Gnostic Christianity and the New Age religions within our own culture. Although most Gnostic ideologies are not correct, it is evident, as we have learned in this course, that several Gnostic principles have actually survived within the Church and even been canonized within Scripture. The Gospel of John is an example. By understanding the few threads of truth within these teachings and how the Church dealt with Gnosticism and mystery religions 2000 years ago, we can better understand how to approach the occult today. This is important because most occult teachings have derived from the Gnostic church that existed around 100 to 200 AD.

Most important of all, I feel is the strong similarity between the Western Church and not only the Pharisees, but also the Judaizers that Paul defends himself against in both Galatians and Romans. For example, we learn in the Gospels, and Paul’s letters that dogmatic adherence to scriptures, which at the time was the Torah, is not how we become justified in the eyes of God. The Gospels, particularly Matthew, clearly state that Jesus came to fulfill the “Law,” but Paul also makes the point in his undisputed works, by using Abrahams covenant with God as an example, that it is faith in Gods promise that justifies us, not the “Law.” I believe the actions of the Western Church parallel those of the Pharisees, and Judaizers that existed during the early Church. This is relevant today. The Bible, like the Torah, and dogmatic adherence to it does not justify or sanctify us in the eyes of God. The Bible is not our ultimate authority, God is! We must not waste time arguing over things in the Bible that are questionable, but use the Bible for what it is. It is scripture inspired by God, but written by men. It is truth, but it is not always 100% accurate. It is our guide in following the ways of God, but it is not God Himself. The Western Church has made the mistake of being like the Pharisees and Judaizers in the sense that sometimes it puts adherence to the Bible above God, when it is below Him.

Another important tool that has evolved for me out of this class is the further development of my critical thinking, my writing skills, and my reading skills. By learning how to correctly approach critical analysis of the Scriptures, along with repeated reading exercises in the class, and writing about what I have learned, I have grown in my understanding of literature and my ability to write outside of this class. For that I am grateful. It has not only allowed me to grow in my understanding of my faith, but it has also helped me to become more well rounded as a student, person, and husband.

In closing, I cannot deny the feeling that the majority of the Western Church has missed the boat in their understanding of how the different languages and cultures 2000 years ago must impact how we view the Word of God today. It is imperative that we understand the Hebrew and Greek translation of words when reading the Bible. It’s crucial that we comprehend Jewish custom in order to understand Jesus and his Church. We must not forget what the Roman Empire was, and how it affected Christianity in comparison to the American culture in relation to the Bible and Christianity. I look forward to taking this knowledge, and the skills that I have learned within the class into the world. I will use these skills, and the approach to the Scriptures that I have learned, to help strengthen my witness, and address social issues from a Biblical perspective, rooted in a real understanding of what the terms “Faith, Justification, and Truth,” really mean.
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The Dumbing Down of America

In recent years, the American educational system has embraced a concept often referred to as “No Child Left Behind.” This is a result of our nations enculturation into the ethos of equality. The ideology has led to the creation of laws, within American states, that ensure our schools follow through with this policies implementation. I would argue that the enforcement of such philosophies has actually created the opposite effect of that which was originally intended. Rather than furthering the education of those less fortunate, the implementation of this concept, all in the name of equality and fairness, has in essence stunted the growth of more gifted students, who have the capacity to excel in the learning environment.

Although I completely respect the idea of equality, and I understand the popular opinion that all Americans deserve the opportunity to fulfill dreams, it is clear that several factors have contributed to the failure of such well-intended means.

Foremost is the fact that, with all political correctness aside, all people are not equal from an intellectual perspective. Again, I would be the first to argue that every man, woman, and child of every class and background deserve the same opportunities and rights as any other citizen. However, all people within a culture do not have the same learning capacity, and more important, all people do not learn at the same rate. By adhering to the “No Child Left Behind” laws, the educational system creates an environment in which the most gifted students are held back in an attempt to cater to the needs of those students who don’t learn as fast. This will have a lasting and dangerous impact on our culture as a whole in its efforts to keep up with the rest of the world. In the midst of our technological era we must rethink the “No Child Left Behind” concept if we have the intention of competing in the global marketplace. Without creating environments in which our most gifted students are able to expand their horizons we will become “A Nation Left Behind.”

Higher education has suffered more that any other as a result of the ideology. In creating the idea that everyone deserves to go to college, enrollment at these facilities is as high as it has ever been. I recently attended the graduation ceremony at a local high school. During the commencement a speaker pointed out that 80% of the graduating class was going on to college. He went on to say that this was the largest number of students in school history from a particular graduating class that would be attending college. At the same time, I didn’t hear anything about the class’s cumulative grade point average being the highest in school history. Higher learning is not for everyone. It was designed for those students who desire to further their education, and those who are willing to put forth effort toward that goal. Unfortunately, for every one gifted college student, there are now ten whose parents have been pressured, by our culture, into believing that their child must attend college, or that child is a failure. Nothing could be further from the truth. Also the government has made it so easy to get the money for college through loans and grants that many go to school just to get a free meal ticket. These students don’t go to class, and when they do they are so far behind that the professor is forced to cater to their needs. Professors end up having to cheapen curriculum, and they grade accordingly to keep from flunking too many students. This really hurts the student who yearns for more and will lead us into the next generation. It leaves the student who doesn’t care with a substantial amount of debt that he or she is stuck with regardless of their performance. This is unfortunate and unnecessary, not to mention the fact that it contributes to our Nation’s financial woes.

The fact is that “opportunity” does not translate to “entitlement.” A person fulfills opportunity as a result of performance. Colleges and Universities must start rewarding the opportunity to those who perform and show a real willingness to do the work. Although all in our Country deserve the “opportunity” to attend college, none are “entitled.” I would argue that our creation of an “entitlement” mentality is leading into an uncertain and unstable future. The “No Child Left Behind” educational system is an unfortunate result. The outcome of such well intended means will be the self-imposed destruction of educational infrastructure in the United States of America. If our nation continues on its current course, college degrees will become nothing more than glorified high school diplomas, and while other nations such as China, Japan, and India will continue to compete in the global job market, America will become “A Nation Left Behind.”

The Devil's Cauldron

Right now people are dying! At this very moment, while “Everybody’s All-American” sits at Starbucks sipping on his $5.00 latte, checking e-mail on his $1500.00 Mac notebook, and texting his friends on his $500.00 phone, women and children are being raped and mutilated! At this very moment, old men sit at Hardee’s drinking coffee, discussing whats going to happen to their retirement in this economy and arguing over whether the Cardinals, or Yankees, will contend this year, while an entire nation of people is starving! In a world of convenience and self serving desires, it seems that we in America are content to ignore the horror that exists in a world that seems far away enough that we can ignore it, and at least pretend it doesn’t exist. War and genocide have continued in the Democratic Republic of Congo for over 10 years. Unfortunately, there is no end in sight to the violence, rape, torture, and disease as long as the Western world chooses to ignore the situation. These people are weak and don’t have the resources, or a voice, to defend themselves. Their only hope is for us, in the western world, to start fighting for them. We must be a voice for the lost, and we must make Washington hear our cries. We are the hope of a nation where all hope seems lost! Without significant foreign intervention, it is apparent, that there is no foreseeable resolution to the ongoing conflict and genocide in the Democratic Republic of Congo.

In order to understand the crisis that has existed and continues to develop in the Congo, it is important to have an informed historical account of the warring factions. Lydia Polgreen, the West African Bureau Chief of the New York Times, notes in her article “Resolving Crisis in Congo Hinges on Foreign Forces,” that the civil war in the Democratic Republic of Congo is a tangled web of conflict that has drawn in neighboring Countries and led to the deaths of more than four million people (A.14). I t is quite clear that this atrocity is inextricably tied to the Rwandan genocide that occurred during the 1990’s. This Rwandan genocide resulted from racial tensions between Hutus and Tutsis within the region. These tensions led to the genocide of the Tutsi population, carried out by the Rwandan Hutu Militia. The Hutu militia and soldiers who carried out the genocide in Rwanda and Burundi fled into Zaire (the Congo) in 1994, after being dispersed when a Tutsi-led rebel force toppled the Rwandan government (A.14). Andrew Purvis, an award winning Canadian journalist and foreign correspondent for Time magazine, documents in his report “A Contagion of Genocide,” that this mass exodus included at least one million Rwandans (38). Members of the conquered Hutu Army, devastated by defeat at the hands of the Tutsis, then joined the Zairian Hutu and began raping, torturing and killing Zairian Tutsi (38). Observers believe that the Hutu’s goal was to develop a “Hutu Nation” on Zairian soil that would provide a safe place for refugees and a base for more armed attacks on Rwanda (38). The problems in Zaire illuminate the distrust and hatred that has evolved in the region. Neither the Tutsi minority, who where victimized by the genocide in 1994, nor the Hutu majority, who where ousted from their homeland as a result, have any desire to negotiate (39). This bitter race war between Hutus and Tutsis has been at the root of the crisis in the Congo ever since. In his essay “The Trouble With Congo; How Local Disputes Fuel Regional Conflict” from Foreign Affairs, Severine Autesserre reveals that historical conflicts of this sort have also fueled fighting between manysmaller groups from different tribes, such as the Hemas and Lendus of Ituri in the province of Orientale , and the Bembes, the Holoholos, and the Kalangas in northern Katanga, impeding the return of displaced persons and refuges (95).

On paper the war in the Democratic Republic of Congo officially ended approximately six years ago, and in 2006 the first elected Congolese government in four decades took office according to Lydia Polgreen, in her New York Times article “Frustration With Charities and U.N. Grows in Congo.” However, the reality is that although the “war” may have ended, the “conflict” has not (1.35). Fighting in the region led to the diaspora of almost a half million people between 2006 and 2007 (1.35). This statistic doesn’t include the numbers since. Because of this chaos and dispersion of its people since the beginning of the war in Congo in 1996, hunger and disease have long been the main source of death (1.35). Many people crowd in with relatives in provincial towns to avoid refugee camps, making themselves more vulnerable to disease (1.35). A primary example of the disease infecting the region is Cholera (1.35). When people flock to the cities, they carry it with themselves (1.35). Cholera then spreads like wildfire due to crowded and unsanitary conditions (1.35). Another major issue, directly linked to displacement, is the question of how to get food to these refugees. A large number of these people are farmers, and displacement makes food sources an issue immediately (1.35). Because road conditions are horrible, it has made it virtually impossible to get food supplies into the area (1.35). Equally as troubling, when populations are able to return home they are unable to farm, because rebels and army soldiers rape the women who do leave their villages to farm. This makes these displaced people dependant on handouts that are few and far between (1.35).

While hunger and disease in the Congo have been a major contributor to the tragedy in the region since its civil war began, nothing compares to the horrible acts of genocide that continue in the region every day. The largest target of these atrocities has, by and large, been the female population. As fore mentioned, the war in the Congo officially ended around 2006 with the signing of an official “Peace Agreement.” Unfortunately, the “Peace Agreement” was not worth the paper it was documented on. It brought an end to the “war” but not the “violence.” Rae Gomes unveils in his article “What You Can Do About the War in Congo” from The Nation, that statistics show almost half of a million women have been raped in the past 10 years (8). This form of genocide, more properly coined femicide, is the planned and strategic destruction of the female population (8). The results of these brutal attacks are horrifying. Women are victims of mass rapes. Assaulted and violated with knives and guns, these women commonly suffer fistulas as a result of these unspeakable acts (8). As unbelievable and disgusting as it may sound, mothers have been forced to eat dead babies. HIV- infected soldiers are sent into villages to rape wives in front of there husbands, while daughters are violated as their fathers are forced to watch (8). This is a deliberate attempt to break down the family network as part of a much larger and complicated agenda, seeking to loosen the communities grip on its natural resources. These resources include not only diamonds and gold, but more important coltan, used to make laptops and cell phones (8).

Although disease, hunger and genocide are all horrible results of the ongoing war in the region known as the Congo, it is important to stress that, at the root of all that has transpired in the Congo, is the racial tension between tribes, and the conflict that has
evolved as a result. Severine Autesserre explains in his essay “The Trouble with Congo; How Local Disputes Fuel Regional Conflict,” that centuries-old antagonisms amongst different ethnic groups, clans, and families are fighting over competing claims (95). These ethnic groups include groups such as the Hundes, the Nandes, and the Nyangas (95). However, the fiercest dispute is an opposition to the Congolese of Rwandan decent (95).
Belgian colonial administrators relocated over 85,000 people, both Hutu and Tutsi, from overpopulated Rwanda to the sparse Kivu provinces in Congo, and in the 1960’s and 1970’s various waves of Tutsis fled there to escape pogroms in Rwanda. Today, Congolese of Rwandan descent, especially the Tutsis among them, own most of the land, but the Hundes and the Nyangas continue to claim it as their own on the grounds that it was never rightfully sold or given away. (95)The history of racial cleansing and dispersion as a result, is at the root of conflicts over land in the region, which is at the core of the fighting in the Democratic Republic of Congo (95).

One of the major stumbling blocks in reaching a peaceful resolution to the continuing crisis in Congo is the problem with humanitarian efforts in the region. In recent years, while most of the world has been transfixed by the war in Iraq, genocide has continued in the Congo and left the United Nations desperate for help in its humanitarianefforts in the region, according to Robert Block and Alix M. Freedman, in their report “The U.N.: Searching for Relevance; U.N. Peacekeeping is a Troubled Art, Congo Mess Shows; Rich Nations No Longer Send Troops, and Sometimes There’s No Peace to Keep; Uraguayans in Devil’s Cauldron.” The U.N. has in recent times had to rely on poorly armed soldiers from small Countries, who end up watching war crimes unfold around them (A.1). Nations with the most capable armies like the U.S., Britain, and France, being fed up with U.N. peacekeeping bureaucracy, have, for all practical purposes, decided that taking part in U.N. peacekeeping operations is a lost cause (A.1). There is essentially too much red tape involved in the U.N. troop recruitment process (A.1). In her report for The Voice of America, Mona Ghuneim states that a former U.S. State Department official and a Harvard University health director both agree that it is imperative for the United States to take the lead in coming up with, and implementing solutions to the crisis in Congo (Ghuneim). One U.S. aid organization that works with victims of rape and slavery in the region argues that the situation continues to worsen and will mean even more sexual violence, displacement, and rejection of families without the United States taking a larger role (Ghuneim).
Harvard Medical School professor, Dr. Michael VanRooyen, has worked in international disaster relief and humanitarian aid. He said his recent work with focus groups of men and women who have suffered from the violence in eastern Congo has given him insight into what the people want, and need. He said women victims in particular would like to see the United States provide more practical assistance. (Ghuneim)
They desire access to medical services, psycho-social support and job training for independence and individual financial power (Ghuneim).

In a world where we as a nation, by and large, see ourselves in America as the “Voice of Reason” to the rest of the world, there is absolutely no reasoning in our lack, or willingness there of, to get more involved with the effort to bring peace to the dark and destitute region known as “The Devil’s Cauldron.” While we set at home, safe in the confines of our trivial existence, the voices of millions of men, women, and children are crying out from the Congo, and we must answer the call. Although, without the help of the American government and military as a whole, the situation seems somewhat hopeless, we as individuals can do things to make a difference. Several great ideas are duly noted by Rae Gomes in “What You Can Do About the War in Congo.” One purposeful approach is to write your elected officials and demand an increase in U.N. peacekeepers, including women, who are specifically trained in sexual violence (8). Every American, young, old, man, and woman, of every socio-economic background, has an opportunity to bring light to one of the darkest places in the world. We must educate others and ourselves about the history of Congo, its connection to Rwandan genocide, and the economic war that fuels the violence (8). We must demand President Obama and his administration to pressure Rwandan and Congolese leaders to set down at the negotiating table. We must encourage him and his administration to stop supporting Laurent Nkunda and the Democratic Forces for Liberation of Rwanda (8). Individuals can also provide monetary support and resources by donating to groups such as City of Joy, V-Day, and UNICEF (8).

Due to their economic status and lack of support, along with their unwillingness to compromise, it is quite clear. Without significant assistance from foreign nations,
primarily the United States and its free peoples, the Democratic Republic of Congo will continue on a path of war, disease, genocide, rape, and starvation. The call has been made. Who will answer?