In Trouble?

A few people have heard about the following word-on-the-web study, here it is so you can make up your own mind about it.

1 Timothy 6:1-2
All who are slaves under a yoke should show full respect to their masters so no one will speak against God's name and our teaching. The slaves whose masters are believers should not show their masters any less respect because they are believers. They should serve their masters even better, because they are helping believers they love. You must teach and preach these things.

The Bible supports slavery! Don't believe me? Read those words again.

Now here is a real problem. Christians believe the Bible is not simply another book, but that it is special, that it is 'God's word'. How we exactly understand that phrase 'God's Word' has been the source of endless rows in the church, but everyone agrees that it means we need to take it seriously. The problem here is that instead of challenging slavery Paul tells Timothy that slaves should be especially obedient to their masters. If the Bible is God's Word, and if here it says slaves should obey, then surely that means God approves of slavery? Doesn't it?

For hundreds of years that is exactly what most serious Christians believed was the case. But they were wrong! Paul grew up in a world where slavery was normal. Some people try to excuse him by arguing that Paul could not have condemned slavery because Christianity was a new faith that could not afford to upset the social order. I think the problem is much simpler. Because slavery was normal it never crossed Paul's mind that it was wrong, that it took away from people the freedom that comes from being made in the image of God.

Two things to think about from today's reading then. Firstly we need to use our brain to understand the Bible and the way the people who wrote it saw the world. If we don't we'll get the meaning wrong and end up believing God really does like slavery. He doesn't - HE HATES IT!! Secondly, what are we so used to in our world that we think it's normal, even if God hates it?

Word on the Web

I've been asked to write the final week of studies for Word on the Web. A project that sends daily Bible reflections free by email. The invitation is a bitter sweet one as I set up the project 8 years ago when I worked for Church Army. At the time we were just about the only people offering this service and lots of people thought we were mad to even try. Today the situation is different and a number of projects and ministries provide a similar service.

After I left the project it had a couple of other editors who have combined keeping the project on the road with their other duties. I don't think I'm being unfair if I say that they never really had the time to keep the project developing as it might have deserved, and so it has really marked time rather than renewed its self since it began.

What amazes me is that despite this over 6,000 people still receive the emails every day. Of course not all of them read it every day, but many do. It was always a simple idea, that carried a simple (but I hope never simplistic) message.

A number of people have asked me what a feel about the closure of word on the web...I'm thinking about how to respond to the question, as this morning I'm not quite sure.