A Scholar Weighs In: Why Don’t You Listen To Our Voices?

Biblical Scholars know the word and its ancient context. Shouldn’t they be good sources for discerning the application of the Word to the present context?

Recently, a number of former students of mine have expressed their appreciation for my teaching over the years and for my level of biblical scholarship. For which I say, “Thank you.” It is always nice to be encouraged.

But, they add that they reject my political remarks.

NB: I have expressed many times that I am not a member of any political party

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Here are my thoughts

In response, I would like to ask, “Could it be that my assessments of the modern political arena derive from my study of Jesus and the NT?” (Now, by no means do I suppose that I have a handle on it all or that I am an authority on all such matters. That is why I am cautious as to when I speak up.)

In addition, I would also like to ask, “Should we not consider the thoughts and opinions of a biblical scholar more deeply? Especially if you consider that scholar to be a person of character?”

NB: Some have remarked by asking, “Where was I four years ago?” To which I will respond, “Saying the same things I am saying now.” Over the last number of years, I have condemned Biden, Blinken, and Harris on numerous occasions (see the Determinetruth Blog). I may not have done so on YouTube videos, but that is because I wasn’t making YouTube Shorts back then. We just recently began posting new content (besides the Livestreams) on YouTube Shorts. If I were making such video content a few years ago, I would have condemned Biden, Blinken, Harris, et al, via that medium as well.

I am not alone

I also find it interesting that I can line up dozens of the most respected (and even conservative) NT scholars who support much, if not most, of my assessments of the contemporary American political scene.

NB: Needless to say, I will not list their names since I have not asked for their permission to do so. But I assure you that this is true. After all, I have been meeting with a good number of them every week to discuss the Gospel and the contemporary political scene.

How is it, then, that we can interpret the Bible well in its ancient context but not in its modern context?

I find this thought to be ironic. You respect us for our knowledge of the Scriptures and our expositions on it—which entail a knowledge of ancient languages, history, culture, theology, and more—and yet you cannot accept our applications of the Scriptures to the present culture and context.

Do you not listen to pastors and other teachers (who may very well be good people with a formal theological education) when they preach and accept their understanding of how the Word applies to the present day?

Yet, the scholars who taught them how to understand the Word, you do not listen to when it comes to their assessments of the Scriptures for the present times.

Am I missing something?

Finally

I would think that those of us who specialize in Jesus, the Gospel of the kingdom, and especially the book of Revelation (or any biblical scholar) would gain more consideration when it comes to our assessment of the present applications of Scripture.

I am actually grieved that those who consistently question my political takes actually confirm some of my biblical convictions when it comes to applying the message of Scripture (especially the book of Revelation).

That is, I believe that the weapon of the Dragon (Satan) and the empires that he empowers are propaganda and deception. The empires then employ their rhetoric in order to maintain their power and to convince the people to follow. The empire’s offer of “peace and safety” (1 Thess 5:3) aims to lure people into supporting the empire’s agenda.

In other words, what the Trump administration (and, yes, Biden, Obama, Bush, Clinton, etc.) is doing corresponds well with the warnings of the book of Revelation.

Consequently, I suspect that those who fail to see how the book of Revelation—let alone the rest of the biblical text—applies to the present may well be those who have blindly sided with the empire.

Now, it should not be surprising that so many are siding with the empire. This was, after all, why John wrote Revelation: He was writing to inform the Christ-followers that the empire they were following is actually a dreadful, Dragon-empowered beast.

Why are there not more voices speaking up?

You might ask why there are not more voices? Well, I have two thoughts here.

One is the fact that there are very few (I can’t think of any, but that doesn’t mean they aren’t out there) biblical scholars who endorse most or even many of the present administration’s actions.

Second, I can assure you that many others agree with our positions but remain silent because of concerns about their jobs, families, and communities (I make no judgment on them. I wish they would speak up more, though I recognize that some simply can’t.)

Maybe you should consider our voices

All of this to say, maybe you should consider what we have to say about Jesus, the Gospel and the Kingdom, and how it relates to the present.

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Discover how God’s kingdom of love and peace speaks into the conflicts of our world today.

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