This type of teaching is a good example of what happens when someone doesn't interpret the Bible correctly. Proper Bible teaching and preaching relies on correct Bible interpretation. Some of the basic rules of Bible interpretation are the ideas of progressive revelation, that God didn't reveal everything at the very beginning, and keeping scriptures within their proper context. Contextually, there are many considerations, things such as cultural context, historical context, linguistic context, and textual context. What did Jephthah and his daughter know at that time? Did they have the writings of Paul? Were Jephthah and his daughter living in the church age under the teachings of the apostles to understand their place in God's plan at that time? What nuance exists in the original language that may lead to a different understanding of the passage? Though Paul gave his opinions on marriage in I Corinthians, it would be foolish to think that every single person out there who doesn't get married is going to rejoice over it. At this time in history, God had only revealed that the Messiah was going to come through Abraham's seed. There was no understanding of King David and the covenant that God made with him. Every Jewish woman could see herself as the potential mother of the Messiah, so the idea of being celibate wasn't something to rejoice over, but rather mourn. Jephthah had only one child, and with her never being married, his bloodline would end. This was not something that any Israelite would rejoice over. It is important that pastors rightly divide the word of God, as II Timothy 2:15 says.
It boggles my mind how many of their pastors do not have proper training and think they are fit to lead better than the rest? I suppose if they did train then they would leave the movement. Guess that's why their flocks have a hard time defending their position (okay, they are probably just repeating what their pastors said but I digress) and none of them realize that what they say makes no sense theologically. I hope one day they will understand why fundamentalists don't get invited to symposiums and conferences of the rest of Christianity; it's that the core of what they are taught and how to think is illogical and makes no philosophical or theological sense. Sorry for the rant, it's my prayer that they will understand.
Regarding authoritarian pastors and church scandals, I highly recommend the novel Wisdom Hunter by Randall Arthur. It seems to be the premiere novel illustrating the destructiveness of authoritarian pastors. It's an international bestseller. Many call it a “classic.” I understand that the author was even fired from his mission agency because of the novel.
To me the lesson of Jephthah is the danger of not knowing the Scriptures. First God provides where he leads, second, human sacrifice is forbidden, third if you make a vow that you can't fulfill God provided an out. To me this story shows how far Israel had departed from following the God who brought them out of Egypt.
I think the trouble here, as in other presentations, is predicated on not allowing the text to speak for itself, and then putting things either in the wrong context or without context.The idea behind a sacrifice is that whatever it is you offer, it's as good as dead unless a substitution is made.Why did Jepthah not try to redeem his daughter? There was precedence. The cultural context of marriage and family was erased for Jepthah's daughter, it was if she had never lived, and if he really did kill her, a sad commentary on his belief. In Corinthians, Paul is not discussing a sacrifice, he is discussing a choice, in the context that many had been put out of the synagogues and were being persecuted by the Romans- Not a good time to raise a family necessarily. With over 50 million saints martyred since those days, the admonition is still relevant. In either case, I completely agree, the lack of nuance, and context is a problem.
I think we need to look at the context of the Judges where every man did that which was right in his own eyes which is a sad reminder of how messed up things get when we forget to consult God and his word. Also, I believe he did sacrifice her simply because the Bible said he did. : "who did with her according to his vow which he had vowed"
This type of teaching is a good example of what happens when someone doesn't interpret the Bible correctly. Proper Bible teaching and preaching relies on correct Bible interpretation. Some of the basic rules of Bible interpretation are the ideas of progressive revelation, that God didn't reveal everything at the very beginning, and keeping scriptures within their proper context. Contextually, there are many considerations, things such as cultural context, historical context, linguistic context, and textual context.
What did Jephthah and his daughter know at that time? Did they have the writings of Paul? Were Jephthah and his daughter living in the church age under the teachings of the apostles to understand their place in God's plan at that time? What nuance exists in the original language that may lead to a different understanding of the passage? Though Paul gave his opinions on marriage in I Corinthians, it would be foolish to think that every single person out there who doesn't get married is going to rejoice over it.
At this time in history, God had only revealed that the Messiah was going to come through Abraham's seed. There was no understanding of King David and the covenant that God made with him. Every Jewish woman could see herself as the potential mother of the Messiah, so the idea of being celibate wasn't something to rejoice over, but rather mourn.
Jephthah had only one child, and with her never being married, his bloodline would end. This was not something that any Israelite would rejoice over.
It is important that pastors rightly divide the word of God, as II Timothy 2:15 says.
It boggles my mind how many of their pastors do not have proper training and think they are fit to lead better than the rest? I suppose if they did train then they would leave the movement. Guess that's why their flocks have a hard time defending their position (okay, they are probably just repeating what their pastors said but I digress) and none of them realize that what they say makes no sense theologically. I hope one day they will understand why fundamentalists don't get invited to symposiums and conferences of the rest of Christianity; it's that the core of what they are taught and how to think is illogical and makes no philosophical or theological sense. Sorry for the rant, it's my prayer that they will understand.
Growls at the above comment because it did switch to my main account........
Regarding authoritarian pastors and church scandals, I highly recommend the novel Wisdom Hunter by Randall Arthur. It seems to be the premiere novel illustrating the destructiveness of authoritarian pastors. It's an international bestseller. Many call it a “classic.” I understand that the author was even fired from his mission agency because of the novel.
Sounds like an interesting book. I'll have to check it out.
Thanks for sharing. Feel free to share more clips of me. You have my permission.
Do you still believe homosexuals deserve the death penalty?
To me the lesson of Jephthah is the danger of not knowing the Scriptures. First God provides where he leads, second, human sacrifice is forbidden, third if you make a vow that you can't fulfill God provided an out. To me this story shows how far Israel had departed from following the God who brought them out of Egypt.
I will never ever believe Jepthah killed his daughter.
I'm in agreement with you there. I don't believe she was killed either.
I think the trouble here, as in other presentations, is predicated on not allowing the text to speak for itself, and then putting things either in the wrong context or without context.The idea behind a sacrifice is that whatever it is you offer, it's as good as dead unless a substitution is made.Why did Jepthah not try to redeem his daughter? There was precedence. The cultural context of marriage and family was erased for Jepthah's daughter, it was if she had never lived, and if he really did kill her, a sad commentary on his belief. In Corinthians, Paul is not discussing a sacrifice, he is discussing a choice, in the context that many had been put out of the synagogues and were being persecuted by the Romans- Not a good time to raise a family necessarily. With over 50 million saints martyred since those days, the admonition is still relevant. In either case, I completely agree, the lack of nuance, and context is a problem.
I think we need to look at the context of the Judges where every man did that which was right in his own eyes which is a sad reminder of how messed up things get when we forget to consult God and his word.
Also, I believe he did sacrifice her simply because the Bible said he did. :
"who did with her according to his vow which he had vowed"
Tommy McMurtry a special case that's for sure >_>
Jephthah's murder of his daughter was a good thing? God is not pleased by human sacrifice. That is what the pagans do.