Greetings:

A prima facie reading of the passages which the editor cites when interpreted from a Postmodern viewpoint would indict these passages as being immoral. However, when one looks at the literary and cultural context in which these passages arise, then one can be assured that these passages are not immoral at all.

While the editor properly points out that the Bible condones slavery he has failed to realize that the Bible does not condone the abuse of slavery:

Masters, give unto your servants that which is just and equal; knowing that ye also have a Master in heaven, Col. 4:1.

Knowing that whatsoever good thing any man doeth, the same shall he receive of the Lord, whether he be bond or free. And, ye masters, do the same things unto them, forbearing threatening: knowing that your Master also is in heaven; neither is there respect of persons with him. Eph. 6:8,9.

All Christians are servants (or slaves) of Jesus Christ - who is our master - Matt. 23:8. But Christ is a kindly master, and so should such treat their slaves. The idea of the master/slave relationship is also extended by Christians into the modern day workplace. Thus, Christians would fully support efforts to eliminate slavery if there is abuse in the system. It is slave abuse that makes slavery odious to any rational thinking human being.

The Equality of women:

Sure. We believe that men and women are equal. But, we are not so blind as to think that they are equal in all things. A rational person will realize that men cannot have babies. Thus, we celebrate not only our equalities, but our inequalities as well. There is also a mountain of psychological evidence showing differences between the way men and women respond to various stimuli. And none other than Phyllis Schlafly has written an article on why women should be forbidden from ground combat. Women in ground combat are forbidden by Pentagon regulations and Congressional law. The laws forbidding women in direct combat roles does not come from the Bible, but from some secular humanist philosophy. The editor of the paper is naive to think that men and women are equal in all things.

Women are not being treated "inferior" but are being treated as women. This is a recognition of their personality and distinctives as human beings. That the wife is to "submit" to her husband is given the same dignity as the husband is to "submit" to Jesus Christ, love his wife, and lay down his life for her. Is it too much to ask of her to listen and follow his directions when he is willing to give so much for her? Feminism sounds vain and childish in this light.

The Bible does not punish rape victums:

The editor claims that he is reading the passage in context, but the context clearly does not indicate rape. A woman who is bethrothed to a man has sexual relations with another man within a city "and does not cry out for help" is not being raped. By not resisting and screaming for help she is condoning the act, and is in agreement with it. This is clear from the context:

But if a man find a betrothed damsel in the field, and the man force her, and lie with her: then the man only that lay with her shall die: But unto the damsel thou shalt do nothing; there is in the damsel no sin worthy of death: for as when a man riseth against his neighbour, and slayeth him, even so is this matter: For he found her in the field, and the betrothed damsel cried, and there was none to save her. Deut. 23:25-27

The benefit of the doubt is given to the maid, because she was in a field where no one would be able to hear her cry out for help. In this we see the Bible upholding the sanctity of marriage and is protecting the good reputation and virginity of a maid.

The death penalty for non-virgin wives:

There are ceremonial laws and penalties that have been done away with by the coming of Jesus Christ. The Jewish-culture here assumes that the wife did not have relations before being married. This would not apply to widows who are being remarried nor to women who may have been raped in the field (as above). But to a woman who fraudulantly advertises herself as a virgin to her betrothed. The law indicates the worth placed upon a woman's character and purity in that culture. Today, in our Postmodern culture, the purity of a woman is fodder for jokes and ridicule. That God holds these things more serious than man does is not "unjust" of God. Such also goes for a woman handling the private parts of a man who is not her husband.

That the Bible regulates the clothing of women is seen as oppressive? No, rather it is wisdom. Rapists often argue in court that the woman was "asking for it" because of the sexy clothing she was wearing, and many of these cases are won with a predominatly female jury. Such a defense was forthcoming in the William Kennedy Smith case back in 1991.

We see in all of this the respect paid to women for their integrity of character and purity. What we see in the "equality" movement is disrespect for women as people of character and purity.

Elijah was a prophet of the Most High God. To mock such is to bring the curse of God down upon you. This was a punishment administered by God, and not by man. There is no social or governmental equivalent.

Meterologists today still use terms like "sunrise" and "sunset" even when they know that a literal interpretation of the words is not correct. According to the editor scientists who know better are factually incorrect. There is a famous song entitled, "Morning has broken" are we to take those words literally as well?

The above would be an outline as to how I would answer this person.

Hope it helps,

-CH

__________________
In Essentials Unity, in non-Essentials Liberty, in all things Charity.

Robert Paul Wieland
Springs Reformed Presbyterian Church
Colorado Springs, CO RPCNA
Student at Reformed Presbyterian Theological Seminary, Pittsburgh PA
B.B. Warfield's definition of Theological Students: "Angels preparing to sound the Trumpets."