Context Matters

Many years ago, slaver owners used the Scriptures to defend their position of slavery. They were wrong. Today, many are still using the Scriptures to enforce or otherwise influence those around them. They are also wrong. The Scriptures guide us, but the Scriptures have context.

Brethren, in whatever state each was called, there let him remain with God. Now concerning the virgins, I have no command of the Lord, but I give my opinion as one who by the Lord’s mercy is trustworthy. I think that in view of the present distress it is well for a person to remain as he is. Are you bound to a wife? Do not seek to be free. Are you free from a wife? Do not seek marriage. But if you marry, you do not sin, and if a virgin marries she does not sin. Yet those who marry will have worldly troubles, and I would spare you that. I mean, brethren, the appointed time has grown very short; from now on, let those who have wives live as though they had none, and those who mourn as though they were not mourning, and those who rejoice as though they were not rejoicing, and those who buy as though they had no goods, and those who deal with the world as though they had no dealings with it. For the form of this world is passing away. I want you to be free from anxieties. The unmarried man is anxious about the affairs of the Lord, how to please the Lord; but the married man is anxious about worldly affairs, how to please his wife, and his interests are divided. And the unmarried woman or girl is anxious about the affairs of the Lord, how to be holy in body and spirit; but the married woman is anxious about worldly affairs, how to please her husband. I say this for your own benefit, not to lay any restraint upon you, but to promote good order and to secure your undivided devotion to the Lord.

1^st Corinthians 7.24-35

Saint Paul said, “Were you called while a slave? Do not be concerned about it; but if you can be made free, rather use it.” (1^st Corinthians 7.21) When Saint Paul urges us to “remain” as we are, which included slaves at the time, that doesn’t mean his advice ‘stands’ also for today.

That also doesn’t mean that everything Saint Paul said should be ignored. Let’s look at two statements he offered before laying out the suggestion to ‘remain’ as we were. First, he said this was his opinion which was inspired by God, not a law.

The second point he made, and the issue for today’s blog is the context of his advice. He said, “In view of the present distress…” He was speaking in the context of a very specific reality, not a universal truth for all time. That perspective should inform us.

In every generation, Christians have lived in a particular context. Whether it was the Byzantine Christian Empire, or under the slavery of Ottoman Islamic Turks, Christians expressed the truth of God within a time and place in history.

Their time is our history, and has shaped how we respond to God’s truth, but it isn’t our time nor context. We do not live in a Christian empire, nor under Islamic slavery. We live in a relatively free society, but that society isn’t necessarily our friend.

Our context, while it shares many similarities with 1^st Century Corinth, is 21^st Century America. We don’t live in Greece or Russia either. This is what I mean when I use the words, “Context Matters.” Context doesn’t change truth, but it changes responses.

For Saint Paul and 1^st Century Corinthians, that meant ‘remaining’ as the were when they received Christ. Obviously, some did marry, as their descendants can attest to. Enough of 1^st Century Corinth. Let’s put our attention on 21^st Century America.

As our modern society continues to navigate life, we Orthodox Christians will continue to encounter challenges to our faith practices. We no longer suggest widespread life-long celibacy. Most of us marry and have children, and we will continue, but our children are under attack.

Modern America society is increasingly working against the Church. Our children in public schools are taught scandalous lies about human anthropology and sexuality. The Church’s moral ‘code’ is ridiculed as out of touch and hateful.

Neither are true, but our children spend many more hours under the influence of modern American society than the Church. Even those with ‘perfect attendance’ at Sunday School are no match for hundreds of hours under the influence of public schools. We must do something.

We may not struggle with the same issues as 1^st Century Corinth, but we do struggle against the world. If Saint Paul were writing to the 21^st Century America, what would he write about our children? I suggest he would urge us to train our children as Christians, in the Church.

Training our Children in today’s context means Orthodox Schools in every place under the guidance of the Church. We can no longer trust our children to the world context. We never really could, as today’s letter from Saint Paul reminds us.

This has always been the goal of Be Transfigured Ministries. We know the dogmatic truth of God. We learn to live in our modern context, guided by the dogmas, responding to live as we encounter it. Being a student of the Scriptures shapes our response to our modern context.

So, whether it be the war in Iran or transgenderism, we must continue to teach our children to ‘remain’ as we are. We must remain true to Christ and His Church in every context. If the world agrees with the Church, so be it. If not, we must follow the Church rather than the world.

The world eventually fought against slavery and the Church rejoiced. We will also rejoice when the world fights against modern scandals. Then we will move on to struggle against the next scandal. Truth doesn’t change. Only the context of our struggle.