Is the Bible a Product of Culture?
Examining the Misuse of “Cultural Context” to Twist Scripture
One of the most common arguments used to dismiss certain commandments in scripture is that they are “cultural” and therefore do not apply to us today. This line of reasoning is often applied to topics such as women preaching, serving as elders or deacons, and homosexuality or transgenderism. Those who advocate these positions argue that such teachings were only relevant to the cultural context of biblical times and are no longer binding in the modern world. However, this approach undermines the authority of God's word and leads to subjective interpretations of absolute truth. Scripture is clear: God's commandments transcend culture and are part of His eternal revelation to mankind.
Leviticus 18:1-5: A Call to Live by God's Commandments, Not Culture
In Leviticus 18:1-5 (NKJV), God speaks to Moses and commands Israel to follow His statutes rather than the practices of the surrounding nations:
“Then the Lord spoke to Moses, saying, ‘Speak to the children of Israel, and say to them: “I am the Lord your God. According to the doings of the land of Egypt, where you dwelt, you shall not do; and according to the doings of the land of Canaan, where I am bringing you, you shall not do; nor shall you walk in their ordinances. You shall observe My judgments and keep My ordinances, to walk in them: I am the Lord your God. You shall therefore keep My statutes and My judgments, which if a man does, he shall live by them: I am the Lord.”’”
God explicitly commands His people not to follow the practices of the Egyptians or the Canaanites. Why? Because His commandments are holy, eternal, and unchanging. This passage highlights that God's laws are not cultural but divine. While cultural practices may vary, God's moral law remains the same and is binding across all generations.
1 Corinthians 14:36-38: God's Authority Overrules Human Innovation
The New Testament reiterates this principle. In 1 Corinthians 14, Paul addresses order in the church, particularly regarding the roles of men and women. In verses 36-38, he challenges those who would dismiss his teaching:
“Or did the word of God come originally from you? Or was it you only that it reached? If anyone thinks himself to be a prophet or spiritual, let him acknowledge that the things which I write to you are the commandments of the Lord. But if anyone is ignorant, let him be ignorant.”
Paul makes it clear that his instructions are not cultural opinions but commandments from the Lord. To dismiss them is to dismiss God’s authority. This passage emphasizes that God's word did not originate from human culture; it transcends time and culture as divine revelation.
Twisting Scripture to Justify Cultural Trends
Many today argue that certain passages, such as those on homosexuality (e.g., Romans 1:26-27) or the roles of men and women (e.g., 1 Timothy 2:11-15), are “cultural” and therefore no longer applicable. However, these arguments are rooted in a desire to conform to worldly values rather than submit to God's truth. Scripture warns against such deception:
2 Timothy 4:3-4:
“For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine, but according to their own desires, because they have itching ears, they will heap up for themselves teachers; and they will turn their ears away from the truth, and be turned aside to fables.”
Isaiah 5:20:
“Woe to those who call evil good, and good evil; who put darkness for light, and light for darkness; who put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter!”
The attempt to twist scripture to align with cultural trends is not new. It is a recurring tactic of Satan to distort God's word and lead people astray, just as he did in the Garden of Eden when he asked, “Has God indeed said...?” (Genesis 3:1).
God’s Word Is Eternal and Unchanging
Scripture repeatedly affirms that God's word is not bound by time or culture but is eternal:
Psalm 119:89:
“Forever, O Lord, Your word is settled in heaven.”
Matthew 24:35:
“Heaven and earth will pass away, but My words will by no means pass away.”
Hebrews 13:8:
“Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever.”
God's commandments are not suggestions that can be adapted to suit cultural preferences. They are eternal truths designed to guide us in holiness and righteousness.
Standing Firm on the Truth
The idea that scripture is merely a product of culture is a dangerous lie that undermines the authority of God's word. As Christians, we must stand firm on the truth, even when it conflicts with the values of the world. God's word is clear: His commandments are not optional or subject to cultural reinterpretation. To compromise on this is to compromise on the very foundation of our faith.
Let us heed the warning of Jude 3-4, which exhorts us to contend earnestly for the faith:
“Beloved, while I was very diligent to write to you concerning our common salvation, I found it necessary to write to you exhorting you to contend earnestly for the faith which was once for all delivered to the saints. For certain men have crept in unnoticed, who long ago were marked out for this condemnation, ungodly men, who turn the grace of our God into lewdness and deny the only Lord God and our Lord Jesus Christ.”
We are called to be a people set apart, living according to God's commandments, not the ever-changing standards of culture. May we boldly proclaim and uphold His truth, knowing that His word is our ultimate authority.