Notes from Vox: Understanding "Oppressive" Texts through a Missionary Lens

Mike Erre / Andy Lara Link to the Episode

Here’s some of what Mike and Andy talked about in this episode:

If a woman became Christian in Saudi Arabia today or a woman was going to go to those places as a missionary that have strict moral laws about what to wear, would you encourage her in her efforts to spread the gospel, to wear shorts or pants or drive (or flagrantly transgress their moral code?)? No, because then you would offend people needlessly and the gospel wouldn’t get a fair hearing.

If you were to write an email or send her a text about what she should do in those places, you would attempt to reduce the needless offense in her culture and leave the only offense with the actual gospel, it is offensive enough. Let’s not put additional barriers in the way.

That is what some of the letters in the New Testament are. They reference the Aristotelian household laws and add nuance (very much like the sermon on the mount/plains, “You have heard it said…”). It was world breaking for women to hear that their husbands should love them like Christ loved the church and sacrifice for her.

Each of the nuances that Paul adds sows the seeds for the overthrow of those household laws, and that is how these letters can get reconciled with Galatians “there is neither slave nor free, male nor female, Greek nor Jew etc.”

In order for this to make sense you have to be clear about what is the gospel.

Is the gospel…

The hardest part of this episode was when Mike talked about loving people who disagree with you. Part of my feelings in the moment is that I shouldn’t love certain people, but the commandment is to love those who hate you and pray for those who persecute you. I have had an undercurrent of rage for the last year or more. I know I haven’t been dealing with it well but it is helpful for me to hear, “No, this is what you should do with the energy you get from those feelings.”