Recently picked up a book entitled "The Year of Living Biblically" by A.J. Jacobs from the local library about a person's one-year journey to take the Bible literally and do exactly as it is presented, at face value. Rather than feeling peeved and upset over the author's at times cheap shots at Christianity, I found it an eye-opening experience and realised how much I know (or not know) about my Bible. It was also interesting to see how opponents of Christianity can find any platform available to them to denounce the faith. Hence we have John Shelby Spong being quoted by the book publisher:
"[The author] has perceived the distinction between the wisdom of the Bible and is absurdities. It is a shame that so many of both our clergy and our politicians seem incapable of making that distinction."
To begin, Jacobs humble quest to follow the Bible as literal as possible is a misnomer. While claiming literalness, Jacobs obviously caveat it by stating that his plan was to "try to find the original intention of the biblical rule or teaching and follow that to the letter. If the passage is unquestionably figurative, then I won't obey it literally." Then he went on to impose his own mental model on the various laws. Not surprisingly, the first one that he waffled through is the 10% tithes.
Where better to start than to pick on the two extremities.
Do not Mix Wool and Linen
The first was his hilarious journey in tackling his Top Five Most Perplexing Rules in the Bible - The ban on wearing clothes made of mixed fibres", specifically the rule not to mix wool and linen (Deut 22:11). In the midst of engaging an expert to rummage through his wardrobe to ensure that he abides by the rule, he put forth the point that obeying rules with no rational explanation is a jarring one.
Obviously, without starting from the right footing, plunging into the Mosaic Laws would not make much of a sense. What Jacobs failed to realise (at least he did not reflect it in the book) is that the Laws were given to the nation of Israel to set them apart from the wide-spread paganistic culture during their time. While we can postulate the rationale for the bulk of the rules, some are just rules to differentiate them from the pagans. If you dress differently from the crowd, you are obviously more likely not to succumb to the culture of the masses. It is a simple and straightforward principle.
Sabbath - Made for Men, Not The Other Way Round
Of course being a Jew, his treatment of the Sabbath ordnance was heavily leaned toward the Orthodox Judaism interpretation. Given my familiarity with Jewish interpretation of work, the part about tearing up toilet paper in advance so as not to be "working" while toileting during Sabbath was absolutely hilarious. It is sad to see how a compassionate rule to encourage humans and the land to rest has become one that enslaves us. Being literally in the Sabbath observance means just to rest when it is mandated. Going beyond what it is written is embellishment, not literalism. Jesus, during His time on earth, addressed this issue and said that Sabbath was made for men and not men for Sabbath. When the rabbis went to the extreme to label healing and helping others as work during Sabbath, we have obviously crossed the line.
(To be continued...)
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