Applying Biblical Principles in Culturally Relevant Ways
Applying biblical principles in culturally relevant ways involves discerning the unchanging truths of Scripture and expressing them in forms understandable and appropriate to a specific cultural context. This process requires careful attention to both the biblical text and the cultural landscape.
The New Testament frequently emphasizes the importance of practical application of Christian teachings. For instance, the author of Hebrews calls believers to "continue in brotherly love" (Hebrews 13:1), a command that applies to everyone in the Christian community [4]. This brotherly love is not merely a general affection but a "special and spiritual affection" that should exist among Christians [3]. This concept of love is a foundational ethical principle that underpins all of life [4]. Similarly, the apostle Paul, in his ministry, made sure to hold back "nothing that was profitable" to his hearers, aiming to lead them into a true knowledge of the Gospel and confirm them in it, preserving them from error and encouraging them in every grace and duty [5]. This suggests a comprehensive approach to teaching and applying biblical truth.
However, the application of these principles must also guard against "divers and strange doctrines" (Hebrews 13:9). These can include various rites, ceremonies, traditions, or doctrines of men that do not align with the "uniform" and consistent doctrine of Scripture [2]. The enduring relevance of biblical instruction is highlighted by passages like Hebrews 3:15, which states, "While it is said today," indicating that scriptural exhortations are of perpetual use and concern for the present times [6].
The process of applying biblical principles also involves mutual consideration and encouragement within the Christian community. Believers are exhorted to "consider one another" (Hebrews 10:24), attentively fixing their minds on the needs and characters of fellow believers to offer mutual help and counsel [7]. This consideration is meant to "provoke unto love," rather than hatred [7]. Furthermore, there is a call to "look diligently" (Hebrews 12:14), which can be understood as members of the church watching over one another to ensure no one "fail of the grace of God" [8]. This oversight helps prevent the adoption of false doctrines or immoral practices [8].
When building upon the foundation of Christ, different "materials" or doctrines can be laid. Some are likened to "gold, silver, precious stones" due to their intrinsic worth, purity, solidity, and usefulness, while others are less valuable [1]. The challenge lies in discerning which applications truly reflect the enduring value of biblical truth within a given cultural expression. The goal is to maintain the "purity and sincerity" of the message while making it accessible and impactful [1].
Sources
- 1 Corinthians (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on 1 Corinthians 3:12: Now if any man build upon this foundation,.... The different materials laid by one and the same man, on this foundation, or the different doctrines advanced upon it, are some of them comparable to gold, silver, precious stones; for their intrinsic worth and value; for the purity and sincerity of them; for their weight, importance, solidity, and substantiality; for their durableness; for the great esteem they are had in by those, who know the worth of them; and for the great usefulness they are of unto them, being rich in themselves, and enriching to them; and”
- Hebrews (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on Hebrews 13:9: Be not carried about with divers and strange doctrines,.... The word "divers" may denote the variety and multitude of other doctrines; referring either to the various rites and ceremonies of the law, or to the traditions of the elders, or to the several doctrines of men, whether Jews or Gentiles; whereas the doctrine of the Scriptures, of Christ, and his apostles, is but one; it is uniform, and all of a piece; and so may likewise denote the disagreement of other doctrines with the perfections of God, the person and offices of Christ, the Scriptures of truth, the anal”
- Hebrews (Nonconformist/Puritan) “Matthew Henry on Hebrews 13:1: The design of Christ in giving himself for us is that he may purchase to himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works. Now the apostle calls the believing Hebrews to the performance of many excellent duties, in which it becomes Christians to excel. I. To brotherly love (Heb 13:1), by which he does not only mean a general affection to all men, as our brethren by nature, all made of the same blood, nor that more limited affection which is due to those who are of the same immediate parents, but that special and spiritual affection which ought to exist among the ”
- Hebrews (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Hebrews 13:1: 13:1-6 This series of practical guidelines is similar to other ethics lists in the New Testament. It describes how to love others in the community of faith, a strong ethical foundation for all of life. 13:1 Keep on loving each other as brothers and sisters: Literally Continue in brotherly love. This instruction applies to everyone in the Christian community (see study notes on 2:11; 3:1).”
- Acts (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on Acts 20:19: And how I kept back nothing that was profitable unto you,.... The Syriac version supplies, "to your souls"; to lead them into a true knowledge of the doctrines of the Gospel, and to confirm them in the same, and to preserve them from errors in principle, and immoralities in practice, and to encourage the exercise of every grace, and to instruct them in every branch of duty; nothing of this kind, or which had this tendency, did the apostle dissemble, conceal, or drop, either through sloth and indolence, or through fear of men, or for the sake of reputation, wealth, and ”
- Hebrews (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on Hebrews 3:15: While it is said today,.... Exhort one another, and hold fast Christ and his Gospel, and faith and confidence therein; what follows is a repetition of the citation in Heb 3:7 in order to make a further improvement of it; which shows, that the words belong to the present times of the Gospel, and contain in them matter of moment, and great concern; and that Scripture instructions and exhortations are of perpetual use. in order to make a further improvement of it; which shows, that the words belong to the present times of the Gospel, and contain in them matter of momen”
- Hebrews (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on Hebrews 10:24: Here, as elsewhere, hope and love follow faith; the Pauline triad of Christian graces. consider--with the mind attentively fixed on "one another" (see on Heb 3:1), contemplating with continual consideration the characters and wants of our brethren, so as to render mutual help and counsel. Compare "consider," Psa 41:1, and Heb 12:15, "(All) looking diligently lest any fail of the grace of God." to provoke--Greek, "with a view to provoking unto love," instead of provoking to hatred, as is too often the case.”
- Hebrews (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on Hebrews 12:14: Looking diligently,.... Acting the part of bishops, or overseers, as the word signifies; and so this exhortation either respects officers of the church of the Hebrews, whose business it was more especially to inspect into the principles and practices of the members of it, and take care that they did not imbibe false doctrines, or live immoral lives; or rather the several members of the church, whose business it is to watch over one another, since this epistle seems to be written to the whole church. Lest any man fail of the grace of God; not the free favour and lo”