The Wizard of Oz and the Bible – Part One
The Wizard of Oz and the Bible – Part One
Emergent/Emerging writer Brian McLaren compares the Bible to the Wizard of Oz:
“As in so many issues these days, the problem isn’t the Bible; it’s the assumptions we bring to the Bible about how it is supposed to be interpreted. We make demands of the Biblical writers that we don’t make of any other writers, and I’m not sure our demands are sensible or fair at all. As an analogy, I often refer to the Wizard of Oz in my teaching. Does this mean that I believe Dorothy was a historical figure? No. It means that I accept the story of Oz as being part of our culture, and that I can use it to illustrate truth or provide analogies to truth.” (http://www.apologeticsindex.org/301-emerging-church-versus-scripture)
He makes a similar statement elsewhere:
As an analogy…I have an oft-quoted article that talks about Dorothy and the Wizard of Oz. This doesn’t imply that I believe they are real historical people, right? Can the Bible writers similarly refer to stories or concepts from their times and not be expected to be affirming of their complete historicity?” (http://desertpastor.typepad.com/paradoxology/2005/05/the_last_word_a.html)
McLaren’s Statement Has An Element of Truth
When McLaren quotes refers to the Wizard of Oz, it doesn’t mean that he believes that Dorothy is an historic person. In the same way, on occasion the biblical writers refer to a fictional concept or element of their culture. If we misinterpret these allusions we may fail to understand the truth of a passage.
For example, James says, “Even the demons believe.” Many people use this verse to argue that mere belief in Christ is not enough. However, on closer examination, we see that James is merely quoting an argument that someone in that culture might have made. In James 2:18 he introduces the quote with, “But someone will say.“
A second example comes from 1 Corinthians 15:35. Paul introduces that verse with the same words James uses, “But someone will say.” That phrase tips alerts the reader to the fact that Paul is stating the argument of an unknown or hypothetical objector. The Bible contains the objection but does not affirm the truth of it.
Third, there are a few verses in which it appears that the writer might be alluding to a contemporary poem or saying. In Titus 1:12 Paul quotes Epimenides: “All Cretans are liars.” The original quote had to do with the lie that Zeus was buried in Crete. This lie offended people of that day who thought that Zeus was still alive.
Paul’s use of that phrase does not mean that he held that Zeus was still alive. He was merely using a commonly known phrase to refer to the false teachers who tend to not tell the truth.
Emergent/Emerging writer Brian McLaren compares the Bible to the Wizard of Oz:
“As in so many issues these days, the problem isn’t the Bible; it’s the assumptions we bring to the Bible about how it is supposed to be interpreted. We make demands of the Biblical writers that we don’t make of any other writers, and I’m not sure our demands are sensible or fair at all. As an analogy, I often refer to the Wizard of Oz in my teaching. Does this mean that I believe Dorothy was a historical figure? No. It means that I accept the story of Oz as being part of our culture, and that I can use it to illustrate truth or provide analogies to truth.” (http://www.apologeticsindex.org/301-emerging-church-versus-scripture)
He makes a similar statement elsewhere:
As an analogy…I have an oft-quoted article that talks about Dorothy and the Wizard of Oz. This doesn’t imply that I believe they are real historical people, right? Can the Bible writers similarly refer to stories or concepts from their times and not be expected to be affirming of their complete historicity?” (http://desertpastor.typepad.com/paradoxology/2005/05/the_last_word_a.html)
McLaren’s Statement Has An Element of Truth
When McLaren quotes refers to the Wizard of Oz, it doesn’t mean that he believes that Dorothy is an historic person. In the same way, on occasion the biblical writers refer to a fictional concept or element of their culture. If we misinterpret these allusions we may fail to understand the truth of a passage.
For example, James says, “Even the demons believe.” Many people use this verse to argue that mere belief in Christ is not enough. However, on closer examination, we see that James is merely quoting an argument that someone in that culture might have made. In James 2:18 he introduces the quote with, “But someone will say.“
A second example comes from 1 Corinthians 15:35. Paul introduces that verse with the same words James uses, “But someone will say.” That phrase tips alerts the reader to the fact that Paul is stating the argument of an unknown or hypothetical objector. The Bible contains the objection but does not affirm the truth of it.
Third, there are a few verses in which it appears that the writer might be alluding to a contemporary poem or saying. In Titus 1:12 Paul quotes Epimenides: “All Cretans are liars.” The original quote had to do with the lie that Zeus was buried in Crete. This lie offended people of that day who thought that Zeus was still alive.
Paul’s use of that phrase does not mean that he held that Zeus was still alive. He was merely using a commonly known phrase to refer to the false teachers who tend to not tell the truth.
posted by Steve at 7:33 PM
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