We've been talking about the crappy parts of the bible. The parts I like to pretend aren't there. Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, Deuteronomy. Where God is angry and vengeful and there is lots of violence and male domination and blood sacrifices. Yuck. It's also mostly hella boring. Except when you get a little description about how to wring a pigeon's neck. WTF? That's more revolting than boring, but it gets boring when it is repeated three more times slightly modified.

When I read this stuff, I have to remember these were a primitive, violent people who were attempting to bring order to their lives. These are campfire stories that were told and remembered and embellished for 400 years before they were formally written down. And then they were translated about three times. And it's nearly impossible to translate Hebrew. Often in the footnotes of my bible it says "Hebrew meaning uncertain".

God has Moses lead the Jews out of Egypt and slavery in Exodus. The book we are following asks us questions like: How are you oppressed? What do you need to get free of?

I am not oppressed.
Am I oppressed by my affluence?
Do I need to get free of my affluence?

I was thinking, that using public transit is kind of something I should be doing to honor God. Giving up my convenience and violent pace for the good (less pollution, less congestion) of others. Just a thought. Maybe something to do during Advent, Lent, the New Year?

Julie @ 8:54 AM Permalink |