How much of the Bible should I obey?

If a man has long hair, it is a disgrace to him.
Are you unmarried? Do not look for a wife.
Do not turn away from the one who want to borrow from you.
Be fruitful and multiply.
Greet one another with a holy kiss.
Women should remain silent in churches.
Go and make disciples of all nations.
Sell your possessions and give to the poor.
Do not lie with a man as one lies with a woman.
Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength.

All of the commands above are in the Bible. Does this mean I am sinning if I don't obey them? Do I need to cut my hair, stop looking for a wife, and start kissing in favor of a handshake. It clearly says in Leviticus that a man shall not lay with another man, condemning homosexuality. Case closed right? But in the very same book, one chapter later, the Bible commands its reader not to wear clothing woven of two kinds of material. We choose to obey and preach one passage, but neglect and toss out another. Why?

It's all about Hermeneutics, baby.

Don't let that word scare you. All it means is the art of interpretation. Quick Greek mythology lesson for you: Hermes was a mythological Greek deity whose role was that of a messenger of the gods. He was a mediator between the gods and humanity. His name literally meant "to translate" or "to interpret". The idea was, because the gods were gods and man was man, they had a language barrier. A "failure to communicate" if you will. Hermes would reveal (and also conceal) messages between the gods and man. Without Hermes explaining what the gods meant in "human" terms, mankind would be clueless as to what they were actually trying to say.

So when we use the word Hermeneutics, we're talking about the art and act of studying a passage to uncover, dig up, and present the correct interpretation or meaning of a text.

Now, back to our original question. Why do we continue to apply certain biblical text in their fullness but not others? Or, how do I determine which parts of the biblical text should apply today and which should not?

Well, it's going to require you to do some homework. You're gonna have to be like Hermes. First you'll have to understand the role that culture plays in this task. Second, you'll have to ask yourself, "Self, what is the framework with which I view, read, and interpret my Bible?" You may not even realize you have one, but you do. And I believe what scholars call a redemptive-movement framework is the best lens through which to read the Bible if we want to develop an answer to the question about modern application of the Scriptures.

Tomorrow, we will pick up things up by talking about the role that culture plays in our interpretation of the Bible.

Till then, greet one another with a holy kiss.