Sin Across Cultures

This week we began our key terms workshop. Basically this workshop consists of analyzing certain key terms in the Bible, such as sin, holy, God etc. Then we study the different languages/cultures to find suitable words to translate these key terms. Key terms are very difficult to translate because they are so fundamental to the message of the Bible. If you mistranslate these key terms, the translation might preach a different gospel than Jesus did. Thus we are taking two weeks just to focus on properly translating some key terms in Luke.

In preparation for our study of the word 'sin', I read an article about sin in different cultures. It was a fascinating article as the author, a long time member of Wycliffe, argued his point that although the core definition of sin is the same across cultures, there are different ways to interpret that definition. For example, he lists murder, adultery, lying, and stealing as actions that are considered wrong almost universally. However what one culture considers to be a lie, another culture doesn't. Or an action that is considered stealing in one culture is not stealing in another. An example would be how walking through an orchard in the States without permission and picking fruit would be considered stealing. However in ancient Israel, this would not be considered stealing.

This point really struck me as I live in another culture but have come here with my own ideas of what is right and wrong, ideas that I received from the Bible but have interpreted through my own cultural lenses. It's easy to look at people and condemn them for lying because they did not tell me what was true but told me what I wanted to hear. However, in their culture the greater sin would have been to be rude, to not love their neighbour as themselves. So were they sinning?

The other side is also true. How many times have I thought I was doing what was right according to my interpretation and yet maybe it was considered a sin in this culture? How many times have I blurted out the truth bluntly or didn't offer a meal when someone came to visit me? Did I hurt the people involved and did I sin against them?

To be honest, I don't really know where to draw the line but I am starting to understand what Paul said in Romans 14:1-4 "Accept other believers who are weak in faith, and don't argue with them about what they think is right or wrong. For instance, one person believes it's all right to eat anything. But another believer with a sensitive conscience will eat only vegetables. Those who feel free to eat anything must not look down on those who don't. And those who don't eat certain foods must not condemn those who do, for God has accepted them. Who are you to condemn someone else's servants? They are responsible to the Lord, so let him judge whether they are right or wrong. And with the Lord's help, they will do what is right and will receive his approval."