And no tribe of Joseph
by Keith Blank, Landisville, Pa.
I am concerned about the process of how someone qualifies to write in the “Speaking Out” column and any screening of content. There has to be some discretion about what is printed and appropriate for this column. A “thoughtful” article like James Lederach’s (“And No Tribe of Joseph,” April 15) clearly does violence to the biblical text.
Lederach places the authority behind his remarks on Leon R. Kass’ book, The Beginning of Wisdom: Reading Genesis. Kass is a professor at the University of Chicago who specializes in biology and ethics, not biblical studies. Those who desire a greater understanding of Kass and the biblical text may want to read Luke T. Johnson’s review of Kass’ book in Commonweal (January 16, 2004).
Johnson, a respected biblical scholar who teaches at Emory University, says, “The further Kass gets into Genesis, the [more] his own ideological commitments allow him simply to ignore or actively suppress aspects of the narrative that might easily be read in other ways. The nadir is reached in Kass’ treatment of the patriarch Joseph.” In other words, Kass is at his worst in his interpretation of Joseph—the section Lederach used to back up his commentary.
As we Christians express our perspectives and opinions, we must be careful to base them on the input of biblical scholars, the counsel of witnesses throughout church history and the broad counsel of the community of believers. If we base them solely on the perspective of one individual, we open ourselves up to serious errors. Let’s not read the Bible looking for support for our ideas. Instead, let’s take what it teaches and apply it to our lives.
Associated Issue: Evangelism - April 15, 2008
Associated Article: And no tribe of Joseph
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