So just how are we to look at a series of books written almost 2000 years ago, get moral norms for today, and apply them to diverse situations without bungling the whole thing up? Good questions, and don't worry, you're not the only one asking them. They has been on the minds of Christians for a long time now.

One of the key issues when dealing with ethical issues is how we are to read the Bible. Misinterpretations of the Bible have led to deplorable things such as slavery and genocide. We need to ask how we are to read the Bible.

• One approach is to read the Bible literally, like one would read an article in the newspaper.
• Others distinguish between "universal" passages, meaning they apply to all people at all times, and "cultural" passages which applied only to the people they were specifically written to.
• Another approach is to read the whole Bible as an allegory of God's faithfulness, love, etc.

• Are there certain texts that are cultural and thus don't apply to those of the 21st century?
• Or was the Bible so emeshed in its culture that we can only extract overarching principles?
• Do we put more emphasis on specific rules or do we emphasize overarching themes present throughout the Bible? In other words how do we balance the general with the specific?

The question now is what modes are we to use. My opinion is that each text must be looked at individually to see in what mode it is speaking to us. This wil take maturity and should be done in the context of the community of believers, lest it we change the Bible according to our whims. I would also propose that for the most part we are to draw principles from Biblical teachings, though there are definitely rules as well. Lastly, looking to Jesus as the paradigm of how to live the Christian life is important.