The author Pastor Zhongshi Shao uses "The Procrustean Bed" as the title, in the hope that everyone can understand, on the interpretation of the Bible is not the plane view of the people to interpret. As I have repeatedly emphasized, different times have different cultural backgrounds, ideas and values, we can never use that way of thinking time to interpret the Bible, the events described, so that same way of the brutality for the robbers procrustean. Procrustean bed, its meaning is: insist consistent; procrustean, far-fetched; forced to conform. I sincerely look forward to, as Christians in 2010, could jump out of the background of the framework of that era, so that we recorded in the Bible and the revelation of God, have a more correct view.
Different times evoke different cultural background, philosophies as well as value systems. One should not use the mentalities of times past to interpret the biblical descriptions of events. To do so would be no different than a malicious robber.
About author: In 1941 years I was born in Shantou, Guangdong. It was during the Japanese invasion to China. Internal to meet the civil war of the K.M.T. with communist in exile dispersion, 5 years old I went back to Kinmen father's house. After poor, frail children, and fell down the pits of born more children, school all day long for us to sing songs of army and to release the mainland compatriots and Kill Zue pull Moa......and by the military rule of non-rational is indeed a ridiculous feeling. During that bleak gray young, though these hardships, but in Kinmen, we finally have our own homes. But good times never last, the Chinese civil war burn Golden Gate of my small island, by Kuningtou War, The 93 artillery, The 823 artillery. During that gray teenage time was nothing but hardship. First-year junior high school I fled again and boarded a Navy ship to Taiwan, indeed baffling to thousands of miles away, far from Taiwan. Harm the poor homesick students, lose, and children from poor families, have a meal without a meal, I slept in train stations, wharfs, parks......etc. I was a drifter that drifted everywhere. I managed to attend Yuanling Senior High school with tremendous help from my Father in law Geon Chin Shui and his family. I appreciate full-hearted for their kindness of taken care of me. It was a true bless. Then I was enlisted in the military after graduate from High school. There I served four year and retired and earned myself a rank of Lieutenant Engineering Officer. At the age of 26 I called upon by God to preach. I got married and took my whole family to The Baptist Theology Seminary where I studied for two years. After that I returned to Kinmen and served three years as a pastor in Small Kinmen Island. Then I went back to The Baptist Theology Seminary for three more years to my graduation. My first assignment was to preach at the Presbyterian Church in Wuku. I was preaching and attending Taiwan Theology Seminary at the same time. I graduated in 1980 finished my disciplinary requirement. I was assigned to Taimali Presbyterian Church. Six years later I was transferred to Linko Presbyterian Church where I servers 22 years till my retirement.
Pastor Zhong-Shi Shao is currently serving as God's servant living in Taiwan.
