Comments on: A Simple, Straightforward Guide to the Justice of God

By: Demian Farnworth

Demian Farnworth — Sun, 05 Apr 2009 01:36:43 +0000

Eshu, I’m curious: What does Luke 14:26 and Matthew 10:34 say to you?

By: Eshu

Eshu — Sat, 04 Apr 2009 08:00:04 +0000

Demian,

“This can be cured with a good book or two on hermeneutics. That is if you’re serious. ”

Aww, more classes? C’mon sir, I’ve read heaps of theology! Then again, if the alternative is hours of study, maybe I should reconsider my recalcitrant atheist ways after all!

Seriously, though. I presume you’ve been serious enough to conduct a ~~hermeneutical exegesis~~ scriptural interpretation of the Kitáb-i-Aqdas, the Vedas and the Qur’an? You didn’t just dismiss them out of hand?

More importantly, what kind of book is so poorly written that, if you don’t spend hours consulting other books to interpret it properly, you could come away with the impression that killing people who hold a different religion is acceptable, necessary even? Isn’t that a slightly irresponsible way to write a book?

Is the Bible only safe in the hands of experienced theologians? I’m not making it up, this stuff is really in the Bible and not just the OT, in the NT Jesus says,
Luke 14:26 “If any man come to me, and hate not his father, and mother, and wife, and children, and brethren, and sisters, yea, and his own life also, he cannot be my disciple.”
Matt. 10:34 “Think not that I am come to send peace on earth: I came not to send peace, but a sword.”

By: al

al — Fri, 03 Apr 2009 17:36:20 +0000

Careful to not oversimplify, Demian. Jesus’ family didn’t reject Him because He covertly feared them, but because He overtly lived entirely for God in their presence. They must have felt shamed (and probably confused) by His holy and utterly just and righteous behavior.
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Don and you and I fear our neighbors, acuaintances, and family members for very different reasons: We know we are sinners, and we fear that they view any overt testimony to Christ on our part as being hypocritical. We are afraid they see through us, and that makes us feel ashamed.
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The question is: Are we hypocrites?
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Key to our answer is the realization that hypocrisy is not merely toward others, but simultaneously toward God and self as well. I can only promise to be as honest with you as I am with myself in God’s presence. If I can deceive myself into justifying my thoughts, behavior and words, I will act out those deceptions before God’s face toward you and anyone else.
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True Christianity is discipleship to Jesus Christ, and not a scripted performance. As long as we try to behave as we think we are “supposed to,” our testimony is a sham. I can’t write an article on this here, but consistent, effective, fervent prayer about applying the Scriptures to our daily living for Christ’s glory and for others’ sakes is the springboard. And remember, Jesus defines our neighbors not as those who live nearby or treat us nicely, but as those toward whom WE behave neighborly, after the Samaritan’s example!

By: Demian Farnworth

Demian Farnworth — Fri, 03 Apr 2009 15:43:39 +0000

Don: You’re not alone. I’m afraid of my neighbors , too. Each year I vow to nurture and get close to them. Each year I hardly know them again. Same with my family. Keep this in mind: Jesus’ own family rejected him. We’re in good company.

By: Don

Don — Fri, 03 Apr 2009 11:09:52 +0000

If I really look at it, I am not being just. The truth is, I have supported World Vision and the International Justice Mission. I have given clothes and food to the needy. I have shared the Gospel in Mexico City. I did these things out of love for God. I do things out of love for God.
However.
I often ignore and neglect my neighbor. Not my international neighbor, not the neighbors I will never see again, but the ones who live right next door to me. The Jehovah Witness and his wife, or the gossipy old lady and her husband. I ignore them. I am the pastor of a church and I have never invited them.
In this case, I am not loving my neighbor.
I am afraid of them.

By: al

al — Thu, 02 Apr 2009 22:43:35 +0000

Thanks Rudy. The reason I love the chart is because it’s true, regardless of what unregenerate minds seek to make of it. Hannah’s prayer includes, “The LORD kills and makes alive” (1Sam.2:6), reflecting Dt.32:39’s “See now that I, I am He, and there is no God besides Me; it is I who put to death and give life…”
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Satan is but a tool in the hand of Him who works all things after the counsel of His own will. Who that knows God would deny that He kills, and does so with intricate discrimination? Didn’t Jesus warn us of the same (Mt.10:28, Lk.12:5)?
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The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom and of knowledge.

By: Rudy

Rudy — Thu, 02 Apr 2009 21:44:06 +0000

@Demian: I’m on Christ’s side. Of course!
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@al: The chart is just another Christian-haters’ way of taking the bible out of context. I always find arguments about the Bible revolves around the old Testament, where it’s all fire & brimstone. Conveniently ignoring the New Testament where Jesus came to this earth to save our lives because of God’s love.

By: al

al — Thu, 02 Apr 2009 21:23:40 +0000

Rudy, thanks for sharing that chart– I love it! What do you deduce from it? Tell me yours & I’ll tell you mine…

By: Demian Farnworth

Demian Farnworth — Thu, 02 Apr 2009 21:16:56 +0000

Rudy: Geesh, man…who’s side you own?

By: Demian Farnworth

Demian Farnworth — Thu, 02 Apr 2009 20:10:20 +0000

Eshu, you sly devil. You’re beginning to make me think you’re Bible only has one book in it: Deuteronomy.
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Anyway, who’s saying I’m taking 16 literal? I certainly wouldn’t take 13’s commandments literal either. The same way I’d say we don’t take the OT dietary laws literal. Or OT ceremonial laws literal. Or the NT custom of women wearing headdresses literal.
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You have to understand that when dealing with these texts you walk away with the applications, the principles. In 16, the principle of due process. In 13, protect and preserve yourself from apostasy.
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Eshu, you have this weakness for wanting to make literal interpretations of every page of the Bible. This can be cured with a good book or two on hermeneutics. That is if you’re serious.