The Conservative Christian Reader

7 - CHRISTIAN ETHICS AND CHARACTER – The Ten Commandments (Part 4)

7 - CHRISTIAN ETHICS AND CHARACTER – The Ten Commandments (Part 4)

Last time we looked at the second commandment.  Here, we’ll look at the third commandment.

7 "You shall not misuse the name of the Lord your God, for the Lord will not hold anyone guiltless who misuses his name.

The Christian ethic of the third commandment is that of honor.  And what carries more honor than one’s name.  The Hebrews knew Yahweh (“I AM”) as the only God and they revered His name.  The third commandment, therefore, would make great sense to them.  To misuse the name of God would be the ultimate insult to God and would bring the ultimate shame (and would be punishable) on the offender. 

The Hebrew word for name, ‎shem (pronounced, shame), denotes a definite and conspicuous position.  It is a person’s memorial.  It denotes honor, authority and character.

The prohibition in this commandment is more than false swearing, swearing – in the sense we might think of it today: profanity – and being irreverent.  It is also making a promise by the use of the name of God and then casting that aside without thought or pause.  Using the name of the Lord God is the ultimate appeal to all that is holy and true. 

It is simply not enough to avoid profanity.  To say the name of God is to worship God.  Therefore, how we say it, how we use it, reflects our attitude of worship of God. 

The Hebrew word for misuse or vain (KJV) is ‎lashaaw’ (pronounced, la shaw’).   It means to disrespect in the sense of “nothingness.”  It is the “cold shoulder” in a relationship.  To misuse the name of the Lord God, is to attribute to God that He is nothing to us and to all mankind.  It is the height of hypocrisy to profess our faith, and then to lashaaw’ God. The Septuagint has: “ou leepsee epi mataioo,” which means, “Thou shalt not take the name of Yahweh thy God upon a vain thing, a trifling, frivolous occasion.”

What happens when we attempt to reduce God to nothingness – when we disrespect Him in this manner, by the misuse of His name?  This verse says that God will not hold us guiltless.  Here, the Hebrew word for guiltless is ‎naqah (pronounced, naw-kaw').  It is used in the negative sense or as the flip side of “blameless.”  If we misuse the name of God, we are by no means blameless or guiltless before God.  To not be guiltless connotes that such guilt or blame is punished.  How?  I am not sure.  But I sure don’t want to stand before God to find out.

God refers to Himself as Yahweh – “I AM.”  If we misuse His name, we say, “No, you aren’t.”

Next, we’ll look at the fourth commandment.

Doug

6 - CHRISTIAN ETHICS AND CHARACTER – The Ten Commandments (Part 3)

6 - CHRISTIAN ETHICS AND CHARACTER – The Ten Commandments (Part 3)

Last time we looked at the first of the Ten Commandments.  Here, we’ll look at the second commandment.

2.     Ex 20:4- :  You shall not make for yourself an idol in the form of anything in heaven above or on the earth beneath or in the waters below. 5 You shall not bow down to them or worship them; for I, the Lord your God, am a jealous God, punishing the children for the sin of the fathers to the third and fourth generation of those who hate me, 6 but showing love to a thousand [generations] of those who love me and keep my commandments.

The Christian ethic of the second commandment is that we – you and I do not come first.  What we want, what we feel, what we desire and yes, even what we need – none of this comes before God.

The character of God is that He is holy.  Who are we to attempt to lay claim on what we want, feel, desire or need in the face of the holy God.  We can pray, of course, for these things, but we should be careful to present ourselves to God in an appropriate manner – humbly, subservient, undeserving, subject to others, subject to the Will of God and subject to the timing of God.

What is it that we make as an idol for ourselves?  What is it before which we bow down?  Is it power or position?  Is it our “rightful” place in the home, or at work or at church?  Is it money, debt, a nice way of life, a retirement, a home or stylish clothes?  Do we accept being last rather than first for the sake of the kingdom?

Where do our interests lie?  Comfort?  Knowledge (except for the knowledge of God)?  Work?  Play?  All of these can be idols “in the form of anything in heaven above or on the earth beneath or in the waters below.”  

What is the danger?  First, we disrespect and hate our holy God.  Second, we subject ourselves to punishment/chastisement.  Third, we subject our children, grandchildren and great grandchildren to punishment – meaning that our bad acts do not just hurt ourselves.  Our bad acts will set the tone for generations to come.  This is the height of arrogance and selfishness.

Pay attention.  This is part of God’s moral law.

Next, we’ll look at the third commandment.

Doug

5 - CHRISTIAN ETHICS AND CHARACTER – The Ten Commandments (Part 2)

5 - CHRISTIAN ETHICS AND CHARACTER – The Ten Commandments (Part 2)

Last time we began our look into the Ten Commandments.  We continue here.

1.      Ex 20:3:  “You shall have no other gods before me.”

It was prominent in early Old Testament history for inhabitants of the world to have many idols.  Indeed, as Moses led the Hebrew people out of Egypt and into the desert, he was called by God to come up onto Mount Sinai to meet with Him.  Moses had interceded before God due to the sin of the nation and now God wrote down His moral law.  When Moses came down the mountain, he witnessed the horrifying scene of the golden calf, constructed by the nation so they would have something to worship.   It is most interesting that the first commandment is “You shall have no other gods before me.”

I have often thought, “What is wrong with these people?”  Moses was only gone for a little over a month.  God had continually provided for the Hebrew people in miraculous ways.  In fact, He had delivered them out of captivity and slavery.  But this attitude is not so unusual.  You and I do this as well – maybe worse.

The first thing to know about God is that He IS God. 

Ex 6:7:  I will take you as my own people, and I will be your God. Then you will know that I am the Lord your God, who brought you out from under the yoke of the Egyptians. NIV

 

Ex 16:12:  I have heard the grumbling of the Israelites. Tell them, 'At twilight you will eat meat, and in the morning you will be filled with bread. Then you will know that I am the Lord your God.’ NIV

 

Ex 20:2:  I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of Egypt, out of the land of slavery. NIV

 

Lev 11:44:  I am the Lord your God; consecrate yourselves and be holy, because I am holy. NIV

 

Some 42 times, in the Old Testament, God says, “I am the Lord your God.”  The sheer repetition should mean something – and it does.  But what does it mean?   There are things that surround us in this life that take our time, hearts, thoughts and efforts away from God.  God says to the Hebrews, as He says to us, “Who do you think I am?  You say you know me.  You talk a good game.  You sing the songs in church and even clap your hands and waive your arms and contort your face to look pious and sincere, but your time, hearts, thoughts and efforts tell a different story.  I am the Lord your God!”

The Christian ethic of the first commandment is that we must act like we know who God is.

Doug

136 BIBLE “CONTRADICTIONS” … ANSWERED (Contradictions 36-40)

136 BIBLE “CONTRADICTIONS” … ANSWERED (Contradictions 36-40)

A Booklet by Brad McCoy, Th.M.

© Copyright 1985 Reprinted with author’s permission. May be distributed freely but not sold.

*****************************************************************************

Note:  I thought it would be interesting for a few posts, to consider some alleged Biblical contradictions.  I hear this all the time, but no one who makes the complaints will sit down with me and study them.  Brad McCoy was my Theology Professor in Seminary.  He is an outstanding theological scholar and teacher.  At my request, he provided me with a booklet he self-published in 1985.  The booklet can be reproduced, but not sold. - dh

** UPDATE ** Recently, I conversed with Dr. McCoy and he confirmed directly with me that I can post from his booklet.  In addition, he informed me that the book was recently updated to – “150 Bible Contradictions Answered!”  He sent me this self-published manuscript which, by the way, is excellent.  If you would like the new manuscript, let me know and I will pass it on to Dr. McCoy.  I see it cost him about $5.00 to send it to me, so you should be willing to make a contribution to Dr. McCoy's church to help defray the mailing cost and perhaps a bit more, maybe $20.00 or so.

*****************************************************************************  

(This booklet is a response to the pamphlet “136 Bible Contradictions” printed by Crusade Publications of Redmond, Washington.)

 

******************************************************************************

“Contradictions” 36-40

 

#36 Proverbs 4:5, 7 and James 1:5 which directly encourages believers to obtain wisdom is contrasted to the statements of 1 Corinthians 1:19-25 and 3:18-20 which warn that wisdom is of little or no real value.

 

Clearly two different kinds of wisdom are being discussed.  Proverbs 4:5, 7 and James 1:5 refer to godly wisdom or divine viewpoint.  In contrast, the Apostle Paul in the epistle of 1 Corinthians, is describing the wisdom of this world or human viewpoint.  The believer is to seek God’s perspective on life and to reject “worldly wisdom” based on ignorance or rejection of God.

 

#37 Contrasts Proverbs 12:2 which states that a good man will obtain favor from the Lord with 2 Timothy 3:12 and Hebrews 12:6 which indicate that godly men will be persecuted.

 

Proverbs 12:2 affirms that God Himself will bless a wise and righteous believer.  It primarily has in mind “spiritual blessings” such as wisdom, peace of mind, inner joy, and a good reputation.  In contrast, 2 Timothy 3:12 deals not with what God does for believers but with what the ungodly in the world tend to do to them.  It describes sinful men’s reaction to wise and righteous believers.  1 Peter 3:14 combines these two concepts, “even if you should suffer (from sinful men) for the sake of righteousness you are blessed”.  Blessing from God does not eliminate all worldly problems but allows the believer to live victoriously despite the reality of such difficulties (see 1 Peter 4:12-19).

 

#38 Contrasts Proverbs 12:22 which states that God hates lies with 1 Kings 22:23 in which the Lord “put” a deceiving spirit in the mouths of certain prophets.

 

There is a huge difference between direct and indirect causation.  In 1 Kings 22:23 God allowed (via indirect causation, the Hebrew verb used in this verse means “to permit, to allow”) a lying spirit to control the prophets of Ahab.  While God does allow moral creatures the freedom to sin (in this case allowing certain demonic spirits to empower and direct the activities of the false prophets) He is never responsible for sin.  He never coerces man to do evil.  He permits but He never promotes evil.

 

#39 Isaiah 44:24 which states that God alone created the universe is contrasted to John 1:1-3 which states that Jesus Christ is the Creator.

 

The Bible reveals that in the unity of the Godhead there exist three Co-Equal and Co-Eternal Persons-the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.  The Triune God eternally preexisted the present time-space universe, and created it without the help of any other agent.  The plurality of persons within the Godhead is indicated by the first person plural personal pronouns “us” and “our” in Genesis 1:26.  However the specific Person of the Godhead who actually was the active agent of creation is the Lord Jesus Christ (see also #72).

 

#40 Contrasts Jeremiah 3:12 in which God says He will not be angry forever with Jeremiah 17:4 which states that He will be angry forever.

 

This “contradiction” ignores the chronological progression of the book of Jeremiah.  In chronological context, Jeremiah 3:12 is a call for the nation of Judah to repent.  It was given during the reign of godly King Josiah (640 B.C.).  God states that He is willing to forgive the nation at that time if she would repent and return to Him.  Jeremiah 17:4 is a statement made many years later during the reign of ungodly King Jehoiakim (609 B.C.).  At that point God announces His final verdict upon the unrepentant nation which had refused His previous offers of forgiveness.

 

 

Doug

 

Douglas S. Holden, Douglas Holden, Doug Holden, Brad McCoy, Theology, Doctrine, Bible contradictions

 

 

136 BIBLE “CONTRADICTIONS” … ANSWERED (Contradictions 31-35)

136 BIBLE “CONTRADICTIONS” … ANSWERED (Contradictions 31-35)

A Booklet by Brad McCoy, Th.M.

© Copyright 1985 Reprinted with author’s permission. May be distributed freely but not sold.

*****************************************************************************

Note:  I thought it would be interesting for a few posts, to consider some alleged Biblical contradictions.  I hear this all the time, but no one who makes the complaints will sit down with me and study them.  Brad McCoy was my Theology Professor in Seminary.  He is an outstanding theological scholar and teacher.  At my request, he provided me with a booklet he self-published in 1985.  The booklet can be reproduced, but not sold. - dh

** UPDATE ** Recently, I conversed with Dr. McCoy and he confirmed directly with me that I can post from his booklet.  In addition, he informed me that the book was recently updated to – “150 Bible Contradictions Answered!”  He sent me this self-published manuscript which, by the way, is excellent.  If you would like the new manuscript, let me know and I will pass it on to Dr. McCoy.  I see it cost him about $5.00 to send it to me, so you should be willing to make a contribution to Dr. McCoy's church to help defray the mailing cost and perhaps a bit more, maybe $20.00 or so.

*****************************************************************************  

(This booklet is a response to the pamphlet “136 Bible Contradictions” printed by Crusade Publications of Redmond, Washington.)

 

******************************************************************************

“Contradictions” 31-35

 

#31 2 Samuel 24:1 “the anger of the LORD burned against Israel and it incited David against them to say, ‘Go and number Judah.’” Is contrasted to 1 Chronicles 21:1 “then Satan stood up against Israel and moved David to number Israel.”

 

These accounts are supplementary, describing two different aspects of the same event, God being the ultimate cause and Satan being the immediate, active cause moving David to take the census.  God allowed Satan to influence David.  David then did so willfully despite being warned against it (see 1 Chronicles 21:3).  The census per se was not inherently sinful, but David’s choice to rely more on large numbers of human resources rather than to trust in the LORD was sinful.

 

#32 1 Kings 8:12 which states that God dwells in “darkness” (KJV) is contrasted to 1 Timothy 6:16 which indicates that God dwells in unapproachable “light”.

 

This “contradiction” is based on a misleading rendering of the Hebrew text of 1 Kings 8:12.  It is more accurately translated “thick” describing a thick cloud (of glory) not a “dark” cloud.  The Hebrew adjective . . . used here means “heavy, thick, dense but bright, thick but luminous.

 

#33 2 Kings 16:5 which states that Ahaz was not conquered by the kings of Israel is contrasted to 2 Chronicles 28:5 and 6 which states that Ahaz was conquered by the kings.

 

2 Kings 16:5 states that the kings of Israel did not overcome (Hebrew:  “destroy/exterminate”) Ahaz.  2 Chronicles 28:5-6 states that the kings did defeat (that is score a military victory over) Ahaz.  In other words, while the kings did defeat Ahaz militarily, they did not kill him personally/or cause the nation to capitulate.  In a similar way one could say that the Japanese did defeat the United States at Pearl Harbor, but they did not (finally) defeat the United States (in the war as a whole).

 

#34 The quote of Psalm 22:1 “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” is contrasted to Psalm 46:1 which says that God is the believer’s refuge, strength, and source of help in times of struggle.

 

Psalm 22:1 is a predictive Messianic prophecy written by King David in approximately 1000 B.C.  It was fulfilled literally by the Lord Jesus Christ on the cross in 33 A.D. (Note that Psalm 22:16-18 accurately describe Christ’s crucifixion in detail centuries before crucifixion was even known in Palestine).  Psalm 22:1 is a rhetorical question in which the Messiah emotionally describes the spiritual separation between God the Father and Himself as He was making atonement for the sins of the world. . . Rather than a specific Messianic prophecy, Psalm 46:1 is a general promise of God’s providential support of believers as they encounter temporal problems in life.

 

#35 Contrasts Psalm 78:69 which states that God has founded the earth “forever” with 2 Peter 3:10 which indicates that God will destroy the earth sometime in the future.

 

The issue here revolves around the meaning of the Hebrew word . . . which is translated “forever” in Psalm 78:69.  Brown, Driver and Briggs in their authoritative Hebrew lexicon define this word to mean “(of) long duration, antiquity, futurity”.  It does not necessarily mean “forever” in the sense of “never ending”.  The Bible is quite clear that while the earth is much more permanent than individual men, it will not last forever (see Psalm 102:25-27).  Only God Himself is eternal.  The universe is His creation and is locked in the time and space continuum.  It will ultimately be destroyed, at which time God will usher in “The Eternal State” (2 Peter 3:10-13, Revelation 21:1-22:5).

 

 

Doug

 

Douglas S. Holden, Douglas Holden, Doug Holden, Brad McCoy, Theology, Doctrine, Bible contradictions

 

 

5 - CHRISTIAN ETHICS AND CHARACTER – The Ten Commandments (Part 2)

5 - CHRISTIAN ETHICS AND CHARACTER – The Ten Commandments (Part 2)

Last time we began our look into the Ten Commandments.  We continue here.

1.      Ex 20:3:  “You shall have no other gods before me.”

It was prominent in early Old Testament history for inhabitants of the world to have many idols.  Indeed, as Moses led the Hebrew people out of Egypt and into the desert, he was called by God to come up onto Mount Sinai to meet with Him.  Moses had interceded before God due to the sin of the nation and now God wrote down His moral law.  When Moses came down the mountain, he witnessed the horrifying scene of the golden calf, constructed by the nation so they would have something to worship.   It is most interesting that the first commandment is “You shall have no other gods before me.”

I have often thought, “What is wrong with these people?”  Moses was only gone for a little over a month.  God had continually provided for the Hebrew people in miraculous ways.  In fact, He had delivered them out of captivity and slavery.  But this attitude is not so unusual.  You and I do this as well – maybe worse.

The first thing to know about God is that He IS God. 

Ex 6:7:  I will take you as my own people, and I will be your God. Then you will know that I am the Lord your God, who brought you out from under the yoke of the Egyptians. NIV

 

Ex 16:12:  I have heard the grumbling of the Israelites. Tell them, 'At twilight you will eat meat, and in the morning you will be filled with bread. Then you will know that I am the Lord your God.’ NIV

 

Ex 20:2:  I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of Egypt, out of the land of slavery. NIV

 

Lev 11:44:  I am the Lord your God; consecrate yourselves and be holy, because I am holy. NIV

Some 42 times, in the Old Testament, God says, “I am the Lord your God.”  The sheer repetition should mean something – and it does.  But what does it mean?   There are things that surround us in this life that take our time, hearts, thoughts and efforts away from God.  God says to the Hebrews, as He says to us, “Who do you think I am?  You say you know me.  You talk a good game.  You sing the songs in church and even clap your hands and waive your arms and contort your face to look pious and sincere, but your time, hearts, thoughts and efforts tell a different story.  I am the Lord your God!”

The Christian ethic of the first commandment is that we must act like we know who God is.

Doug

4 - CHRISTIAN ETHICS AND CHARACTER – The Ten Commandments

4 - CHRISTIAN ETHICS AND CHARACTER – The Ten Commandments

Last time we continued our introduction to Christian Ethics and Character.  This time, we will look at the Ten Commandments.

The Hebrew Ethic began in the Garden of Eden.  We’ll talk about various civil laws, ceremonial laws, prophetic utterances, wisdom literature and more later, but it is important here to look at the Ten Commandments.

Most people view the Ten Commandments as a set of rules that stand for the prospect of God that we must toe the line or look out for lightning bolts.  However, I am convinced that the best position is to view the Ten Commandments as an “up close and personal” view of the character and heart of God.  No one can deny that God tells us there are things we should do and should not do, but the real question is not our quest for personal liberty, but rather, the answer to the question of why we should live and act in a certain manner.

Most of us cannot identify – not to mention recite from memory – more than a few of the Ten Commandments, so I thought I would reproduce them here:

 Ex 20:3-17

3 "You shall have no other gods before me.

4 "You shall not make for yourself an idol in the form of anything in heaven above or on the earth beneath or in the waters below. 5 You shall not bow down to them or worship them; for I, the Lord your God, am a jealous God, punishing the children for the sin of the fathers to the third and fourth generation of those who hate me, 6 but showing love to a thousand [generations] of those who love me and keep my commandments.

7 "You shall not misuse the name of the Lord your God, for the Lord will not hold anyone guiltless who misuses his name.

8 "Remember the Sabbath day by keeping it holy. 9 Six days you shall labor and do all your work, 10 but the seventh day is a Sabbath to the Lord your God. On it you shall not do any work, neither you, nor your son or daughter, nor your manservant or maidservant, nor your animals, nor the alien within your gates. 11 For in six days the Lord made the heavens and the earth, the sea, and all that is in them, but he rested on the seventh day. Therefore the Lord blessed the Sabbath day and made it holy.

12 "Honor your father and your mother, so that you may live long in the land the Lord your God is giving you.

13 "You shall not murder.

14 "You shall not commit adultery.

15 "You shall not steal.

16 "You shall not give false testimony against your neighbor.

17 "You shall not covet your neighbor's house. You shall not covet your neighbor's wife, or his manservant or maidservant, his ox or donkey, or anything that belongs to your neighbor." NIV

Next, we’ll look at these one by one.

Doug

136 BIBLE “CONTRADICTIONS” … ANSWERED (Contradictions 26-30)

136 BIBLE “CONTRADICTIONS” … ANSWERED (Contradictions 26-30)

A Booklet by Brad McCoy, Th.M.

© Copyright 1985 Reprinted with author’s permission. May be distributed freely but not sold.

*****************************************************************************

Note:  I thought it would be interesting for a few posts, to consider some alleged Biblical contradictions.  I hear this all the time, but no one who makes the complaints will sit down with me and study them.  Brad McCoy was my Theology Professor in Seminary.  He is an outstanding theological scholar and teacher.  At my request, he provided me with a booklet he self-published in 1985.  The booklet can be reproduced, but not sold. - dh

** UPDATE ** Recently, I conversed with Dr. McCoy and he confirmed directly with me that I can post from his booklet.  In addition, he informed me that the book was recently updated to – “150 Bible Contradictions Answered!”  He sent me this self-published manuscript which, by the way, is excellent.  If you would like the new manuscript, let me know and I will pass it on to Dr. McCoy.  I see it cost him about $5.00 to send it to me, so you should be willing to make a contribution to Dr. McCoy's church to help defray the mailing cost and perhaps a bit more, maybe $20.00 or so.

*****************************************************************************  

(This booklet is a response to the pamphlet “136 Bible Contradictions” printed by Crusade Publications of Redmond, Washington.)

 

******************************************************************************

“Contradictions” 26-30

 

#26 Compares Deuteronomy 6:5 and Matthew 22:37 which commands love for God with 1 John 4:18 which states that there is no fear in love and contrasts these ideas with Deuteronomy 6:13/1 Peter 2:17 which commands a fear for God.

 

1 John 4:18 has in view a Christian’s love for God specifically a love that motivates a God honoring lifestyle which eliminates any fear of God’s displeasure when He evaluates the believer’s Christian life.  The command to “fear” God found many times in the Bible is an injunction for a believer to maintain a reverential respect/awe for God (as opposed to an abject fright, see Romans 8:1).  Such respect is consistent with and inseparable from a proper love for God as commanded in Deuteronomy 6:5 and Matthew 22:37.

 

#27 Deuteronomy 30:11 which states that God’s commandments are “not too difficult for you” is contrasted to Romans 3:20-23 which indicate that no one can perfectly keep the Law of God.

 

Deuteronomy 30:11 focuses on certain specific commands in the immediate context.  It is affirming that those commands were not so complicated so as to be beyond the basic comprehension and obedience of the people.  Romans 3:20-23 is written to a completely different context.  It is written from the absolute perspective stating that no human being can perfectly keep all of the Law of God.

 

#28 Judges 1:19 which states that God was with Judah but He (sic) could not drive out the inhabitants of the land because they had iron chariots is contrasted with Genesis 17:1 and 35:11 which state that God is Almighty/Omnipotent.

 

Judges 1:19 does not say that God could not drive out the inhabitants of the land, but that Judah could not drive them out (see the NASB and the NIV).  Just because God chooses not to do a specific act through and/or in His people does not mean that He is unable to do so.

 

#29 Judges 14:19 which indicates that the Spirit of the LORD caused (sic) Samson to murder thirty Philistines is contrasted to Galatians 5:22-23 which states that the fruit of the Spirit is love, peace, patience, etc.

 

Judges 14:19 does not state that the Spirit of the LORD caused Samson to kill the Philistines.  It simply indicates that prior to the act, the Spirit of the LORD came upon Samson.  This explains how one man could overcome thirty men all by himself.  It does not however indicate that the Spirit of the LORD led or compelled him to do so.  It is always possible for people to misuse abilities/powers that are given to them by God.  Galatians 5:22-23 describes some fo the major character traits that the Holy Spirit can produce in the believer who yields himself in obedience to His control/leading.

 

#30 1 Samuel 31:4-6 which states that Saul died by falling on his sword is contrasted to:  (1) 2 Samuel 1:8-19 where an Amalekite reports to David that he killed Saul, (2) 2 Samuel 21:12 which indicates that Saul was slain by the Philistines, (3) 1 Chronicles 10:14 which states that Saul was slain by the LORD.

 

1 Samuel 31:4-6 gives the specific historical details of the wounded Saul fleeing from the Philistine army and committing suicide so as to avoid being taken prisoner.  2 Samuel 1:8-19 accurately records a lie told by the Amalekite who was hoping to gain favor with King David.  2 Samuel 21:12 is an example of the figure of speech metonymy – cause put for effect; i.e. the advancing Philistine army being the ultimate cause for Saul’s suicide.  They had wounded him, were about to capture him, and in response to them he committed suicide.  1 Chronicles 10:14 indicates that Saul’s death ultimately was according to God’s providential will (see 1 Samuel 28:16-19).

 

Doug

 

Douglas S. Holden, Douglas Holden, Doug Holden, Brad McCoy, Theology, Doctrine, Bible contradictions

 

 

3 - CHRISTIAN ETHICS AND CHARACTER – Introduction (Part 3)

3 - CHRISTIAN ETHICS AND CHARACTER – Introduction (Part 3)

Last time we continued our introduction to Christian Ethics and Character.  Here, we will continue with that introduction.

There is an ethic of science – the physical and natural sciences.  There are ethics of all professions.  There are “Pastoral” ethics.  We could go on and on.  But here we are concerned with Christian or Biblical ethics

Let’s start with the ethics stemming from the Old Testament, sometimes called “Hebrew” ethics.  In the Old Testament, the Hebrew nation received much of the Word of God directly through Divine commands, passed directly from God through Prophets and other leaders.  We can also term these Divine commands as God’s Moral Law.  Of course, God’s moral law began in the Garden of Eden where God indicated that mankind must obey Him.  The lesson of obedience is that God is in charge.  This law is most important to us even today.  The fall of Adam and Eve came from disobedience and the failure to live under God’s Will, plan and direction.  Thus, sin entered the world.  The evil of disobedience – the failure to live according to the law that to live otherwise is to elevate something or someone over God – “Thou shalt have no other gods before me.”  So, the supreme source of moral law comes from and IS God.  It is evil to act and live otherwise.  We don’t always recognize the way we live as evil, reserving that for mass murderers and the like.  But God sees it differently.  Living contrary to God’s Moral Law is hostile to God.

Next we will look at the Decalogue – The Ten Commandments.

Doug

2 - CHRISTIAN ETHICS AND CHARACTER – Introduction (Part 2)

2 - CHRISTIAN ETHICS AND CHARACTER – Introduction (Part 2)

Last time we looked at an introduction to Christian Ethics and Character.  This time, we will continue with that introduction.

I have read a lot of material in this area – books, websites, articles – and most have good, relevant information.  On the other hand many tend to be topical without first addressing what I believe to be of first importance.  That is, what is the meaning of Christian ethics?

Dr. Grudem states as follows:

Although there is inevitably some overlap between the study of theology and the study of ethics, I have tried to maintain a distinction in emphasis.  The emphasis of systematic theology is on what God wants us to believe and to know while the emphasis in Christian ethics is on what God wants us to do and what attitudes he wants us to have. Such a distinction is reflected in the following definition: Christian ethics is any study that answers the question, "What does God require us to do and what attitudes does he require us to have today?" with regard to any given situation.  Thus theology focuses on ideas while ethics focuses on situations in life.  Theology tells us how we should think while ethics tells us how we should live.  A textbook on ethics, for example, would discuss topics such as marriage and divorce, lying and telling the truth, stealing and ownership of property, abortion, birth control, homosexuality, the role of civil government, discipline of children, capital punishment, war, care for the poor, racial discrimination, and so forth.  Of course there is some overlap: theology must be applied to life (therefore it is often ethical to some degree).  And ethics must be based on proper ideas of God and his world (therefore, it is theological to some degree).

. . . But if God is himself good and therefore the ultimate standard of good, then we have a definition of the meaning of "good" that will greatly help us in the study of ethics and aesthetics.  What is "good"? "Good" is what God approves.  We may then ask, “Why is what God approves good?”  We must answer, "Because he approves it."  That is to say, there is no higher standard of goodness than God's own character and his approval of whatever is consistent with that character.  Nonetheless, God has given us some reflection of his own sense of goodness, so that when we evaluate things in the way God created us to evaluate them, we will also approve what God approves and delight in things in which he delights.  (From Systematic Theology, Copyright © 1994 by Wayne Grudem.  All rights reserved.)

Grudem defines Christian ethics as “Any study that answers the question, ‘What does God require us to do and what attitudes does he require us to have today?’ with regard to any given situation.”  (1A.4 - from Systematic Theology, Copyright © 1994 by Wayne Grudem. All rights reserved.)

I have great respect for Dr. Grudem and I think this is the best place to start.

Next we’ll look at other ways to study this topic.

Doug