Maybe it was the beginnings of his Alzheimers. Maybe it was clarity that I would like to dismiss as such, but the startling memory has stayed with me--my father declaring his bewilderment at Old Testament killing and violence ascribed to the God he loved and trusted. He was at his usual devotional spot, marked by the flattened and oil-stained cushion of the sofa where he sat and read and buried his head in prayer.It was a surreal experience for a teenage son, used to his father's absolute comfort with his own authority. Fortunately, I had read the declarations of Ezekiel 14:12-24 and was able to share my conclusions with one of the most brilliant people I have ever known.
In recent years, as I have encountered more and more atheists, both in print and in personal connection, my father's question has echoed and re-echoed in their rejection of the God of the Bible. My continued faith in this God is seen as evidence that I am not truly looking at the evidence, that I am not really acknowledging the monster that is portrayed in the pages of the book I have taken as my guide.
The pointman for the great advent awakening of the early 19th century, William Miller, was challenged by his fellow deists when he abandoned their shared belief and accepted the God of the Bible. They had shared many laughs at the contradictions they found in the pages of that old book. With the honesty they had come to expect of this New England farmer/scholar, he set out to study the book with an eye to finding out if there were any true contradictions that could not be resolved--verse by verse, no faster than he could thoroughly process.
Taking William Miller as my example, I hereby begin a journey. I don't know how frequently I will post, and I make no promises, but I am setting out, story by story, command by command, to address my father's question in detail. I will focus on the stories and commands that seem so inconsistent with a God who declares Himself to be love--executions, judgments, and genocidal directives. I will see if there is any way to legitimately understand them to be rooted in the heart of love that He says He has.
I freely confess that, if I reach the "wrong" conclusion, it will cost me dearly. I freely confess that I come to this task with a great deal of bias in favor of One whom I count as my dearest friend.
Evaluate every position I take, every turn of reasoning, and see for yourself whether I have discovered truth or created it.
I'd like to journey with you on this.
ReplyDeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteAs one who has serious issues with how a loving God can seem so vicious to His children, I also will be following this. Thanks, Bob.
ReplyDeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDelete..."When you see their conduct and their actions, you will be consoled regarding the disaster I have brought upon Jerusalem—every disaster I have brought upon it. 23 You will be consoled when you see their conduct and their actions, for you will know that I have done nothing in it without cause, declares the Sovereign LORD."
ReplyDeleteIf what God says is true above, the truth will be revealed in yours and others minds. I do trust that the eye-salve that God has promised to recovering Laodiceans will be a necessary ointment for the journey.
Jesus saved Me 38 years ago last week Robert .
ReplyDeleteAFTER men did violence unto death to Me !
LITERALLY.... combat .
56 years ago next week exactly I was
born the first time : - )
In 38 years of studying the 66 books
of the bible Jesus is to be found in each
book ! God the same yesterday ,today ,
and forever !
" Contradictions " so called are
NOT in the bible ! Rather they are in the
minds of those in contradiction to the way ,
the truth , and the life of God !
Who themselves believe themselves
NOW as EVER to be gods !
Angry , vile , violent gods .
Like their spiritual father .
Identified by Jesus as the
father of murderers , liars ,
and thieves .
Jerusalem the city of peace
has been destroyed dozens of times
over the ages . Since the fall
of all sin and violence have
covered the Earth : - (
Jesus was totrured and crucified
by sinners VIOLENTLY . Yet He lives !
If God is angry it is at sin .
At what it does to people .
Holy by the way means
healthy !
The abominations
of the devil are evil as in unhealthy !
ALWAYS have been .
Who is the source of deception , temptation , disobedience , sin , then DEATH .
God has a reason to be angry !
So do We,
RV
a full gospel bible minister
I've found that to make genuine headway on instinctual level emotional beliefs such as those held by people regarding the nature of God one must be prepared to accept whatever conclusions are born of thoughtful and reasoned consideration and reject those that are not. Otherwise you're just deepening a circular mental rut of an already held belief making it increasingly difficult to escape.
ReplyDeleteWidely held religious beliefs do not stand alone in this regard. Albert Einstein got caught in this trap because he so strongly believed that “God does not play dice”. Turns out God does play dice and the seemingly impossible world of Quantum Mechanics now rules the day. Einstein was wrong because he just couldn't abandon a cherished belief even in the face of the evidence.
The cycle of continuing to believe something because someone told you to believe it, or because it makes you feel good, or because you're afraid of not believing it, has a powerful psychological effect of reinforcing the acceptance of otherwise unbelievable stories and causes the rejection of reality.
Best of luck on this journey of exploration. Remember, the monsters under the bed aren't real and can't hurt you, but your thoughts are real and so are the actions they precipitate. Start by leaning on your own understanding of the issues and avoid the false security born of circular believing.
Robert: What a tremendous rant! I predict that Bob's project won't leave you believing in a God who is "the same yesterday, today and forever." The portrait of God definitely changed over the course of history, as revealed in the 66 (or threabouts) books, and continues to change in the way modern man interprets those books.
ReplyDeleteThus Mark draws an object lesson from quantum mechanics, while something as simple as heliocentricism got Galileo sent to hell in the public's eye.
PS: Contradictions are also plainly evident in any version of the Bible. The deconfliction is in the minds of people who refuse to allow a changing message. If I'm wrong, please tell me where I can purchase an inerrant Bible. Or, point me to the purest version. I probably have a copy, and we can go from there.
ReplyDeleteBob, this is great. And, the discussion it has already generated is very encouraging. The flow of thoughts and exchange of ideas can only be positive.
ReplyDelete