Category: E1 – Individual

by John Holbrook Jr.
A Biblical View, D129 posted November 17, 2021

On September 2, 2020, I posted a blog entitled “Predestination vs. Free Will,” which addressed the apparent contradiction between predestination and free will. I discussed two of the reasons why many Christians reject the idea that God has preordained who will repent of their sins and accept Jesus as their Lord and Savior.[1] Someone, whose opinion I value highly, suggested that (a) the point I was trying to make there is insufficiently clear and (b) I should provide a further explanation of how I resolve the apparent conflict between the two ideas. Thus, I am returning to the subject here.

The apparent contradiction between predestination and free will has been an unfortunate source of conflict among Christians for years. Augustine of Hippo (354-430 AD), one of the most famous theologians in the history of Christianity, articulated a way to live with the tension between the two ideas, and Luis de Molina (1535-1600 AD), a Spanish Jesuit priest and scholastic, codified Augustine’s idea into a theological doctrine that is referred to under a few names, such as Molinism and Middle Knowledge. Since then, the idea of occupying a middle ground between predestination and free will has satisfied many Christians, some of them quiet prominent, but it does not satisfy me. Moreover, I see a way to resolve the apparent conflict between predestination and free will that does not compromise either idea.

The resolution of the issue relies on differentiating between the locations of (a) the Creator, who exists in a metaphysical realm, and (b) the creature, who exists in a physical realm.

Consider the difference in viewpoints between (a) the author of a drama and (b) a character in one of his dramas. The author, who lives in the real world, has determined what the character will think, say, and do in his script, but the character, who lives in an imaginary world, thinks that he freely chooses what to think, say, or do. That the actor, who also lives in the real world, knows that the character whom he is portraying is completely determined by the drama’s script does not affect the foregoing distinction. Indeed, his job can be described in terms of it. He must do his best to persuade the members of the audience to ignore the fact that what they are watching is imaginary and react emotionally and mentally to what they are watching as if it is real. Indeed, an actor is usually judged by the degree to which he succeeds in getting them to do just that.

Here we get to the crux of most paradoxes, of which the apparent contradiction between predestination and free will can be regard as one. For example, in one of Zeno’s paradoxes, Achilles and a tortoise engage in a race, but the swift Achilles cannot catch the slow tortoise. Why? Well, Zeno creates the paradox by setting the race in an imaginary world of three spatial dimensions, from which the temporal dimension is missing. Thus, the running of Achilles must be described in purely spatial terms. He runs half way to the tortoise. Then he runs half way to the tortoise again. Then he keeps doing the same ad infinitum, but of course he never catches the tortoise. Many readers are perplexed because they conflate (a) Zeno’s imaginary world and (b) the real world in which they live, which are totally different.

The same thing happens in the predestination vs. free-will controversy. The Bible indicates that reality consists of two very different realms: (a) a metaphysical realm where God dwells and (b) a physical realm where humans live. The latter was created and is managed by God in accordance with his design and script. Now, the Bible indicates that God has predetermined everything which happens in his creation, but we believe that we are freely choosing what to think, say or do, and we will even be held responsible for our thoughts, words, and deeds by a perfectly just God when we stand before him on the Day of Judgment. People are only perplexed by this arrangement when they conflate the metaphysical and physical realms, which are totally different.

I recognize that some people may not be satisfied with the above argument, but I am. The distinction between the two realms is accurate. God lives in a supernatural realm, we live in a natural realm, and the two realms are totally different. Also, God created and is managing Universe from outside Universe. He is not subject to the constraints of the physical, space-time continuum, whereas we humans are. Nonetheless, within these constraints, we are free to think, say, and do what we choose, and we will be held accountable for the decisions that we make.

© 2021 John Holbrook Jr.
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[1] There are a number of verses that refer to the Book of Life in which God the Father wrote the names of the redeemed before the foundations of the world were laid – i.e. before Creation Week. For example, see Revelation 13:8.

by John Holbrook Jr.
A Biblical View, Blog #067 posted November 19, 2018, edited March 10, 2021.

Who is responsible for a person’s salvation, God, who exercises his sovereignty over his creation and its creatures, or the individual, who exercises his or her free will by accepting what God offers to all men? Consider the following verses of Scripture:

1 – Jesus said to His disciples, “But whom say ye that I am? And Simon Peter answered and said, Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God. And Jesus answered and said unto him, Blessed art thou, Simon Barjona: for flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but my Father which is in heaven” (KJV Matthew 16:15-17).

2 – Jesus also said to His disciples, “For I came down from heaven, not to do mine own will, but the will of him that sent me. 39 And this is the Father’s will which hath sent me, that of all which he hath given me I should lose nothing, but should raise it up again at the last day. 40 And this is the will of him that sent me, that every one which seeth the Son, and believeth on him, may have everlasting life: and I will raise him up at the last day” (KJV John 6:38-40).

3 – Jesus also said to his disciples, “No man can come to me, except the Father which hath sent me draw him: and I will raise him up at the last day” (KJV John 6:44).

4 – Paul wrote, “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ: according as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love: Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will” (KJV Ephesians 1:3-5).

5 – Paul also wrote, “That in the dispensation of the fulness of times he might gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven, and which are on earth; even in him: In whom also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestinated according to the purpose of him who worketh all things after the counsel of his own will: That we should be to the praise of his glory, who first trusted in Christ. In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise, Which is the earnest of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, unto the praise of his glory” (KJV Ephesians 1:10-14).

6 – Paul also wrote, “For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them” (KJV Ephesians 2:8-10}

7 – Paul also wrote, “But we are bound to give thanks always to God for you, brethren beloved of the Lord, because God hath from the beginning chosen you to salvation through sanctification of the Spirit and belief of the truth: Whereunto he called you by our gospel, to the obtaining of the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ” (KJV2 Thessalonians 2:13-14).

8 – Paul also wrote, “Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost” (KJV Titus 3:5).

The common denominator among the eight passages above is the testimony that the triune God is the prime actor in a person’s salvation. God-the-Father wrote the person’s name in the Book of Life before the foundations of the world were laid. The triune God created the person. God-the-Son died on a cross to atone for the person’s sins. God-the-Father drew the person to his Son. God-the-Holy Spirit cleansed and regenerated the person and then set God’s seal on the person. Although the person will die, God-the-Son will resurrect the person on the Last Day.

After a person is saved, God is also the prime actor in that person’s sanctification. God-the-Holy Spirit enables the person increasingly to resist temptation, turn away from sinning, and move nearer to God.

Creation is a Drama

One of the reasons why so many Christians claim that they responded to the Gospel of Christ by their own free will is that they don’t understand the nature of Creation.

Creation is a drama whose author is God-the-Father, whose producer and stage-manager is God-the-Son, and whose director is God-the-Holy Spirit. Every being who appears in this drama has a part to play – that is, his or her every thought, word, and deed has been scripted.

► Jesus of Nazareth is the protagonist of the drama, and He follows the Father’s script exactly. See John 8:28-29.

► Satan is the antagonist of the drama, and he follows the Father’s script exactly. See Job 1:6-12 and 2:1-6. Note that (a) Satan must appear in God’s throne room, (b) God requires Satan to give an account of what he has been doing, (c) God draws Satan’s attention to Job, and (d) God tells Satan exactly what he can and cannot do to Job.

► Every man, woman, or child in history has a bit part to play in the drama; if both the protagonist and the antagonist of the drama are controlled by God-the-Father’s script, isn’t it reasonable to assume that the lives of the bit players are as well?

Now, imagine a drama in which every member of the cast is free to say and do whatever he or she chooses to say and do. The result would not be a drama. It would be chaos. Consider Othello, The Moor of Venice. Imagine the thought and effort which Shakespeare put into crafting the plot, the action and the lines for Othello, Desdemona, Iago, Cassio, Brabantio, Roderigo, Emilia, and Bianca. They create the drama. If the actors abandoned the script, there would be no drama. Consider what would have happened if Othello had decided to give Desdemona a dozen roses instead of a handkerchief. Or if Desdemona had tried to wipe Othello’s face with her sleeve instead of her handkerchief. Or if Othello had put the handkerchief in his pocket, instead of dropping it on the floor. Or if Emelia had decided not to pick up the handkerchief. Or if Emelia had decided to keep the handkerchief for herself instead of giving it to Iago. Or if Iago had put something else in Cassio’s room instead of the handkerchief. Or if Cassio had failed to notice the handkerchief in his room. Or if Bianca had showed no interest in the handkerchief that Cassio was carrying. Etc. The play would fall apart.

God’s Sovereignty

Another reason why so many Christians claim that they responded to the Gospel of Christ by their own free will is that they don’t grasp the infinite extent of God’s intellect, power, imagination, inventiveness, etc.

► The Scriptures indicate that God designed, created, and manages Universe, which is the theater in which the drama unfolds, and the earth, which is the stage on which the drama occurs. He controls the movement of every atomic particle, every atom, every molecule, every drop of water, every grain of sand, every celestial body, every galaxy, etc. He ordains every sunrise and every sunset, every cloudless day and every thunderstorm, every meteor shower and every volcanic eruption.

► The Scriptures also indicate that God designed, created, and manages the earth’s creatures. He controls every minnow or whale, every ant or elephant, every butterfly or eagle, and every man, woman, or child. He determines when, where, and why a sparrow falls. He numbers the hairs on each person’s body. He selects the members of each family, church, and nation. He ordains when a nation can live in peace and when it will be engaged in war. Absolutely nothing lies outside his purview and control – particularly something so important as the makeup of the bride whom he is preparing for his Son.

The Bride of Christ

Why is the makeup of the Bride of Christ so important? She is important because she is at the center of Creation’s story – the girl for whose allegiance the protagonist and the antagonist are contending.

Consider the plot of the story: God-the-Father is preparing a bride for his Son despite the opposition of Satan and his minions. Just as God put Adam to sleep, took flesh and bone from his side, formed Eve, and then presented Eve to Adam to be his bride on Day 6 of Creation Week, so God put Jesus to sleep on the cross, took blood and water from His side,[1] is currently forming the “Bride of Christ,” and will present her to his Son[2] to be His wife at the Wedding of the Lamb.

Note that the Bible starts with a wedding between the First Adam and his bride[3] and ends with a wedding between the Second Adam and His bride.[4] These weddings are like bookends to the drama. Moreover, note that, just as Satan tried to spoil the marriage of the First Adam, which he was able to do, so now he is trying to spoil the marriage of the Second Adam, which, according to the Scriptures, he will not be able to do. Nevertheless, the tension of the drama for God’s people in the audience derives from the fact that Satan seems to be succeeding in his efforts and only faith in the trustworthiness of the Word of God will sustain her through the trials which Satan has in store for her.

Do you think that God would leave the composition of his Son’s bride to be determined by the whim of bit players in the drama? Would he allow them to decide for themselves whether or not they will accept or reject God’s offer of salvation through faith in Jesus as their Lord and Savior. No. God-the-Son will have to live with His bride for all eternity. She must be perfect. God-the-Father designed her before Universe was created. Now she is being formed, educated, and trained to be a help-mete for her future spouse, to whom she is betrothed. When God-the-Father presents her to his Son, she will be complete[5] and perfect. There will be no surprises.

© 2018 John Holbrook Jr.
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[1] God’s tool was a Roman soldier’s lance.

[2] The Lamb of God. (John 1:36).

[3] See Genesis 2:18-25.

[4] See Revelation 19:6 and following.

[5] One of the most misunderstood verses in the Bible is 2 Peter 3:9: “The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some men count slackness, but is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance” (KJ21). Some Christians assume that Peter is referring to all people. He is not. He is referring to the people whose names God the Father wrote in the Book of Life before the foundations of the world were laid. Some believers in Peter’s time had become impatient and had begun to wonder when the Lord would return, as He had promised. Peter is admonishing them to be patient, explaining that many people whose names are written in the Book of Life have not yet come into the Kingdom, for they are yet to be born. Indeed, the Gospel has yet to be preached in all nations, so that, when they are born, they can hear it and respond to it. The Lord will not come until His Bride is complete and therefore perfect. If He did come before then, some brothers and sisters whom God the Father has ordained be in the Kingdom would perish, which the Lord is not willing to let happen.

by John Holbrook Jr.
A Biblical View, Blog #047 posted May 22, 2017, edited December 30, 2022.

The Scriptures tell us to examine ourselves periodically to identify our sins, repent of them, and ask God to help us avoid repeating them in the future. I wrote this Examen for my own use. Thus it contains sins to which I might be tempted. You the reader can use my Examen as a guide, but you should write your own.

General

Almighty God, I know and acknowledge to you that I am a miserable sinner. As I contemplate my imperfections, I recall your admonition, “Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect” (KJV-Matthew 5:48). Although that seems impossible to me, you also said, “With men this is impossible; but with God all things are possible” (KJV-Matthew 19:26). Peter wrote to the saints in Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia, let “…the God of all grace, who hath called us unto his eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after that ye have suffered a while, (a) make you perfect, and (b) stablish, strengthen, [and] settle you” (KJV-1 Pet 5:10). Remove my imperfections, Lord, that your perfect work in me bear such perfect results. Amen.

Examen Through the Prism of The Ten Commandments

Almighty God, as I examine all that I have thought, said, and done since my last confession, help me to identify and repent of each instance in which I sinned against you and your holy laws. If I transgressed against another person, help me to acknowledge my fault and to make appropriate restitution. Amen.

First: I am the Lord your God:…you shall have no other gods before me.

Did I put anyone or anything above you in my thoughts, words, and deeds? Did I trust in anyone but God-the-Father for the ordering of my life? Did I trust in anyone or anything but God-the-Son for the redemption of my life – both in time and in eternity? Did I trust in anyone or anything but God-the-Holy Spirit for the regeneration and sanctification of my life? Did I, from pride, put my trust in any of God’s gifts to me – all unearned and undeserved by me: my birth; my person; my character; my knowledge and competence; my possessions; my spiritual life; my destiny? Have mercy on me, O Lord.

Second: You shall not make for yourself an idol.

Did I place undue importance on anyone or anything that might in anyway supplant or even weaken my worship of and trust in you: social position; comeliness, health, intelligence, strength, or prowess; goodness or integrity; knowledge or professional competence; wealth or material possessions; fame or honor – even spiritual knowledge, experience, and maturity? Have mercy on me, O Lord.

Third: You shall not misuse the name of the Lord your God.

Did I refer to or address you disrespectfully or even carelessly: in my conversations; in my writings; in my prayers; even in my thoughts? Did I take you for granted in any way, accepting your gifts without gratitude or assuming your approval of whatever I chose to do? Did I ask you to do my will, rather than to help me do your will? Have mercy on me, O Lord.

Fourth: Six days shall you labor and do all your work, but the seventh day is the Sabbath to the Lord your God.

Monday-Saturday: Did I neglect any work which you gave me to do today? Was I less than diligent in the work I did do? Sundays: Did I neglect the sabbath rest, fail to attend worship service, or engage in any godless activities today? Have mercy on me, O Lord.

Fifth: Honor your father and your mother that your life may be long.

Did I dishonor my parents in any thought, word, or deed? Did I refer disrespectfully or even carelessly to anyone whom you have put in authority over me: an ecclesiastical elder; a secular boss; a civil magistrate? Did I even tell the truth about them unnecessarily? Have mercy on me, O Lord.

Sixth: You shall not murder.

Did I get angry, annoyed, or even impatient with anyone? Did I attack anyone with deed, word, or even thought? Did I tell the truth about someone unnecessarily, thereby injuring him in another’s eyes? If  I was attacked or injured by another, did I fail to turn my other cheek and pray for him? Have mercy on me, O Lord.

Seventh: You shall not be sexually impure.

Did I allow my hands, my eyes or even my thoughts to linger too long or longingly on a woman other than my wife? Have mercy on me, O Lord.

Eighth: You shall not steal.

Did I take anything from another: an object, no matter how small; a word, no matter how commonplace; an acclaim, no matter how slight? Did I envy another, recognizing that he had something I would never have, and begrudging him the possession of it? Have mercy on me, O Lord.

Ninth: You shall not give false testimony against your neighbor.

Did I say anything untrue about another? Did I exaggerate a truth? Did I even tell the truth unnecessarily?

Tenth: You shall not covet.

Was I discontent with anything that you have given to me in the way of worldly fame, fortune, food, friends, and fun? Did I seek more unnecessarily? Did I seek more recognition or higher position? Did I seek greater wealth? Did I eat more than I needed? Did I buy more books, clothing, food, furniture, etc. than I needed? Did I desire the attention of people who pay me no heed? Did I long to go somewhere or do something that my current circumstances would not permit? Did I fail to be generous to anyone less fortunate than myself? Have mercy on me, O Lord.

Examen Through the Prism of The Seven Deadly Sins

Lord, sometimes I miss the full implications of your commandments. As I study The Seven Deadly Sins and their opposites, help me to see my failures in this regard. (Click on the following link: Examen Table.)

© 2017 John Holbrook Jr.
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by John Holbrook Jr.
A Biblical View, Blog #030 posted January 30, 2017, edited March 9, 2021.

This post is designed to supplement my blog entitled “Are you tithing to your local church?” It makes clear that tithing antedated the giving of the law by over four centuries.[1]

Chedorlaomer, king of Elam (later western Persia, now western Iran), put together a grand alliance consisting of his own forces and those of three other kings: Amraphel king of Shinar; Arioch king of Ellasar; and Tidal king of nations. This alliance made war on and subjugated Bera king of Sodom, Birsha king of Gomorrah, Shinab king of Admah, Shemeber king of Zeboiim, and Zoar king of Bela.

These five kings served Chedorlaomer for twelve years, but in the thirteenth year they rebelled.

In the fourteenth year, Chedorlaomer’s alliance appeared again and smote first the Rephaims in Ashteroth Karnaim, the Zuzims in Ham, the Emims in Shaveh Kiriathaim, the Horites in Mount Seir, the Amalekites in their country, and the Amorites in Hazezon-tamar. Then they entered the Vale of Siddim (a valley which probably extended from Jericho in the north to Elath and Aqaba in the south) and attacked the original group, which had rebelled: the kings of Sodom, Gomorrah, Admah, Zeboiim, and Bela.

They plundered Sodom and Gomorrah, and they took away with them both people and goods – including Lot, Abram’s brother’s son, and his goods.

When Abram heard that Lot was taken captive, he armed three hundred and eighteen of his servants, whom he had trained, and pursued Chedorlaomer to Dan (now Baalbek). Splitting his own forces, he attacked the alliance by night, smote them, and then pursued them to the neighborhood of Damascus, where he finally slaughtered them and recaptured all the people and goods that they had taken, including Lot.

As Abram returned from his great victory, he was met at the valley of Shaveh by the kings of Sodom, Gomorrah, Admah, Zeboiim, and Bela. Melchizedek king of Salem brought forth bread and wine – he was the priest of the most high God – and he blessed Abram and said, “Blessed be Abram of the most high God, possessor of heaven and earth: And blessed be the most high God, who has delivered your enemies into your hand.” And Abram gave Melchizedek tithes of all.

And the king of Sodom said unto Abram, “Give me the persons, and take the goods to thyself.”  And Abram said to the king of Sodom, “I have lift up mine hand unto the LORD, the most high God, the possessor of heaven and earth,  That I will not [take] from a thread even to a shoelatchet, and that I will not take any thing that [is] thine, lest thou shouldest say, I have made Abram rich:  Save only that which the young men have eaten, and the portion of the men which went with me, Aner, Eshcol, and Mamre; let them take their portion.”

After these things the word of the LORD came unto Abram in a vision, saying, “Fear not, Abram: I am thy shield and thy exceeding great reward.”

 © 2017 John Holbrook Jr.
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[1] According to my chronology, Abraham tithed to Melchizedek in the 1880s BC, whereas God delivered the law to Moses in 1464 BC – approximately 420 years later.

by John Holbrook Jr.
A Biblical View, Blog #029 posted January 30, 2017, edited March 9, 2021.

If you are tithing to your local church, I hope that you will find here support for your continuing to do so. If you are not tithing to your local church, I hope that you will find here reasons to do so. [1]

                                                                Preamble

Christian stewardship refers to the manner in which we devote our time, talents, and treasure to the Lord and His work. I have often heard preachers say that we owe the Lord 100% of our time, talents, and treasure. That may get across the point across that the Lord expects us to live lives completely centered on Him, but it actually lets their parishioners off the hook. No one can and no one does devote 100% of his time, talents, and treasure to the Lord. He has to sleep, to keep himself clean and groomed, to eat, to work in order to earn the money that he needs to pay for all the necessities of life, to attend to his family, and to contribute to this church and community. The practical result of the preachers’ phrase is that their parishioners devote far less than ten percent of the time, talents, and treasure to the Lord and His work – and feel comfortable in doing so.

Christian stewardship is a broad subject, and thus here I want to focus on just one part of it, the tithe of one’s treasure. It is the part with which Christians have the most trouble.

Before I start, however, I want to stress several things things.

First, I’m acutely aware of the warning that James issued to those who teach: “My brethren, let not many of you become teachers, knowing that we shall receive a stricter judgment.”[2] Thus, I intend to adhere very closely to what the Bible actually says about tithing. What matters is what God says – not what I or anyone else says.

Second, “tithe” is a specific term; it means one tenth. “Tithing” is also a specific term; it means paying one tenth of one’s income and capital gains.

Third, the Bible distinguishes between tithes and offerings: the tithe consists of money or goods (in a barter economy) that belong to God and must be handled as God prescribes; offerings, on the other hand, consist of money and goods that belongs to us and may be handled as we see fit. Here I address only tithes.

Fourth, I want to stress the inerrancy of God’s Word. In his Gospel, John wrote: “…scripture cannot be broken.”[3] Yet, so often, we don’t pay attention to what God’s Word says, and then we wonder why we fail to receive God’s blessings or why we experience so many afflictions.

                                                                The Tithe

Now let us consider some of the things the Bible says about tithing.

The tithe is first mentioned in Genesis 14. After Abraham destroyed the armies of Chedorlaomer’s coalition in the valley of Shaveh, verses 18-20 state, “Then Melchizedek king of Salem brought out bread and wine; he was the priest of God Most High. And he blessed him and said: ‘Blessed be Abram of God Most High, Possessor of heaven and earth; And blessed be God Most High, Who has delivered your enemies into your hand.’ And he gave him a tithe of all.”[4] The author of Hebrews identified Melchisedek as the King of Salem, the King of Peace, the High Priest of God, the Lord Jesus Christ.[5] Thus, over 400 years before God delivered the law to Moses on Mount Sinai, Abraham tithed to God.

Now prior to the battle with Chedorlaomer’s coalition, God made certain promises to Abraham, and Moses wrote that Abraham believed God, and that God “…accounted it to him for righteousness.”[6] For that reason, the Bible identifies Abraham as the father of the faithful.

What were the consequences of Abraham’s faithfulness? Genesis 13:2 states: “Abram was very rich in livestock, in silver, and in gold.”[7] Did you catch that? Abraham was very rich. Moreover, he was rich in tangible things – “in livestock, in silver, and in gold.”

And how did Abraham become very rich? Abraham’s servant Eleazer explains how: “The LORD has blessed my master greatly, and he has become great; and He has given him flocks and herds, silver and gold, male and female servants, and camels and donkeys. And Sarah my master’s wife bore a son to my master when she was old; and to him he [God] has given all that he has.”[8] God himself blessed Abraham with riches.

We are looking at a biblical principle here. Now, please don’t misunderstand me. I’m not saying that God promises to make each one of us as rich as Abraham,[9] but I am saying that God wants his people (plural) to prosper and thereby to be a blessing to others. God promises his people (plural) that they will prosper if they trust in him and tithe to him.

Now let’s examine the most important passages regarding tithing in the Bible.

First, let’s look at Malachi 3:6-11, which reveals the nature of the tithe and contains probably the most startling promise in the Bible.

“For I am the LORD, I do not change; Therefore you are not consumed, O sons of Jacob. Yet from the days of your fathers You have gone away from My ordinances And have not kept them. Return to Me, and I will return to you,” Says the LORD of hosts. “But you said, ‘In what way shall we return?’  Will a man rob God? Yet you have robbed Me! But you say,’In what way have we robbed You?’ In tithes and offerings. You are cursed with a curse, For you have robbed Me, Even this whole nation. Bring all the tithes into the storehouse, That there may be food in My house, And try Me now in this,” Says the LORD of hosts, “If I will not open for you the windows of heaven And pour out for you such blessing That there will not be room enough to receive it. “And I will rebuke the devourer for your sakes, So that he will not destroy the fruit of your ground, Nor shall the vine fail to bear fruit for you in the field,” Says the LORD of hosts.[10]

What does this passage actually say?

Verse 6 says, “…I am the LORD, I do not change.” The Lord does not change His mind. The Book of Malachi was written about 425 B.C. If the Lord wanted His people to tithe then, He wants them to tithe now.

Verse 7 says, “… You have gone away from My ordinances And have not kept them.” The issue here is tithing. God has told his people to tithe. They have not been doing so.

Verse 8 says, “Return to Me, and I will return to you.” Their failure to tithe has separated them from God. If they return to tithing, he will return to them.

Verse 8 also says, “Will a man rob God? Yet you have robbed Me! But you say,’In what way have we robbed You?’ In tithes and offerings.” Moses wrote in Leviticus, “And all the tithe of the land, whether of the seed of the land or of the fruit of the tree, is the Lord’s. It is holy to the Lord.”[11] Their failure to tithe was actually robbing God of what belonged to him.

Verse 9 says, “You are cursed with a curse, For you have robbed Me.” Because they were robbing God, they were living under a curse – the curse which Adam’s disobedience brought upon the world. There are at least two aspects to this curse: First, there is the loss of eternal fellowship with God. Jesus’ death on the cross redeems a person from that aspect of the curse when he puts his trust in Jesus for his salvation. Second, there is the difficulty of coaxing sustenance from the ground. Do you remember what God said to Adam? “Cursed is the ground for your sake; In toil you shall eat of it All the days of your life.”[12] Apparently God delivers his people from this aspect of the curse – at least to some extent – when they tithe. When they fail to tithe, however, they forsake God’s promise of protection and providence and live under the curse on the ground. Don’t be fooled by the agrarian context of all these passages regarding tithes, blessings, and curses. The Bible is presenting principles here.

Verse 10 says, “Bring all the tithes….” Notice the choice of words. God did not say, “Give….” He said, “Bring.…” Our tithes are not ours to give. They belong to God, and therefore he said the equivalent of “Bring them to me.” Then God said, “…all the tithes.” He did not say, “…some of the tithes” or “…part of the tithes.” He said “…all of the tithes.” He claims a full ten percent of our increase – not 9% or less. (Actually, as Gary North has pointed out, if you think about it, a 10% franchise fee is actually remarkably low. You can’t get such a generous deal from either McDonalds or Starbucks.)

Verse 10 also says, “…into the storehouse….” In Deuteronomy, Moses identified the storehouse as “…the place where the Lord your God chooses, to make his name abide.”[13] The storehouse is God’s house. It’s the place set aside for the worship and praise of God, the place from which the Word of God should go forth to feed the people. Notice the word is singular. God’s people are to bring the full tithe to one place.

Verse 10 also says, “…that there may be food in my house.” As I have just indicated, the purpose of the tithe is to ensure that God’s people are fed – fed with the Word of God written and the Word of God incarnate.

Verse 10 also says, “And prove me now in this, Says the Lord of Hosts.” God, the Creator and Sovereign of the Universe, invites his people to test him – the only time that he does so in the entire Bible. He says to them, do as I command and then see what I will do.

Verse 10 ends with, “…if I will not open for you the windows of heaven And pour out for you such blessing that there will not be room enough to receive it.” These are the same words used to describe the beginnings of the flood. In Genesis, Moses wrote, “In the six hundredth year of Noah’s life, in the second month, the seventeenth day of the month, on that day all the fountains of the great deep were broken up, and the windows of heaven were opened.”[14] God promises to reward obedience with a deluge of blessings.

Finally, verse 11 says, “And I will rebuke the devourer for your sakes, So that he will not destroy the fruit of your ground, Nor shall the vine fail to bear fruit in the field.” God’s people won’t have to worry about their blessings being stolen. God himself will prevent Satan from devouring them.

Clearly, this passage in Malachi is telling us that we must bring a full 10% of the increase (income and capital gains) to the Lord’s house, which for us is the local church where we worship on a regular basis. If we do so, He will bless us abundantly, here and now. If we do not bring the tithe to His house, however, we will live and work under the original curse on creation, and Satan will devour the fruits of our work.

                                                   Presentation of the Tithe

Now let’s look at Deuteronomy 26:1-11, which indicates how God wants us to present our tithes to him.

 And it shall be, when you come into the land which the LORD your God is giving you as an inheritance, and you possess it and dwell in it, that you shall take some of the first of all the produce of the ground, which you shall bring from your land that the LORD your God is giving you, and put it in a basket and go to the place where the LORD your God chooses to make His name abide. And you shall go to the one who is priest in those days, and say to him, “I declare today to the LORD your God that I have come to the country which the LORD swore to our fathers to give us.” Then the priest shall take the basket out of your hand and set it down before the altar of the LORD your God.  And you shall answer and say before the LORD your God: “My father was a Syrian, about to perish, and he went down to Egypt and dwelt there, few in number; and there he became a nation, great, mighty, and populous.  But the Egyptians mistreated us, afflicted us, and laid hard bondage on us.  Then we cried out to the LORD God of our fathers, and the LORD heard our voice and looked on our affliction and our labor and our oppression. So the LORD brought us out of Egypt with a mighty hand and with an outstretched arm, with great terror and with signs and wonders. He has brought us to this place and has given us this land,” a land flowing with milk and honey; and now, behold, I have brought the firstfruits of the land which you, O LORD, have given me.” Then you shall set it before the LORD your God, and worship before the LORD your God. So you shall rejoice in every good thing which the LORD your God has given to you and your house, you and the Levite and the stranger who is among you (NKJV Deuteronomy 26:2-11).

Again, what does this passage actually say?

Verse 2 says, “…you shall take some of the first of all the produce of the ground….” The King James Version omits the word “some.” God’s people are to bring the first part, the top part, the best part to the Lord – not the last or left over part.

Verse 2 also says, “…put it in a basket….” They are instructed to put their tithe in a container – the offering plate, if you will.

Verse 2 also says, “…go to the place where the Lord your God chooses, to make his name abide.” Previously I have pointed out that this is God’s house. If God sends his people to a particular place (your local church), that is where he expects them to present their tithes to him.

Verse 3 says, “And you shall go to the one who is the priest in those days.” Today, our High Priest is the Lord Jesus Christ.[15]

Verse 3 also says, “…and say to him, ‘I declare today to the Lord your God that I have come to the country which the Lord swore to our fathers to give us.’” For the ancient Hebrews, that country was Canaan, the Promised Land. For us today, the country is the Kingdom of God.

Verse 4 says, “Then the priest shall take the basket out of your hand and set it down before the altar of the Lord your God.” Today, that is just what Jesus does for us. He presents our tithes to God at the altar in heaven.

Verse 5 says, “And you shall answer and say before the Lord your God,….” I won’t reread the entire profession. Israel’s profession looked back to their bondage in Egypt, to their miraculous deliverance by the hand of God, and to their receipt of their inheritance – the Promised Land. We must look back to our bondage in sin, to our miraculous deliverance by the death and resurrection of our Lord, and to our entrance – upon our conversion – into the Kingdom of God.

Thus, when we bring our full tithe to the Lord in this place, we should say a prayer similar to the following:

Heavenly Father, we profess this day to you that we have come into the inheritance which you swore to give us. We are in the land which you have provided for us in Jesus Christ. We were sinners serving Satan; he was our god. But we called upon the name of Jesus, and you heard our cry. You delivered us from the power and authority of darkness and translated us into the Kingdom of your dear Son.

Jesus, as our Lord and High Priest, we bring to you the first fruits of our income that you may worship the Lord our God with them.

Heavenly Father, we have heard your voice and brought our tithes into your house, as you commanded us to do. Now we rejoice in all the good which you have given to us and to our households. In Jesus’ name, we pray. Amen.[16].

I would end here, excepting that you may still regard what the Scriptures say regarding tithing as applying to the Old Testament period, but not to the New Testament era. Let’s look at Matthew 5:17-20, a portion of Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount.

Do not think that I came to destroy the Law or the Prophets. I did not come to destroy but to fulfill.  For assuredly, I say to you, till heaven and earth pass away, one jot or one tittle will by no means pass from the law till all is fulfilled.  Whoever therefore breaks one of the least of these commandments, and teaches men so, shall be called least in the kingdom of heaven; but whoever does and teaches them, he shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven.  For I say to you, that unless your righteousness exceeds the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, you will by no means enter the kingdom of heaven.[17]

These are the words of the One who, as the author of Hebrews wrote, “…is the same yesterday, today, and forever…”[18]  He is the One who is our Creator, our Sustainer, our Provider, our Protector, our Redeemer, and our LORD.

Some personal conclusions

As you reflect on the foregoing, I ask that you keep in mind some conclusions I have reached about God’s reasons for demanding that we tithe.

First, it provides the resources necessary to sustain the local church. Without those resources, the local church is anemic and unable to pay for its internal activities (worship, education, fellowship, pastoral care, administration, property management, finance, and communications) – let alone its external activities (evangelism, service, and mission support).

Second, based on my own experience and the experience of others whom I have mentored, it breaks the power of money in our lives – that is, we experience a deep sense that, aside from prudent budgeting and planning, we can leave the worrying about our financial situation to God and attend to the business of living for him.

Third, it teaches us to trust God, not just with our finances, but with our entire lives.

Nota Bene: giving anything less than 10% to our local church doesn’t accomplish these things.

Lastly, I state the obvious: Regardless of your income bracket, paying out a tithe to your church and, in addition, offerings to individuals in need and non-church ministries means that you cannot maintain the same lifestyle as your non-Christian peers. That is one of the costs of discipleship.

© 2017 John Holbrook Jr.
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[1] This blog owes much to many sources, but particularly to the following: John Guest’s Giving to God, National Institute of Christian Leadership, Sewickley, PA, 1983; John Howe’s “Bring in the full tithes…and see…“, Truro Church, Fairfax, VA, 1979; Gary North’s The Covenantal Tithe, American Vision Inc., Powder Springs GA, 2011, Tithing and Dominion, Ross House Books, Vallecito CA, 1979, and Tithing and the Church, Institute for Christian Economics, Tyler TX, 1994; and Frederick K.C. Price’s High Finance: God’s Financial Plan – Tithes and Offerings, Harrison House, Tulsa, OK, 1984.

[2] NKJV James 3:1.

[3] NKJV John 10: 35.

[4] NKJVA Genesis 14:18-20.

[5] Hebrews 7.

[6] NKJV Genesis 15:6.

[7] NKJV Genesis 13:2.

[8] NKJV Genesis 24:34-37.

[9] I think the “health and wealth” or “name it and claim it” gospels, by interpreting God’s blessings in purely material terms and by ignoring the distinction between God’s people (plural) and an individual believer (singular), seriously misrepresents God’s promises in these respects. If you read my blog entitled “Have you carefully counted the cost?” you will see that the promises of persecution and suffering outweigh the promises of blessings like health and wealth by a wide margin.

[10] NKJV Malachi 3:6-11.

[11] NKJV Leviticus 27:30.

[12] NKJV Genesis 3:17.

[13] NKJV Deuteronomy 26:2.

[14] NKJV Genesis 7:11.

[15] The author of Hebrews wrote, “Therefore holy brethren, partakers of the heavenly calling, consider the Apostle and High Priest of our confession, Christ Jesus.”

[16] The first two paragraphs come from a prayer by Frederick K.C. Price; the last paragraph is mine.

[17] NKJV Matthew 5:17-20

[18] NKJV Hebrews 13:8.

by John Holbrook Jr.
A Biblical View, Blog #028 posted January 23, 2017, edited March 9, 2021.

Have you carefully counted the cost of being one of the Lord’s disciples? Before you answer that question, consider the following passage in which He discusses what is involved in discipleship:

[Jesus said] 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. And whosoever doth not bear his cross, and come after me, cannot be my disciple. For which of you, intending to build a tower, sitteth not down first, and counteth the cost , whether he have sufficient to finish it? Lest haply, after he hath laid the foundation, and is not able to finish it, all that behold it begin to mock him, Saying, This man began to build, and was not able to finish. Or what king, going to make war against another king, sitteth not down first, and consulteth whether he be able with ten thousand to meet him that cometh against him with twenty thousand? Or else, while the other is yet a great way off, he sendeth an ambassage, and desireth conditions of peace. So likewise, whosoever he be of you that forsaketh not all that he hath, he cannot be my disciple. Salt is good: but if the salt have lost his savour, wherewith shall it be seasoned? It is neither fit for the land, nor yet for the dunghill; but men cast it out. He that hath ears to hear, let him hear. (KJV Luke 14:26-15:1)

Here the Lord lists three requirements:

First, a disciple must put his allegiance to the Lord above all other attachments – attachments to his family; even attachment to his life:

[Jesus said] 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. (KJV Luke 14:26)

Second, a disciple must be willing to suffer:

 [Jesus said] And whosoever doth not bear his cross, and come after me, cannot be my disciple. (KJV Luke 14:27)

Third, a disciple must be willing to relinquish all that he possesses:

[Jesus said] So likewise, whosoever he be of you that forsaketh not all that he hath, he cannot be my disciple. (KJV Luke 14:33)

But there are other requirements as well:

A disciple must declare his allegiance to the Lord – openly and without shame:

[Paul wrote] That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. For the scripture saith, Whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed. (KJV Rom 10:9-11)

A disciple must evangelize others – that is, declare the Gospel (good news) to all those who have not yet heard and not yet responded to it:

And [Jesus] said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature.  He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned. (KJV Mark 16:15-16)

Now, what can a disciple expect if he meets all of the above requirements?

Alas, a disciple can expect to be hated and persecuted.

[Jesus said] If the world hate you, ye know that it hated me before it hated you. If ye were of the world , the world would love his own: but because ye are not of the world , but I have chosen you out of the world , therefore the world hateth you. Remember the word that I said unto you, The servant is not greater than his lord. If they have persecuted me, they will also persecute you; if they have kept my saying, they will keep yours also. But all these things will they do unto you for my name’s sake, because they know not him that sent me. (KJV John 15:18-21)

What forms does this persecution take? The answer lies in Revelation 6, which describes what happens on the earth as the Lamb who sits on the Throne of God – that is, Jesus the Messiah – opens the book[1] in His hand, one seal at a time.

1^st seal – White horse = Gospel is preached and conquers (6:1-2).

And I saw when the Lamb opened one of the seals, and I heard, as it were the noise of thunder, one of the four beasts saying, Come and see. And I saw, and behold a white horse: and he that sat on him had a bow; and a crown was given unto him: and he went forth conquering, and to conquer.

The opening of the first seal reveals a white horse, and sitting on the white horse is Him that has been crowned and is setting forth to conquer. Now common sense tells us that the rider of the white horse is the Lord Himself. Furthermore Revelation 19:11 states, “And I saw heaven opened, and behold a white horse; and he that sat upon him was called Faithful and True, …and his name is called The Word of God….And out of his mouth goeth a sharp sword, that with it he should smite the nations: and he shall rule them with a rod of iron: and he treadeth the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God. And he hath on his vesture and on his thigh a name written, KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS.” What we have here is the preaching of the gospel. As soon as believers perceive that Jesus reigns, they must go forth and proclaim that good news to the nations, they must make disciples of all men. Note: the rider carries a bow. In Psalm 45, which speaks of the Lord, verse 5 says, “Thine arrows are sharp in the heart of the king’s enemies; whereby the people fall under thee.”

2^nd seal – Red horse = Saints are killed (6:3-4).

And when he had opened the second seal, I heard the second beast say, Come and see. And there went out another horse that was red: and power was given to him that sat thereon to take peace from the earth, and that they should kill one another: and there was given unto him a great sword.

Following the white horse is a red horse whose rider is given a great sword (of sacrifice) and “granted” the power to make war against and kill the saints. Wherever and whenever the gospel is preached, saints are sacrificed. The preaching of the gospel produces martyrs. The world hates the saints, persecutes the saints, and kills the saints. All this is part of God’s plan; the saints must expect it. How many new believers discover that, after they were born again and became disciples of Jesus, their acquaintances, friends, and even families rejected them? We in America can be thankful that we have not experienced worse – or perhaps we should wonder if we are preaching the gospel clearly enough.

3^rd seal – Black horse = Saints are persecuted (6:5-6).

And when he had opened the third seal, I heard the third beast say, Come and see. And I beheld, and lo a black horse; and he that sat on him had a pair of balances in his hand.  And I heard a voice in the midst of the four beasts say, A measure of wheat for a penny, and three measures of barley for a penny; and see thou hurt not the oil and the wine. 

Following the red horse is a black horse whose rider carries a pair of scales in his hand, and a voice proclaims that a measure (quart) of wheat cost a penny (or denarius), and three measures (quarts) of barley cost a penny (or denarius). A measure (or quart) of wheat or barley met one person’s food requirements for a day; and a denarius was a day’s wages. So a working man could feed himself with fine food or three people with coarse food. In addition, luxury items like oil and wine were available to him if he had money. So what is this saying to the saints? If they preach the gospel, they may meet the red horse – that is, lose their lives – or they may meet the black horse – that is, lose their jobs, in which case they will not have money for food. The black horse is economic persecution.

4^th seal – Pale horse = All men suffer from certain troubles (6:7-8).

And when he had opened the fourth seal, I heard the voice of the fourth beast say, Come and see. And I looked, and behold a pale horse: and his name that sat on him was Death, and Hell followed with him. And power was given unto them over the fourth part of the earth, to kill with sword, and with hunger, and with death, and with the beasts of the earth.

Following the black horse is a pale horse whose rider is Death, accompanied by Hell. To Death was given the power to kill a fourth of the earth with war, famine, death (perhaps pestilence), and wild beasts. The connotation here is of natural disasters. There are certain troubles (the famine, disease, destruction, and death that follow war, the predation of wild beasts, and such natural disasters as fire, flood, wind, and rain) that always plague mankind (believers and unbelievers alike). They are symptoms of the Wrath which God visits on a sinful earth.

Less dire, but nonetheless hurtful and unpleasant are some of the other consequences which a disciple may experience.

A disciple may find himself in the company of King David – that is, despised by his spouse.

And it was told king David, saying, The LORD hath blessed the house of Obed-edom, and all that pertaineth unto him, because of the ark of God. So David went and brought up the ark of God from the house of Obed-edom into the city of David with gladness.

And it was so, that when they that bare the ark of the LORD had gone six paces, he sacrificed oxen and fatlings. And David danced before the LORD with all his might; and David was girded with a linen ephod. So David and all the house of Israel brought up the ark of the LORD with shouting, and with the sound of the trumpet. And as the ark of the LORD came into the city of David, Michal Saul’s daughter looked through a window, and saw king David leaping and dancing before the LORD; and she despised him in her heart. (KJV 2 Sam 6:12-16)

A disciple may find himself rejected by his father or mother, brother or sister, son or daughter.

Think not that I am come to send peace on earth: I came not to send peace, but a sword. For I am come to set a man at variance against his father, and the daughter against her mother, and the daughter in law against her mother in law. And a man’s foes shall be they of his own household. He that loveth father or mother more than me is not worthy of me: and he that loveth son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me. And he that taketh not his cross, and followeth after me, is not worthy of me. (KJV Matt 10:34-38)

Because for thy sake I have borne reproach; shame hath covered my face. I am become a stranger unto my brethren, and an alien unto my mother’s children. For the zeal of thine house hath eaten me up; and the reproaches of them that reproached thee are fallen upon me. (KJV Ps 69:7-9)

A disciple may find himself in the company of Job – that is, rejected by everyone whom he holds near and dear.

He hath put my brethren far from me, and mine acquaintance are verily estranged from me. My kinsfolk have failed, and my familiar friends have forgotten me. They that dwell in mine house, and my maids, count me for a stranger: I am an alien in their sight. I called my servant, and he gave me no answer; I intreated him with my mouth. My breath is strange to my wife, though I intreated for the children’s sake of mine own body. Yea, young children despised me; I arose, and they spake against me. All my inward friends abhorred me: and they whom I loved are turned against me. (KJV  Job 19:13-19)

Judging by the above, one of the Lord’s disciples must expect to lose the following: his possessions; his livelihood; the love and respect of his parents, his siblings, his spouse, and his children; the affection of his friends; his standing in the community; and even his life – in a word, EVERYTHING.

Count the cost!

© 2017 John Holbrook Jr.

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[1] Here is a book – actually a scroll – overflowing with words, and it is sealed with seven seals – that is, its seal is spiritually perfect. Moreover, it can be opened only by someone who is worthy – that is, by someone with a certain character – and John wept much because there was no man among the men in heaven, on earth, and under the earth that possessed the necessary character. Note: John does not weep anywhere else in the Book of Revelation, and there is much to weep about here. Clearly this book is of supreme importance. Whatever is in the book is vital to John and to all other believers. It is in God’s right hand, the hand of power: whatever is in this book deals with God’s exercise of sovereignty and power over his creation. This book contains the purposes of God: the decrees of God, the will of God, the plans of God, the methods of God in the exercise of his absolute sovereignty.  But the book is sealed. When God created man, he made him steward over the earth. Whatever man decided, that is the way things would be on earth. Alas, man decided to disobey God and follow Satan. By doing so, man gave Satan sovereignty over the earth, and the book of God’s purposes for man and the earth was sealed. A man’s sin sealed the book; only a man’s righteousness can unseal the book. But, “As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one: There is none that understandeth, there is none that seeketh after God. They are all gone out of the way, they are together become unprofitable; there is none that doeth good, no, not one” (Romans 3:10-12). Thus, there is no man that can open the book!

 

 

by John Holbrook Jr.
A Biblical View, Blog #016 posted October 31, 2016. edited March 9, 2021.

Some Christians are fond of quoting I John 4:8, “God is love,” and then castigating their brothers and sisters who view abortion as murder or homosexuality as sexual impurity as “judgmental.” Indeed, one of the most devastating accusations one can make in either sacred or secular society today is, “You are being judgmental.”

These Christians deplore judgment because they read such passages in the Bible as Matthew 7:1, “Judge not, that ye be not judged. For with what judgment ye judge, ye shall be judged: and with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you again” (KJV).

Before addressing what the above passage actually says, however, another passage is worth noting. In 1 Corinthians 6, Paul wrote: “Do ye not know that the saints shall judge the world? and if the world shall be judged by you, are ye unworthy to judge the smallest matters? Know ye not that we shall judge angels? how much more things that pertain to this life?” (KJV, verses 2-3). Here Paul is saying that Christians will be judging angels in the next life and therefore should get some practice in this life.

Now back to Matthew 7:1. Jesus is warning His audience that the judge and the judged, all of whom are sinners,[1] are all subject to the same laws, and all will be judged on the Day of Judgment by the divine Judge according to those laws.[2] Thus the person who judges today must be wary (a) of basing his judgments on his own concept of good and evil, rather than on God’s pronouncements on the subject, (b) of being unmerciful, and (c) of thinking too highly of himself in relationship to the person he is judging (see 1 Corinthians 6:4, which recommends using the least esteemed in the church to judge among the brethren).

Moreover, if anyone, but particularly a Christian, gives even a moment’s thought to the matter of judging, he or she will realize immediately that most judging is not “judgmental.” Simply to think and to act require judgment – continual judgment. For example, when one steps in an elevator, one is making the judgment that someone has inspected the elevator during the past year to ascertain whether or not it is in good working order and therefore safe to use.

Even more important, everyone must realize that judgment lies at the very focus of Christianity: the cross on which God-the-Son was crucified. The crucified Christ, God-the-Son, embodies both perfect love and perfect judgment. His perfect judgment required the cross; His perfect love placed Himself upon it.

In my view, love without judgment leads to sentimentality, and judgment without love leads to brutality. Christianity without either love or judgment is a travesty and leads away from God.

© 2016 John Holbrook Jr.

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[1] See Isaiah 53:5, Psalm 14:1-3,  Psalm 53:1-3, Romans 3:10-12, 20.

[2] Although all will be found guilty of sin, they will be separated into two categories: the redeemed, who accepted God-the-Son as their Lord and for whom He died on the cross at Calvary to pay the price of (atone for) their sin, and the unredeemed, who rejected God-the-Son as Lord and must themselves pay the price of their sin.

by John Holbrook Jr.
A Biblical View, Blog #015 posted October 24, 2016, edited March 9, 2021.

Today’s message is directed at Christians – particularly Christians with a burning desire to share the Gospel of their Lord with unbelievers.

Many people proclaim that they are passionate about something: their job, baseball, the opera, mountain climbing, etc. They seldom stop to think about what they are saying.

Too few people understand the difference between passion and compassion. One is a vice; the other, a virtue.

Passion in the classic sense of the word has two meanings: one refers to suffering – particularly Jesus’ ordeal on Good Friday – the other refers to zeal, ardor, or a vehement desire that is somewhat out of control. It is this latter sense of the word that concerns me here. This passion is selfish. It is motivated by the needs of the self. It draws attention to the self. Indeed, it often advertises the self. It engenders pride, because it ascribes importance to the self in proportion to its strength. Perhaps worst of all, it makes excuses for the self and imposes its costs on others. Passion can be seen in tyrants, revolutionaries, ruthless corporate executives, overbearing maestros, preening divas, pedants, crusaders of all types – anyone who puts their own agenda above their duties to and the needs of others. Beware when someone says, “I am passionate about…” or “I have a passion for….”

Compassion refers to a loving and merciful concern for another’s suffering, loss, or lack and is usually accompanied by a determination to do something to assuage that condition. Compassion is selfless. It is motivated by the needs of others. It never advertises the self. Indeed, it directs attention away from the self and toward others. It engenders humility, because it ascribes importance to others in proportion to the magnitude of their needs. Perhaps most remarkable, it imposes its costs on the self. Compassion can be seen in servant leaders, homemakers, tireless caregivers, patient teachers – anyone who puts their duties to and the needs of others above their own agenda – but most obviously in Jesus of Nazareth, who humbled Himself by putting aside His divine prerogatives as Lord of Creation, taking on human flesh, and dying on the cross to atone for the sins of others – all those whom God-the-Father called to acknowledge God-the-Son as their Savior. Run quickly to someone who says, “Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest” (KJV Matthew 11:28).

Clearly, passion is a vice; compassion, a virtue.

Understanding this difference between passion and compassion is particularly important for Christians with a burning desire to share the Gospel of their Lord with unbelievers.  A compassionate evangelist is driven by a genuine concern for the person to whom he is speaking, and he focuses on at least the following: (a) treating the person respectfully and lovingly; (b) listening to what the person has to say; (c) trying to discern where the person is in his journey toward God; (d) speaking in a way that the person will understand; and (e) all the while humbly recognizing that his success in reaching the person depends solely on the Holy Spirit.  Thus, he manifests God’s love to the person, thereby affirming that the person is one of Jesus’ cherished creatures, made in His image.  A passionate evangelist, on the other hand, is driven by his own need to proclaim the Gospel, and thus he focuses solely on what he is saying, not on the person to whom he is speaking.  He fails to manifest God’s love to the person, thereby treating the person solely as a listener and all too often turning the person into a victim.  As you can see, there is a world of difference between a compassionate evangelist, who speaks the truth in love,[1] and a passionate evangelist, who speaks the truth inconsiderately.

Alas, when I first submitted to the Lord, I was a passionate evangelist. Now I can only pray that the Lord will undo the damage that I did.  Don’t follow in my footsteps.

© 2016 John Holbrook Jr.

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[1] Ephesians 4:15.

by John Holbrook Jr.
A Biblical View, Blog #014 posted October 17, 2016, edited March 9, 2021.

The Bible assigns a high value to wisdom.

“…the price of wisdom is above rubies” (KJV Job 28:18).

“O LORD, how manifold are thy works! in wisdom hast thou made them all: the earth is full of thy riches” (KJV Psalms 104:24).

“The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom: a good understanding have all they that do his commandments: his praise endureth for ever” (KJV Psalms 111:10).

“Wisdom is the principal thing; therefore get wisdom: and with all thy getting get understanding” (KJV Proverbs 4:7).

“For wisdom is better than rubies; and all the things that may be desired are not to be compared to it” (KJV Proverbs 8:11).

“The fool hath said in his heart, There is no God. They are corrupt, they have done abominable works, there is none that doeth good” (KJV Psalms 14:1).

When God asked Solomon what he would like to have from God, Solomon asked for wisdom (I Kings 3:5-14). Not only did Solomon see that the value of wisdom exceeded the value of anything else he might ask for, he also saw that it had to come from God as a gift. It could not be acquired through study or work. Later Solomon wrote, “…the LORD giveth wisdom: out of his mouth cometh knowledge and understanding” (KJV Proverbs 2:6).

Truth and wisdom are related, but wisdom and intelligence are not. Indeed, as I grow older, I am increasingly struck by the lack of correspondence between wisdom and intelligence. They have almost nothing to do with one another. I know some very simple people who are incredibly wise, and I know some very intelligent people who are incredibly foolish. Nor does education change the situation much. Indeed, some sages are both simple and uneducated, and some fools are both intelligent and erudite.

When I make this observation, most people scratch their head. Wisdom? What am I talking about?  Isn’t wisdom another term for intelligence and knowledge? No, it is not. The wise man sees the truth about someone or something. His perception may be comprehensive and complex if it is buttressed by intelligence and learning or partial and simple if it is not, but in either case it conveys the truth. The fool, on the other hand, sees what he himself wants to see. Again, the perception may be comprehensive and complex if it is buttressed by intelligence and learning or simple if it is not, but in either case it is a mirage – a false image of his own wishful thinking.

Paul wrote in Hebrews, “…without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him” (Hebrews 11:6) – that is, those who seek God must believe that God exists, and that he will reward them with, among other things, the truth. In other words, God wants us to believe him when he communicates with us. He wants us to accept his word by faith – whether his word is spoken, written, or incarnate.

A good test of one’s wisdom lies in the first verse of the Bible. It states: “In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth” (Genesis 1:1). In the beginning (time), God (Elohim -plural with a singular meaning) created (only God can create something out of nothing; man can make or re-form things using something, but he cannot create something out of nothing) the heavens (space) and the earth (matter).

Henry Morris paraphrases this verse as follows: “The transcendent, omnipotent Godhead called into existence the space-mass-time universe.”  He also points out that this verse contradicts all of man’s false philosophies concerning the origin and meaning of the world; (a) atheism, because the universe was created by God; (b) pantheism, because God is transcendent (above, outside) the universe; (c) polytheism, because the Godhead is a unity; (d) materialism, for matter had a beginning; (e) dualism, because God was alone when he created the universe; (f) humanism, because God, not man, is the ultimate reality; and (g) evolutionism, because God created all things.[1]

The Bible makes no attempt to refute any of these philosophies, it merely presents the account of God’s creation as the truth; it must be accepted by faith. God has set things up in such a way that accepting his word by faith is a precondition to learning the truth about anything. “…faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God” (Romans 10:17). Moreover, “…without faith, it is impossible to please him…” (Hebrews 11:6). If a person accepts Genesis 1:1 by faith, he will not find it difficult to believe anything else recorded in the Bible. If he does not accept Genesis 1:1, he will be led into fables[2] – often of his own devising – which represent the desires of his God-rejecting heart.

Now you can see why Solomon asked for wisdom, not for intelligence and not for knowledge. Without wisdom, no amount of intelligence or knowledge will lead you to the truth of a matter, let alone to the personification of Truth, who is the Lord God Almighty.

© 2016 John Holbrook Jr.

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[1] Morris, Henry, The Genesis Record, Baker Book House, Grand Rapids MI, pp 37-39.

[2] Good examples of modern fables are heliocentrism, biological evolution, and geological uniformitarianism.