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Seriously, Take a Chance on God

We’ve been saying all along that God makes sense, not just that it makes sense there is a God, but that what He says and does makes sense. We certainly don’t always understand everything God does and says, especially at the moment we are first hearing or experiencing it. Often, things become clearer to us as we go through them and afterwards.

In Luke 5:4-7, Jesus tells some fishermen, Peter included, how to fish. Of course all of us who fish think we know a lot about fishing – just ask us, but we likely wouldn’t feel like we could tell a professional how to do their job. Now Jesus was a carpenter by trade, not a fisherman. Peter, on the other hand was a fisherman by trade. Here is how the conversation went. “When he had finished speaking, he said to Simon, “Put out into deep water, and let down the nets for a catch.”

Simon answered, “Master, we’ve worked hard all night and haven’t caught anything. But because you say so, I will let down the nets.”

When they had done so, they caught such a large number of fish that their nets began to break. So they signaled their partners in the other boat to come and help them, and they came and filled both boats so full that they began to sink.”

Jesus the carpenter told Peter the fisherman to go back out and put down for a catch of fish. Peter knew that they had been out all night fishing and hadn’t had success and now was not the time try again, but for whatever reason, maybe out of respect for Jesus, he complied, even though what Jesus was asking DID NOT MAKE SENSE. When they tried again they caught such a load of fish that it began to make the boats sink.

Sometimes what God does, asks, says, doesn’t make sense to us. If Peter hadn’t complied with what did not make sense to him he would have missed out on an incredible catch. How many blessings have we missed out on? Didn’t He say His ways were higher than ours?

Sometimes God doesn’t make sense to us until later. Sometimes we have to trust Him first before we can see that He was right all along. In some cases ‘things’ never make sense to us. Its not always so clear as it was in the story above. What reason do you have to think God doesn’t make sense?

Contentment

That feeling of contentment, when all seems to be well, when we have the peaceful calm about us; is something we all long for.  Sometimes we confuse happiness or pleasure, even gain for contentment, only to find out they are not the same. 

Adam and Eve had all they would ever need and truthfully all they could hope for, yet when tempted they sought something else.  Once they got what they had sought they realized they were not more content, but actually less content than their original state.

We too, find ourselves thinking, “if I could only have this”, or “if only my situation or condition would change this way”, I would be content.  You see by thinking this way we prove that contentment is something to be desired.  The truth, if we would accept it is that, no condition of itself will bring contentment, but rather we experience contentment when our mind brings us to it.

Harsh or Just?

I recently encountered a question regarding a passage of scripture. The passage is 2 kings 2. The questioner stated that this struck them as an incredibly unreasonable reaction from Elishah. This passage of scripture can be concerning when we consider it from the view that believes in a God of mercy and compassion.

Lets look at a few points of clarity that might help in our examination. First we read the term “youths” and we think of a group of adolescents having fun while out of school for the summer. Some versions even translate this a “little children”. The actual Hebrew word here is used for a variety of ages in different places in the Old Testament and can include fully grown individuals (see Genesis 32:22, 34:4, 37:30 and Ruth 1:5 for some examples). In addition, some Jewish writers have translated this term into “Naarim,” because they had ‘shaken from the commandments’. Indicating these could have easily been people who were “childish” in their belief and behavior, both socially and morally, and not having anything to do with their age. They were obviously old enough to outside the city in the wilderness, alone accompanied by “chaperones”.

Second, we read their mocking which states, “Go on up, you baldhead!” they said. “Go on up, you baldhead!” and we again think of some misguided teenagers having some fun at the expense of an old guy who has lost his hair. We think of them telling him to go on up back to Bethel. Well, that’s not what they are saying. Bethel is the city where the ‘sons of the prophets’ resided. It was also the mother city of idolatry. There is very little doubt that this mocking, scoffing incident was not the first, but one of many in a long line of scoffing at the prophets, but more importantly, scoffing at the works and subsequently, the very nature of God.

Telling Elisha to “Go on up”, did not refer to him going on up to the city, but rather to follow Elijah, who had just ascended into heaven, as witnessed by Elisha in the previous section of this chapter. They are not primarily mocking his lack of hair but the miraculous work of God in taking Elijah up to heaven. It is very possible that Elisha is relating this miraculous work of God and they scoff and mock in derision, telling him to go on up with Elijah. This had become a pattern of behavior for the towns people who had hardened their hearts against God. This mockery was their usual practice, rooted in their impiety and hatred of God. Mocking the messenger of God was one of the crying sins of Israel.

They mocked not only a man, an aged man who should be respected, and a prophet or messenger of God who should be revered, but they mocked God Himself and the glorious and miraculous work in the ascension of the prophet Elijah.

When we first read this we think of some adolescents having a little fun at a bald old man’s expense and while that bothers us, none of us can imagine them deserving to be torn apart by bears for it. The problem is that is not an accurate picture of what took place here. These individuals were the idolatrous, infidel, young men of the place, who along with their parents and the rest of the town’s people had made it a practice to jeer, mock, and scoff at the prophets of God and even God Himself. They had turned their backs on God to idolatry and they looked upon Him and His messengers with derision and disdain.

I certainly do not know what God’s motives were in carrying out this act against these people. I would not jump to the conclusion that it was merely an act of anger on His part. John Wesley puts it like this “and that, if any of these children were more innocent, God might have mercy upon their souls, and then this death was not a misery, but a real blessing to them, that they were taken away from that education which was most likely to expose them not only to temporal, but eternal destruction. In the name – Not from any revengeful passion, but by the motion of God’s Spirit, and by God’s command and commission. God did this, partly, for the terror and caution of all other idolaters and prophane persons who abounded in that place; partly, to vindicate the honour, and maintain the authority of his prophets; and particularly, of Elisha, now especially, in the beginning of his sacred ministry.”

Closed-Minded?

Christians are so closed-minded.  We hear that all the time.  But are they really the closed-minded ones?  Consider this example.

A Christian does not have to believe that all of the rest of the world’s religion’s are completely wrong.   An atheist on the other hand must believe that ALL of the other religion’s of the world are totally and completely wrong. (C.S. Lewis)

From the Christian view, the other religions of the world have some varying levels of truth within them.  The Atheist on the other hand, who likes to brag about their open-mindedness, believes there is no God and therefore ANY religion that believes in the existence of anything spiritual is wrong.  Which view seems more open-minded?

Time Puts Things in Perspective

I was recently discussing my book that I am writing by the same title as this Web Site with a young man.  When I told him the title he stated, “but God doesn’t make sense.”  When I asked him why, he responded with a question I get often – “why do bad things happen to good people?”  That’s a question that probably all of us have wondered about and been troubled with at one time or another.

I’m not going to attempt to answer this question in full in this article.   The scope of that question is too large to address in one blog.  What I ‘d like to do here is put forth something to consider when you are thinking about that question.

Have you ever had a bad day?  Of course you have.  That time you did poorly on the test or you had that fender bender that was your fault, or when you got that speeding ticket.  Maybe it was when you lost the championship game.  At the time these things were frustrating, even sad.  We would classify them as bad things.  But as time went on they bothered us less and they certainly impacted us less.  Maybe enough time has passed by now that they seem almost trivial.  If not it one day will.  They seem almost unimportant in the overall story of our lives.  The two or three hours or even few days that were “ruined” by these things seem minor in the full picture of our lives, especially if you are someone who has lived say 40 or 50 or even 70 or 80 years or more.

While I certainly do not wish to diminish the pain and suffering that come with more serious things in life like cancer or the death of a loved one, lets consider how they fit into the overall picture of things as well.  Things like these are serious and they cause pain and sadness.  The test, the speeding ticket, the car accident mentioned above became less of a defining item in our lives as more time passed.  Is it possible that these more serious matters may also?

As Christians our view of life is that it is eternal.  We do not view life as lasting merely 60, 70 , 80 or 90 years, but for all of eternity.  Consider what the cancer, or the loss of a loved one will be like in comparison to 100 million years. 

I know this doesn’t ‘explain’ why bad things happen to good people.  We will try and address some of that in future posts.  But maybe it helps put it in some perspective and makes it a little easier to accept and understand. 

Consider this question.  Why do good things happen to bad people?

Jesus Hangs with the Unlikely

God doesn’t always fit into our box.  Reality is much more complex and complicated than we would like to think it is.  We picture the kind of people that Jesus would like to hang around with and the kind of people He would choose to work with and then, the ones He actually chooses don’t fit our ideas.

In Matthew chapter 9, it says that Jesus saw a man sitting at the tax collector’s booth, named Matthew, and He said to him, “follow me.”  That doesn’t fit who we might expect Jesus to choose.  Matthew was a man working for the enemy.  He collected taxes for the Roman government, the oppressors of Israel. 

Matthew was also a man who liked to hang with the non-church crowd.  After Jesus told him to follow Him, He decided to have dinner with Matthew and some of his friends.  The church folk (the Pharisees) asked Jesus’ disciples, “Why does your teacher eat with tax collectors and ‘sinners’?”

Isn’t it interesting that the church folk did not see themselves as sinners?  Aren’t you glad that Jesus does indeed choose to hang out with sinners?  His response to the church crowd was, “It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. But go and learn what this means: ‘I desire mercy, not sacrifice.  For I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners.”

Our salvation is not obtained (and retained) by our actions or our deeds, but by mercy, because of the grace of God.  Those who are righteous do not need forgiveness and grace, but those who are sinners do.  We need to recognize that there is not one who is righteous on their own – we all need forgiveness and grace.  We all need doctor Jesus and His mercy.

Our prejudice against those different than us reveals something about our soul.

Scripture reference Matthew 9:9-13

The Bible Makes Sense – Like God Makes Sense

I recently received the following question that I would like to address.  “I definitely believe in God. I am certain I believe in the same God of the Christian bible, my struggle is with the bible itself. I find so many contradictions that nobody can explain for me; faith shakers. I want to know my creator, but it is hard when my bible is so tainted by interpretation of man.  God never held the pen, nor did he hand pick the books of the bible. This was done by a committee of men.  I am not an atheist, nor do i try to play devil’s advocate. I am just a person searching for answers. In the exodus for example, it says that the pharaoh would begin to want to comply, but then God hardened the Pharaoh’s heart and made him defiant.  How could the God of love and all living things harden the Pharaoh’s heart, thereby sealing his fate? And what of Judas? Did the God of love and infallibility take free will from these men and damn them?  So even though I believe very much in a loving God, the inconsistencies in the bible cause me to doubt the whole dynamic of salvation through Christ.  I have no choice but to think that there is a possibility that Christ’s role in the bible could have been misrepresented.   I just want the information given to us to be consistent. I apologize for the length of the question as well as punctuation and grammar, but what i want to know is, where can i find a god that makes sense? (content modified for grammar and length).”

First, let me say, while you are looking for a God that makes sense, rest assured He has already found you.  And while that may sound trite it lies at the heart of the answer to the concern mentioned above.  If there is a God (and other posts on this site have already begun addressing that point, as will more to come) who is the Supreme Creator it stands to reason that He would desire to communicate with His creation.  What would prohibit Him from doing so if He desires?  As Paul describes for us, the law is written on our hearts and our conscience also bears witness (Romans 2:15).  The witness of God is upon our hearts from birth.  God begins His communication with us at the very beginning of our existence.

It is more difficult to believe that God would not communicate with us than it is to believe He would.  He certainly has the ability to communicate with us.   God has communicated with us in three primary ways first , the Son, Christ.  He is the fullness of revelation.  Secondly is the Bible, which entirely compliments the revelation of the Son.  The third means is through prayer.

I cannot answer the question of why God has chosen the Bible as one of the three primary means of communicating with us rather than choosing some other means.  But on the other hand, why not the Bible?  Written communication is a common and accepted form of communication (I’m communicating with you right now through written form).   Written communication is the recording of ideas that exist in someone’s mind, whether it be your own with you being the true author, or someone else’s, like a reporter or journalist would.   Is it so inconceivable that an all powerful Creator could communicate the ideas in His mind and heart to those He chose?  Wouldn’t a good author seek to insure that what He has communicated is published accurately and correctly, especially an author with unlimited power?  Why do we make the assumption that the Bible is tainted with the interpretation of man.  Has God shown Himself to be such a hands-off creator and subsequently communicator\author?

One of the test of any published work is how does it stand the test of time?  What other book has withstood such great investigation, scrutiny, cynicism and even attack and remained a timeless message?

 Now in regard to contradictions in the Bible lets really consider that.  I have heard my entire life about contradictions in the Bible.  As I mentioned, no writing in history has been more scrutinized than the Bible.  People have gone to great efforts to identify contradictions and inaccuracies in the Bible.  Where are they, really?  This blog does not have the space to address the many supposed contradictions specifically.  My book will address some of them as examples.  For now, lets consider the attitude that leads to tghe argument of contradictions in the Bible.  If one approaches any writing with the mindset that it must contain contradictions and fallacies, they are guaranteed to find them.  They will produce them.  It is assumed the Bible has contradictions becasue of what it claims to be.  It claims to be the Word of God.  Such an outrageous claim immediately awakens the cynic within us.  If we approach the Bible with the mindset that it is true and accurate we are able to see that the contradictions we thought existed really aren’t there.  I’m not promoting blind acceptance, but rather a different approach in our investigation with a more open mind.

As C.S. Lewis tells us in ‘Mere Christianity’, reality is very much different than we would have expected.  If we were designing the universe it would have been much more symmetrical and simple.  Instead, what we have is complexity that does not meet our expectations.  For example, if one were designing the planets they would probably be uniform in size, or maybe growing larger as they moved further from the sun.  Or they would all have one moon, or three, or some pattern.  Instead we have planets of all different sizes in no particular order, with a variety of moons, one with rings, etc.

The same would be expected if someone were putting together the Bible as a scam or a hoax or even just a good made up story.  They would go to great care to make sure that when people looked for contradictions they would not be able to find them as that would hurt the credibility.  Instead what we have is a book that seems to have (I emphasize the word seems) multiple contradictions, but somehow has stood the test of time.

To address the two examples provided in the question above, simply put, no, God did take away these men’s free will to choose.  Pharaoh did not begin to comply and then God harden His hurt.  There was no real compliance on Pharaoh’s heart.  He thought he could negotiate a deal, thereby placing himself on equal footing with God.  This is not compliance and is certainly not humility.  God hardened Pharaoh’s heart because he would recognize who God was.   The same is true of Judas.   If  not then why was Judas distraught and regret what he had done?  These men chose their own fate when they chose to be the god of their own lives.  This happens to all of us as we seek to make ourselves the God of our own lives.