For a while I have been working on a book dealing with each of the episodes in the Bible dealing with adultery. It has been enlightening to see how many references there are to cheating. The issue is an important one to anyone studying the Bible. In the book, each episode is addressed in terms of the context of what happened. The incident is followed by a breakdown of what truths are conveyed. The truths are conveyed by how it might apply to modern situations.
For example, in covering Hophni and Phineas, there are many lessons regarding how some people in ministry positions have abused their role. The episode covers how two priests are involved in sleeping with their followers. We know that at least one of them was married. The lifestyle exhibited contains truths about how they bent and distorted Biblical teaching and procedures in order to sleep with the women. The women were often tricked into falling for the men in such prominent positions. The head priest was also complicit in how he handled the episodes and allowed them to stay in office, despite what happened.
The episode is followed with the insights gained and how those insights would apply in modern society.
I mention what I am working on to see if there is an interest in such a book. Let me know if there is an interest. At this point, it is only a project that I use in gaining more understanding of the issue. If you are interested in such a publication, please let me know.
13 Responses
I would never discourage anyone from pursuit of a topic as the Word of GOD reveals through investigation…..you GO guy!
Zaza,
Thank you for the encouragement. I wanted to see what the response of people were before moving forward with the project. It does little good to make a product if it does not meet a need.
Yes, I think it would be a great endeavor especially if it included practical guidelines on how to avoid temptation and to gird up the marriage to avoid the destruction of infidelity per the Bible’s instructions on covenant marriage.
Christina,
Thank you for your feedback. Having your input and that of others helps me.
I would be interested in a book that covered all the major religions and their books. How are they different and how are they the same concerning adultery. I have no idea and I would find that a book worth paying for. Let’s face it, we live in a diverse world now and knowledge is power.
Kayla,
Thank you for your idea. I had not looked at the subject of adultery from the different religious perspectives. I am familiar with some of the perspectives. A side by side comparison would be enlightening, although it may step on some toes, especially when Judeo-Christian values are compared with Islamic ones on topics such as child brides. We believe that women need to be of an age of consent, yet those limitations do not exist in the other system. Bear in mind, that is just one topic, there are many other differences. I did write a short article on how infidelity has been viewed through history. The History of Infidelity in Ancient Cultures, and another on how the definition of marriage has changed over time. I wanted some background on the topic and gained some insights from looking into it. I like your suggestion, yet I do not know if the time is right for such an book at this time due to the tensions between religious groups.
Most of your posts and/or responses have a scriptural reference so it would totally make sense to fully integrate the Bible on the topic of infidelity; with application to modern times being an essential component to the book. Looking forward to it Jeff.
Stormy,
Thank you for the feedback. I do make some references, but try not to preach, since when you are hurting, you do not need someone preaching at you. You need encouragement, not condemnation at such times.
Your reply above stated ….”I do make some references, but try not to preach, since when you are hurting, you do not need someone preaching at you. You need encouragement, not condemnation at such times.”
Jeff, I appreciate your efforts with this blog…It has been comforting and helpful not just to me and my situation, but to many who do not post. It is really an offering of love and support.
Having said that I cannot get this phrase you put forth out of my mind in that I feel I should try to engage you in thinking about what struck me about it …if you will permit me to offer what I felt the need to bring to the table for your consideration.
“…you do not need someone preaching at you. You need encouragement, not condemnation at such times.”
How is it that ‘preaching ‘ is being assumed here to be ‘condemnation”?
I wrote this in responsse this evening ..it is long ..apologies since I was interrupted several times, but made effort to follow the train of thought.of what came to mind concerning why this was so important for me to try to bring some thoughts to the table on this statement.
The Lord brought what is the view of the condition of the world when he came and said he did not come to condemn the world but to save it …and it was BECAUSE the WORLD was ALREADY UNDER CONDEMNATION from the time of the FALL and corruption that was the result of Adam’s choice to disobey the only commandment at that time .
There would have been NO NEED for a SAVIOR if there wasn’t this condition that all are born in to …He said that those who receive the provision for our redemption and choose to take ‘THE WAY”… WHO is made known through preaching of the word , believing and living by way of the word …would be ‘saved’.
If there was no condition of condemnation existing then WHAT would we need a savior for?
What could possibly be damaging to anyone by bringing the Word to people’s attention ANYWHERE and ANY TIME?
The onus is upon the hearer as to what effect that word has….HOW we hear reveals what the condition of the heart is .
There are those who ‘reject’ the word of GOD because they want to ‘keep their own tradition’ it is comfortable…they do not want or think they need correction. They are ‘rich’ …in what they think and what they think they know.
Rev 3:17 Because thou sayest, I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing; and knowest not that thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked:
Mar 7:9 And he said unto them, Full well ye reject the commandment of God, that ye may keep your own tradition.
It is those who are deeply invested in the world and in sinful living that do not want to have the word ‘touch’ their sin or expose it as wrong …they seek the comfort of those who will not expose the sin that is endangering them and damaging their own lives and that of others…
Jhn 12:48 He that rejecteth me, and receiveth not my words, hath one that judgeth him: the word that I have spoken, the same shall judge him in the last day.
Jhn 3:36
He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him.
What God defines as ‘wrath’ ….ABIDES ON …or stays with those who do not receive the Word …the message of the life and words of Jesus Christ . The word of GOD lights the way to be delivered and escape deceit and thus sin which confounds those who know not the word so have no way to compare what they already know or what they hear with truth.
We are given the WAY to go FROM DEATH ..this life we are born into …unto LIFE which is IN Jesus CHRIST
Born into the world dead ..separated from God and into the kingdom of the prince of this world …who ‘received it ‘ …from Adam who once was entrusted with the care and stewardship of it …He lost it when he disobeyed the protective command of GOD …
Many do not realize that the DEVIL who tempted Christ in the wilderness made this statement…and Jesus who ALWAYS corrected those who were in error …did not correct him! WHY ? because THIS world is NOT the ‘kingdom of GOD ‘ ….as Jesus told us HIS kingdom is WITHIN ..it is spirit…not visible
SO then many do not realise the truth that they not only NEED rescue …but they have a ‘lord’ who has the domain of the world they are born into …they must have INFORMATION about this in order to discover the WAY they must go to avoid the snares of deceit which work upon their FLESH
Without the knowledge of the truth and believing in what HE is and says …and then doing it ..people are left with nothing more than whatever they see, hear, or feel …as we all can atest that has brought about a LOT of pain as our spouses have been subjecting themselves to obey flesh , sin and whatever they have been lured to attend to in THIS world
Without the knowledge that comes from God …God breathed …scripture they will only be trying to deal with things that come through their lives with their natural mind….a mind devoid of the truths that God’s word offers to anyone willing to pursue understanding of it.
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It is only perceived as ‘condemnation ‘ by people who cling to whatever is identified by God as sin which He reveals the identity of things that destroy through HIS knowledge ….aka His word .
How can anyone KNOW what damage and danger they are in from something they do not KNOW about, but keep getting deceived by ?
Preaching or sharing the word is useful for recognizing what is HARMFUL to us ….
So I do not see how sharing the word should be equated with ‘condemnation’ by those who need comfort of the scriptures applied to their wounds.
I do not think you do think so either.
The only reaction that sees the Word as condemning arises from where it ‘hits the mark’ concerning exposure of some area of our lives where we have been living by a lie…it is LOVE to speak forth what comfort there is for the wounded from scripture, it is also LOVE to expose what is attaching itself to our lives by way of ignorance of the truth …which causes us to believe a LIE or lies…..
Those who recognize the benefit of being told truth appreciate learning what is offered for our salvation.
The Word of God is equated with ‘water’ which cleanses what it is APPLIED to .
Salvation is not static “thing’ …it is an ongoing learning and applying according to the directions found that come along with the “news” of the GOOD news that we are no longer consigned to live by guessing or trial and error ..but can LEARN …and then live BY that Word obediently …because it is LOVING to live by truth.
Many who have been cheated on will attest it is the lack of knowledge of the reality that their spouses were imposing lies upon their life …TRUTH is a NECESSITY to all things substantial and solid ….stabilzing even as it destabilizes a life that is habitually lived by a wrong paradigm!
Rom 8:1
[There is] therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.
HOW can anyone ‘walk after the Spirit’ if they do not know of it ? or seek out what it means to do this?
To walk after Jesus Christ who IS the word of GOD …is to receive instruction and then act upon what He reveals to those willing to go after it …seeking with hunger and thirst .
I fail to understand why anyone in need would not find the offering of truths from our Creator worthwhile and delivering. it is not like they cannot go and find out for themselves after reading …if what has been offered is not found to be true!
Sin has harmed all through deception which is the result of ignorance of He who is the truth.
Hsa 4:6
My people are destroyed for lackof knowledge:
because thou hast rejected knowledge, I will also reject thee,
that thou shalt be no priest to me: seeing thou hast forgotten the law of thy God, I will also forget thy children.
This does not have to remain the state of anyone…for WHOMSOEVER WILL …is able to seek after the Lord who wants us to seek and find …and continue to seek …and find …and seek and find all things He has made available through the knowledge that He has provided through his HOLY SPIRIT which is HIMSELF …his WORD is also HIMSELF.
Perhaps if more of those who preach were willing to ‘lay down their lives ‘ and preach the truth which reveals and condemns sin fewer would take a casual attitude about it ..
Gods word teaches us to become aware of vulnerabilities which have been the means to deceive by the ways it tempts humans living in a fallen state and in the midst of a fallen world there would be less fear and contempt for the reproof and correction that is also part of God’s loving care for his children.
It is true that the GOOD Shepherd …seeks, finds and cares for his sheep …he also carries the means to protect them from predators the ROD .[the law / word] and his staff [ the bread which came down from heaven …the WORD again]
The Good Shepherd , our Lord and Savior , knows how to keep those who trust in Him safe as they HEAR his VOICE and follow Him.
. Scripture IS His ‘voice’ so those who are His, KNOW his VOICE and welcome it .Scripture believed is OUR SHEILD ! It is our SWORD.
Therefore knowledge of what GOD has inspired has been given to us to utilize defensively …to be able to SEE, IDENTIFY the various ways and reasons for sinful activity and to avoid becoming snared ourselves .
How will they KNOW they are invited by Him to ‘come unto me and take MY yoke upon you and LEARN OF ME ‘ if speaking out with it is feared or set aside as too harsh” or only thought of as ‘condemning’
The scriptures are nothing to fear …because if a person KNOWS what GOD has given for us to KNOW then there is no need to fear listening ….we know where we can go to find truth….ALL scripture ..the whole testimony …. because when a person is ‘ rooted” in their own personal experience of having read and applied the words that are truth. they will KNOW …the spirit of GOD within will guide us into all truth ..it will testify within us and confirm according to the Scriptures ..bringng them up from where we have sown them to confirm truth or expose lies.
Many are offended by the Word simply from the way they have been exposed to someone’s false use of it …OR they love their sin and the worlds offerings and don’t want anyone …including their Creator to “interfere” with their compromise and comfort in their state of sinful behavior by bringing up what their conscience has already worked to cause them to try so hard to deny …squelch it ..and thus justify their choices and actions.
THOSE who do so ..DO find the word to be “condemning” …GOD offers us the knowledge of HOW we may deal with condemnation so that WE are not condemned along WITH the sin that we may have gotten ourselves into.
God does not want us to attach ourselves to the condemnation that sin is under…but to free us from that captivity ..to give us the power to NOT choose sin …many ‘choose’ sin because they think that their feelings are sufficient cause to do whatever they feel like
This is what is called the ‘law of sin and death ‘ the ‘feeling or idea that whatever they feel like is OK and harmless…TRUTH shows us how we do not HAVE to obey our apptetites or act outside of godly boundaries which protect life …and in marriage …protect our marriage and our families.
TRUTH makes us FREE to choose ..as we are then able to recognize a lie or a con or a sinful snare and reject that ….
As I mentioned to my husband …Just because you CAN doesn’t mean you SHOULD!
With truth and love and desire to please GOD and not hurt others we CAN DISOBEY the urge to sin ..and more and more learn HOW to choose right…and to deny our fleshly lusts which fade in their strength as we walk more and more by truth .
Love for GOD ….brings more desire to walk obediently to what is WISE as HE has give us that option which bring about reconcilation with HIM …and with one another.
ALL who live godly in Jesus Christ will agree that in retrospect it was the best ‘turn ‘ in their lives.
Isn’t it appropriate then to speak what condemns sin, but what offers hope, healing and direction to any who are sick and tired of compromising their life with justifcations that are useful to neutralize in their thinking the very destructiveness of sinful choices?
God’s love IS a “sword” …it divides assunder the THOUGHTS and INTENTIONS of our own hearts so we can KNOW how to evaluate our own choices …and it identifies what is false and contemptable so we may avoid such behaviors ..not make accomodations for them. Those ‘beams’ in our ‘eye’ or understanding are exposed by scriptures brought forth rightly divided are they not??Once we have seen what a ‘beam’ looks like from God’s perspective we then can recognize one whenever we see one…in our own thinking …or if we see it in others lives.
I once got chicken pox….I never had trouble recognizing them again after that …
What is the profit of living life by the deceptions of our society that have now become normalized and acceptable?The truth of scripture exposes things we have not even realized we accepted through our length of life being conditioned to accept some sin as ‘ok’ or ‘doable”!!!
Sin KILLS ….!DESTROYS and we need to NOT take it ligthly as many are going the broad way of destruction for the diluting of truth! We each have opportunity to seek and learn truth …and we each are responsible for what we end up accepting and believing because we all have a Savior who wants us to allow HIM to be OUR PERSONAL LORD …
This idea is appalling to our western way of thinking ..independence and freedom is defind more in the western mind as FREEDOM FROM anyone telling us what to do ..yet we all live under SOME authority …anarchy has not taken over ,,,,yet,
God’s kingdoms has rules to live by IN it just as our natural world has laws for our protection …mostly …even as some are not just …it is what we have ..since man apart from GOD is not self governing without some kind of threat of penalty …This is a reflection of God’s ruling …only GOD is perfect…and loving as well as TRUELY JUST …must more than man
Anyway …We are not FREE from the laws of GOD ..they are protective for us as we obey what HE says ….but rebellion leads to deception because rebellion rejects the idea of absolute truth and having any kind of authority higher than our own way of thinking and wanting to be our own god.,
Scripture is NOT condeming of those things which are righteous…it is experienced as ‘condemnation’ within those who are doing something that is condemned!
False condemnation is ALSO a deception ..to really KNOW what is worthy to be considered as what GOD condemns we are given HIS world view and HIS word …and ‘open book test’ could be one way to view this .
Offering scripture to others is risky but did not Jesus demonstrate that speaking the word to others was sacrificial ..it risks their approval and love …indeed ..if someone does not love GOD and His word they will not like to hear what He has to say about some favorite comfortable allowance of sin in their lives.
1Jo 3:20 For if our heart condemn us, God is greater than our heart, and knoweth all things.
1Jo 3:21 Beloved, if our heart condemn us not, [then] have we confidence toward God.
1Jo 1:9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us [our] sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
ALL scripture is perceived by the hearer according to the condition of their OWN heart.Some hear a scripture as “doctrine” …someone else will hear the same offering as “reproof”…..it is the ‘sword of the spirit’ which divides asunder the thoughts and intentions of the HEART ….it shines truth upon the condition of the HEART of a person , therefore when it shines on something we may experience sorrow , surprise , joy or confirmation depending upon whether our hearts are aligned with truth …or perhaps are in need of correction.
Hbr 4:12 For the word of God [is] quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and [is] a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.
Jhn 15:17 These things I command you, that ye love one another.
Jhn 15:18 ¶ If the world hate you, ye know that it hated me before [it hated] you.
Jhn 15:19 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.
Jhn 15:20 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.
Take heed therefore HOW YOU HEAR: for whosoever hath, to him shall be given; and whosoever hath not, from him shall be taken even that which he seemeth to have.,,Luke 8:18
Lots of people do not understand this verse….It speaks of those who ‘have’ SOME knowledge of the Word, but do not pursue understanding of it from the Lord and do not “keep ‘ it .What little they have of knowledge of the word is thus ‘taken’ rather it “fades” and does not effect their way of thinking or living life.It is a case of not receiving it ..taking it to heart and then living by it as we are told it will be useful to open our understanding and save us from continuing in a trial and error method of living life and thus becoming prone to being deceived.
I agree that those harmed and wounded by infidelity are in need of comfort and healing Paraclete….a coming along side …weeping with those who weep , mourning with those who mourn. I simply take issue with the statement which seems to say that offering appropriate scripture is something that is ‘hurtful ‘ or not constructive to the process of comfort.
Rom 15:4 For whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning, that we through patience and comfort of the scriptures might have hope.
I also do not see how the scriptures offered that deal with sin that are appropriate could be anything but helpful .
What is ‘condemned’ by the Lord is the very thing that has harmed those who are faced with dealing with sexual sin …a deceived spouse…or a spise who practices deceit has need of assurances that it is NOT THEY who are the CAUSE …it is the life that has not been reined in by way of the scriptures that determine for us not only what is WRONG in sin but HOW to avoid getting trapped by it
This seems like it would be useful for all concerned….if they are able to receive it….
Jesus said that he came NOT to judge the world” which some assume means that He meant that he DOES NOT judge….What is the truth must be understood by way of allowing the whole story to be considered.
This must be understood in the light of all scripture…HE came to ‘save the world ‘ because the world was ALREADY judged …it was UNDER condemnation and the judgment was a consequence of the FALL and thus all living in it NEED a Savior.
He certainly spoke very dramatically in condemning sin and warned man HOW To AVOID it …thus gave commandments throughout the word which ARE instruction in right living.
Jhn 3:19 And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil.
Those who love the Lord endeavor to be CLEANSED from all unrighteousness and thus DO LOVE THE LIGHT of His exposure of sin …in order to know what it is and how to avoid falling for deception.
God’s word is what makes us “SALTY” as his children …we are exhorted NOT to fear bringing it to the forums of life …for those who do not know it , when hearing it may then perhaps desire to know and seek out truth of it for themselves….not hearsay but in their own effort to seek Him
Relationship is NOT ‘transferable ‘ it pleased GOD by the preaching of the word …the declaring of it by those who have had experience with HIM in it ..through their own relationship with Him to make known what He has been teaching them as they follow Him
It is not ‘given’ that everyone will delight in this ‘hearing’ but it is not also useful to decline from speaking whatever is appropriate.the commandment to ‘speak what He has given us to speak ‘
I think you have been good at this …I want to exhort you to continue because you are offering a place for those who are in need of comfort and considering aspects of this trial to have some fresh perspectives that are useful to our efforts to deal and heal with all of what comes at us in this process.
I see you are not afraid to speak regarding your faith in the Bible, but I just had a need to address this statement as it seems give the impression that reinforces the opposition to hearing God’s word as it is in truth HEALING and restoritive rather than to think that when the word is given forth it is all about “CONDEMNATION” It may seem so to those who delight in doctrines that appeal to ‘itching ears’ but to those who love the Lord or seek what is righteous it is a healing balm …and refuge from the state of the world which offers ‘every wind of doctrine’ to those who are as yet double minded.
Please keep up the effort to continue to offer the comfort and encouragement here .
2Cr 1:4 Who comforteth us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort them which are in any trouble, by the comfort wherewith we ourselves are comforted of God.
How will anyone KNOW if they do not have exposure to what the Bible has to say about things we encounter. YES people CAN go read the Bible for themselves and they should investigate it for themselves. Freedom of speech serves to continue our right to bring the words of GOD to the attention of anyone who is in need of hearing what MAY not have been part of their experience in society , family or even church itself.
Putting the word “out there’ is like ‘salting the oats’ which is something that horse people do to get horses to DRINK ….speaking what GOD says about things in life …..may cause some to become thirsty and seek our the fountain of living waters , rather than settling for a ‘broken cistern’
Jer 2:13 For my people have committed two evils; they have forsaken me the fountain of living waters, [and] hewed them out cisterns, broken cisterns, that can hold no water.
Deceptions always come in the form of something pleasant …pleasing to the flesh and that most assurdly comes in the form of some kind of religion….and even what is claimed to be biblical ..truth has to be sought out …pursued ….our Lord wants to be wanted…just like we want to be wanted singularly by our spouses!
Jhn 6:63
It is the spirit that quickeneth; the flesh profiteth nothing: the words that I speak unto you, [they] are spirit, and [they] are life.
Jhn 7:17
If any man will DO HIS will, he shall KNOW of the doctrine, whether it be of God, or [whether] I speak of myself.
Jesus said…
Jhn 8:26
I have many things to say and to judge of you:
but he that sent me is true;
and I speak to the world those things which I have heard of him.
Mat 11:6
And blessed is [he], whosoever shall not be offended in me.
Mat 13:21
Yet hath he not root in himself, but dureth for a while: for when tribulation or persecution ariseth
because of the word, by and by he is offended.
I for one appreciate your kindness and tenderness in the way you offer supportive materials and thoughts to those dealing with this situation. But I do not think your choice of words describing the preaching of the word as ‘condemning ‘ a fitting way to communicate the value of the word of GOD which is LIFE giving .
wow…this got VERY LONG ….thank you for a space to speak what was on my mind….I think your offerings are very helpful ..I hope you recognize this offering of mine as one that speaks of support for and encouragment to speak what ever you are given from the Word …and let the chips fall where they may
Isa 55:11 So shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper [in the thing] whereto I sent it.
Act 17:11 These were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were so.
Zaza,
Thank you for your response. The reference to condemning “I do make some references, but try not to preach, since when you are hurting, you do not need someone preaching at you. You need encouragement, not condemnation at such times.” was made for several reasons.
1) When dealing with affairs, people are easily overwhelmed. Since God’s word is powerful, a little goes a long way. Giving people too many references and citations often turn many people off. The Bible scholars will eat it up, those who are new to the Bible are at risk. I want to reach the wounded and the hurting and they are often very sensitive. Their emotions are raw and so I tread carefully. Those reading the post are often used to amplifying what is said to them, so I use caution.
2) I try to use the approach of a word fitly spoken approach. I find that it goes better than giving them the whole wagon load.
3) In the case of the cheaters reading the posts, I try to be sensitive to their needs as well. Some of them are racked with guilt. They are looking for what they need to do, not what they did wrong. The ones seeking answers already know what they did wrong.
I hope that clarifies my statement and the reason for it.
Zaza,
We all come from different religious backgrounds therefore Jeff cannot effectively counsel everyone with a religious perspective. He will lose a part of his audience taking the preacher man role. I appreciate your religious conviction, but it comes across as obsessive. Have you considered starting your own blog? It seems you use religion to understand what’s happening in your life, but are you using religion to make necessary changes in your life to create the happy life God wants for you?
Jeff, maybe the Bible Adultery idea would create religious perspective conflict. I like the work you are doing now. I don’t want to see that change.
I observe that you do offer a ‘word fitly spoken’ …my concern was with simply the statement which feeds into some people’s view of Bible ….I think it might be better put that as you are concerned with ministering to the hearts of people in all conditions your answers come from that concern.
I have seen your own respect for God’s Word indeed. My concern was simply the reference expressing that Bible truth is equal to condemning people ….in your ministering to people you DO use scriptural wisdom …which does not condemn….it is just not put in chapter and verse form and it does not condemn but comforts.
Your practical expression of Bible is for the good …I have no conflict with this ..it was the distinct use of the word ‘condemnation’ which seems to confirm some people’s ‘reason’ for rejecting Bible.
I do not think you would want to give weight to this idea . Thus I believe it would be a better statement to avoid expressing the Bible in a way that encourages a negative attitude toward it …One of the things the serpent in the garden did effectively was to encourage resentment and distrust of God’s word as if His command was ‘restrictive’ and “withholding”
Such a view has been the excuse of more than one person as I have traveled along interacting with those who believe that if it is from the Bible it is ‘negative’ and ‘condemning’ ….God gave his word for our GOOD and it is comforting despite how it may reveal difficult truths about our state of being at the time we hear it .
I think I understand from observing and learning from your posts your intention in terms of ‘first do no harm’ …would that even those in the medical field kept to this oath! Yet I feel it was useful to mention this to you.
I feel that we need to keep a high regard not for some particular version of the Bible but for the sake of encouraging people to realize that God’s love is expressed to us for our protection and profit through his Word …rather than mention our awareness outright of how it is offensive in some people’s experience and minds…maybe not to mention it at all rather than speak in a way that causes those unlearned or uninterested to feel that it is a place they do not want to go because it promises the pain of realizing the condemnation .
Actually the condemnation that it offers is for us to learn that offenses we have experienced as other people’s sin HURTS us ….and our PAIN is JUST.
For my own experience , learning the truth about the just responses I have had but thought wrong has been healing and revealing.
Many who are sinned against have been led to feel that their response to sin is somehow ‘bad ‘ and must be suppressed! The onus has been upon those victimized rather than the condemnation of those who have willfully wronged them!
I know that from some pews I have heard the teaching that it is the WIFE who is responsible if the husband strays! I have also heard this kind of feeling from many other wives whose marriages have imploded from husbands who felt ‘justified’ because of some ‘lack’ in the way they thought their wives SHOULD have ‘made their lives whatever they THOUGHT it should have been while ignoring the commands that GOD has directed to men and husbands IN PARTICULAR.
As I have been studying and been IN various domains listening to what many offer from pulpits and then going back to see what the Word says ..I have been delivered from the condemnation that false doctrine lays upon the wrong person or condition and found out the way truth FREES both the victim and the perpetrator.
The agenda of the devil has been way too effective through teachings that served the purposes of men who have taught for their own sake .
Feminism may have had SOME good and reasonable aspects…which out of wrong applications and understandings that came from self interest as men have been led to believe ‘head’ meant RULER or BOSS…..but as will all false doctrines it had a ‘leaven’ of lies within it …and that has grown to seem to tell men they should be expected to be served and pandered which has appealed to the flesh …the result being that if the Bible tells men anything we have ‘heard’ it as if it were gender neutral ..thus laying more upon the women in terms of household and family than is according to truth.
One way to led and lure men away from their fulfillment is to affirm their urges to be ‘free’ by way of ‘lifting off them the godly charges that MEN were commanded by GOD to take upon themselves responsibility for’
Part of this wicked plot has come through the doctrine of EVOLUTION which has told people that the godly roles and designs of our Creator are only traditions that have no more validity because they were only ancient necessities back when the condition of living required men and women to divide up responsibilities….aka MAN MADE …
This attitude today has grown to the degree that men take their adolesence on into and some past middle age.
Man has not improved since the Garden ..but he has declined…even as I have had many older textbooks collected from past educational eras it is evident that man has not gotten ‘smarter’ …but that a SELECT group has been encouraged to grow and develop intellectually ..as they prove most responsive to programing as indicted by those most apt to line up with the way man has designed educational structures to produce whatever those who wish to control populations have desired. They are a patient group.
Thus today we see rampant disregard for godly gender design. The intention and wisdom of God has been set aside as ‘restrictive’ and ‘archaic’ in favor of the personal ‘freedoms’ that are thought to be our ‘right’ to redefine EVERY ASPECT of CREATION to fit the party line of those who are what we could call ‘social engineers’
This ‘work’ of satan has progressed according to what the Lord revealed down through the ages …in the scripture if anyone is open minded enough to search out what actually IS the purpose for genders that is revealed in scripture . today we STILL have a FEW who are willing to adjust their thinking and lives to grow more and more according to the corrective expositions God brings to them through their honest regard and respect for HIM and their faith that He will instruct and help them live accordingly.
This to me is ONE reason that it is important NOT to fall into agreement with those who regard the words of God as hurtful , painful and useless to aid in comfort. I believe you are of the same attitude but we all may slip into wanting to engage people and not offend them FOR the SAKE of gaining them ….Jesus told us that if we speak boldly and truthfully some would be offended but the word is HEALING in an of itself rightly applied.
I believe you have an ongoing effort to utilize your knowledge of the truth in this way …it is not your practice or intent that I have any cause for mentioning this but it is for the sake of offering the urge to continue to hold a high view of what GOD’s WORD offers….YOUR intentions are not in question …nor your attitude toward the scriptures…but to in a way ‘confirm’ some people’s attitude that the Bible is somehow NOT sufficient to address our pain by way of saying it is ‘condemning’ to some people’s hearts thus is not useful and even somehow hurtful in terms of help …is just not so.
This comes from my own experience of how the truths of the Word were ‘softened’ from the pulpet and others who lived according to the ‘soft’ approach which in turn has brought worldliness into the church and thus many are devoid of reverance toward GOD and His commandments….It is a doctrine of ‘lawlessness’ or “iniquity’ that has crept in through our desire to ‘love’ which has been defined as non confrontational
Also that idea that God’s love is ‘unconditional’ I think is not scriptural nor useful to the end that people are realizing the need for cleansing by way of applying the ‘water of the word’ to their thinking and lives …toward change that transforms rather than living life ‘conforming to this world ‘ which does no one any good.
I encourage you to continue to apply the WORD in wisdom as you have been but be aware that what words we use in reference to the Lord and His Word either effectively cause people to see the value and love of truths it offers or to turn away if those who love it seem to ‘agree; with them that it is somehow ‘too strong’ to be offered so they may recover themselves out of the pit …which is a ‘grave’ …which this life as far as living in this world is referred to in scripture as the ‘valley of the shadow of death’ THIS World is that ‘valley’ it is the ‘grave’ from which his judicial word reveals to those born into it so that they may SEE and thus begin to realize their need for being translated by The TRUTH who is Jesus Christ into the kingdom which is spiritual and not seen.
Perhaps this is nothing you need to hear but I am thankful for the opportunity to bring it to your consideration….better to not speak of the Word at all than to reference it in agreement with those who believe it to be too ‘harsh’ to be useful
I think as I survey the condition of our society that NOTHING is ‘too harsh’ in order to awaken those who have been slumbering in the ‘pot of increasingly boiling water of sinfulness all around ….in order to shake the ‘foundations ‘ that we have been living in ..assuming tha man has somehow progressed and improved over time
The further from the Garden man has gotten the more darkened his mind UNTIL Jesus Christ and those who take a high view of His Word as are thus rescued from the cesspool of false teachings , traditions and attitudes which more and more reject the idea of absolute truth without any consideration or KNOWLEDGE of it ….
Some who study the bible with an intellectual pride have come away not SEEING what is truth because they have studied with intent to be their own interpreter….we are to study with urgent desire and an attitude that the God who inspired it to be recorded will also guide them to understand as they go along taking it in and then applying it .
This ‘process’ is what is called for …to ‘receive it with meekness’ and to study ..rightly dividing it …it is understood ‘comparing spiritual things with spiritual ” or in other words …comparing it with itself …
For the words are SPIRIT ..thus comparing words or contexts from within eventually gives forth understanding
True not everyone does this or even THINKS they should …today’s world has been led to believe that it is only a special group that is ‘called’ to ‘ministry ” …in truth we are ALL commanded to study and then to learn from applications as we look unto the Lord to ‘quicken ‘ or make ‘alive’ His word IN us for IT is LIVING and SPIRIT….Everyone who is responsive to this command that has gone out to WHOMSOEVER …not some special ‘priesthood” certificated by man …has this command also …to GIVE whatsoever you have been ;” given ‘ ,..,this refers to the WORD ..we are ‘given ‘ understanding from our study of it …obedient to the command to do so …given to ALL because ALL are ACCOUNTABLE for what and how we have responded to the innate drive and interest learning and knowing GOD .
To say we are accountable to KNOW is indicative of the truth that since Jesus came and completed all things for us to KNOW that we are thus responsible EACH PERSON …to seek, to find , to keep on continuing in our seeking out truth and thus abide in it ..living by it ..and HE said it is in THIS WAY that HE would come INTO us and live IN us ….
Without this process of our response to seek, study , and COME to Him we are destitute of the ‘oil’ of truth just as the virgins who did not have ‘oil’ in their ‘lamps’ when their bridegroom showed up.
We want to encourage others to know the comfort that only comes from Jesus Christ and His Word.
The whole Bible is from GOD ….Jesus …therefore we dare not ‘mutilate’ His ‘body ‘ by only taking SOME of what is recorded but taking all scripture we will be led to learn more and grow more and our growing knowledge of HIM leads to more love for Him and recognition of how little we have known Him because of fear of being condemned as we read ….or fear of misunderstanding ..HE promised to teach and guide those who will ‘take heed ‘ and be ‘faithful in little’ …day by day …as we take in His thoughts and acknowledge Him and His right and ability to be our LORD we will be taught.Which is the best thing that can happen to any of us …but we have a Lord who respects our FREE WILL to CHOOSE
The Devil does NOT respect this ..but uses ignorance that is in those who reject and disobey the command to love GOD with ALL our heart..with ALL our soul , with ALL our minds and ALL our strength by way of going to His word and then ‘keeping it ‘ ….
This is HOW we are led to believe things that are not true about GOD …about ourselves and about life and death ..all of which are CRUCIAL and NOT known by any other enterprise…despite what seems to be ‘successful’ in the short term
I have sought throughout my life …studies many religious doctrines…many have had many truths ..but the bottom line foundation of truth is found ..in ‘the foundation which is made up of ‘ the apostles , prophets with Jesus Christ the chief CORNERSTONE…’ the plumb-line for truth…thus I want to confirm those who want to be make free from deceptions within and without need not fear to hear scripture but more to investigate it ..asking HIM for understanding of all that He wants to reveal ….it is awesome and very VERY useful for a lifetime of understanding what has happened …why and what is going to be the outcome of every thought or action we experience or observe around us .
Just having a high view of God’s Word is not enough …we must be champions for the integrity of our Lord and encourage others to take a high view also by way of sharing whatever we have thus far in our endeavor to walk after Him has worked in our lives.
May we continue to grow up in the ways that GOD has for us to learn within that He may be glorified in all things …both that which ‘stings’ in reproof and correction in our thoughts …and that which confirms HIS goodness as we see the outcome of what is truth and loving from His wisdom .
Thankful for YOU in all your compassionate efforts here Jeff and others who I have observed are willing to sustain their hope in all things righteous and offer support through their own lives of following after the truth.
Everybody’s life “preaches”