HOME CHAT ROOM #1 CHAT ROOM #2 Forum Topics Within The Last 7 Days REGISTER ENTER FORUMS BIBLE SCHOOL CONTACT US

Maritime 2nd Advent Believers OnLine Christian Family Fellowship Forums
(formerly Maritime SDA OnLine)
Consisting mainly of both members and friends of the Seventh-day Adventist Church
Welcomes and invites other members and friends of the Seventh-day Adventist Church to join us!

Click Here To Read Legal Notice & Disclaimer
Suggested a One Time Yearly $20 or Higher Donation Accepted Here to Help Cover the Yearly Expenses of Operating & Upgrading. We need at least $20 X 10 yearly donations.
Donations accepted: Here
ShoutChat Box
Newest Members
ekoorb1030, jibb555, MBloomfield, Dina, Nelson
1323 Registered Users
Forum Statistics
Forums118
Topics9,186
Posts195,505
Members1,323
Most Online5,850
Feb 29th, 2020
Seventh-day Adventist Church In Canada Links
Seventh-day Adventist Church in Canada

Newfoundland & Labrador Mission

Maritime Conference

Quebec Conference

Ontario Conference

Manitoba-Saskatchewan Conference

Alberta Conference

British Columbia Conference

7 Top Posters(30 Days)
Rick H 21
kland 17
Daryl 4
March
S M T W T F S
1 2
3 4 5 6 7 8 9
10 11 12 13 14 15 16
17 18 19 20 21 22 23
24 25 26 27 28 29 30
31
Member Spotlight
ProdigalOne
ProdigalOne
Alberta, Canada
Posts: 1,166
Joined: June 2015
Show All Member Profiles 
Today's Birthdays
No Birthdays
Live Space Station Tracking
Here is a link to show exactly where the Space Station is over earth right now: Click Here
Last 7 Pictures From Photo Gallery Forums
He hath set an harvest for thee
Rivers Of Living Water
He Leads Us To Green Pastures
Remember What God Has Done
Remember The Sabbath
"...whiter than snow..."
A Beautiful Spring Day
Who's Online
8 registered members (Kevin H, TruthinTypes, Wendell Slattery, Daryl, ProdigalOne, TheophilusOne, 2 invisible), 3,077 guests, and 6 spiders.
Key: Admin, Global Mod, Mod
Previous Thread
Next Thread
Print Thread
Rate Thread
Page 99 of 105 1 2 97 98 99 100 101 104 105
Re: Why did God command people to stone, scorch, and smite sinners to death? [Re: Tom] #133837
05/28/11 12:11 AM
05/28/11 12:11 AM
NJK Project  Offline
Banned Member
Dedicated Member
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 1,098
Laval, Quebec
Originally Posted By: Tom
It looks like you're just making one point here, so I'll address that point. The point is that the quotes have to do with suffering, and not judgments.


Indeed it is, by necessity, due to the exegetical reasons of understanding what E.G. White meant in “corpus-wide context”.

Originally Posted By: Tom
However, this isn't a viable explanation of the quotes, which is evident by simply considering that they say. For example:

Originally Posted By: SOP 1SM 118.1
We are to observe carefully every lesson, Christ has given us throughout His life and teaching; He does not destroy. He improves whatever He touches.


If what you were suggesting were true, we'd have to re-write this to say something like:

Quote:
We are to observe carefully every lesson which deals with suffering (but not lessons which don't deal with suffering; only lessons dealing with suffering should be considered), Christ has given us throughout His life and teaching;He does not destroy. He improves whatever He touches.


This clearly isn't viable. She emphasizes that "every lesson Christ has given us throughout His life and teaching" brought out the point that "He does not destroy." Trying to limit this to deal with only some subset would destroy the point she is making.


It is only your re-wording is what makes absolutely no sense. So that is a straw man and circular argument on your part. When one reads what E.G. White said earlier, as well as elsewhere, I see that my understanding of here statement is not only viable, but her actual and only intent. Indeed she is pointing out that the reason why: “We are to observe carefully every lesson Christ has given throughout His life and teaching. He does not destroy; He improves whatever He touches” is so that when one is clearly seeing that He is suffering for no wrong in his life, “not having things just as he wants them”, i.e., (even) in Spiritual/Righteous pursuits and/or ‘Soul victories’, and thus clearly so suffering by God’s permission, they are to study “every lesson of Christ” and see that “he is working, and will work this out, for our good’ (Rom 8:28).

Originally Posted By: Tom
Another example:

Quote:
Sickness, suffering, and death are the work of an antagonistic power. Satan is the destroyer; God is the restorer.(MH 113)


This would have to be rewritten:

Quote:
Sickness, suffering, and death are the work of an antagonistic power (sometimes, when sufferings are the issue; but not judgments). Satan is the destroyer (sometimes; other times it's God); God is the restorer(sometimes; when He's not the destroyer).


That “point premise” again is just your “straw man” and circular view. You’re really just arguing with yourself.

Originally Posted By: Tom
Your post does not deal with the overreaching point, which goes beyond sufferings or judgments, and that is what the whole Great Controversy is dealing with. There are to different powers at work, one the "antagonistic power," and the other is Christ. One went about doing good, and the other brings about suffering, sickness, and death.


It actually clearly did, as restated below.

Originally Posted By: Tom
The two powers are contrary the one against the other.


As I had said, that is why God has to take on the duty of (timely) executing necessary judgement Himself. Satan has generally caused sin, suffering and death for all, however there are many instances when there are no natural cause and effect (= organic consequences) for a needed, object lesson and timely judgement. Indeed the last thing Satan wants is to do something that will make people think twice before continuing on a path of sin. So God has to do this work out of Justice.

Quote:
They [heavenly beings] marked the work of...Satan constantly pressing darkness, sorrow, and suffering upon the race, and Christ counteracting it" (PP 69).


The main issue is that “suffering” is not synonymous with “judgement”. Satan also does not want to do any judgement, just merely cause suffering. He is indeed aiming for utter lawlessness and anarchy. Which is why God must do it Himself, and that to: protect/defend the Righteous, keep the playing field level and maintain the pure cause of truth whenever He is permitted to have a foothold, (e.g., ironically enough when Israel still claiming/believing to be His people while living in open sin (cf. Dan 9:18)).

Originally Posted By: Tom
One last point is that invariably when the SOP mentions God's judgments, it is brought out, either immediately preceding or following, God's "withdrawal" or "release" or "giving over" of the fighting against God into the enemy's power.


I am not sure I get your point here. Please restate and also cite a couple of examples to see exactly what your are meaning. And God’s judgements include what He injuctively said or legislated to occur, as in capital punishments.


By the way, I noticed your “principles” statement above to Mountain Man. I’ll just say that I think that principles are exegetically derived, and that includes the SOP. And I see that this is done by examining all pertinent examples and statements. So I don’t subscribe to using a single statement by EGW as a principle. In fact since I would mainly, if not effectively only, draw such principles for the Bible, so I subject EGW’s seeming one-liner principles to the test of the Bible. I.e., do they check out in all situations as they should if they were indeed a singular principle. So even if EGW has made what seems to be a principle, I subject it to a thorough Biblical test. Indeed all in line with the “Greater Light, Rule of/for faith and Doctrine” approach she had clearly and most deliberately counseled.


“Truly I say to you, to the extent that you did not do it to one of the least of these, you did not do it to Me.” Matt 25:45 NJK Project
Re: Why did God command people to stone, scorch, and smite sinners to death? [Re: NJK Project] #133844
05/28/11 05:13 PM
05/28/11 05:13 PM
Tom  Offline
Active Member 2012
14500+ Member
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 14,795
Lawrence, Kansas
Addressing your points.

I.What I wrote in terms of my rewording of her statement is a straw man.

Here's what I wrote:

Quote:
We are to observe carefully every lesson which deals with suffering (but not lessons which don't deal with suffering; only lessons dealing with suffering should be considered), Christ has given us throughout His life and teaching;He does not destroy. He improves whatever He touches.


In what way does this not accurately represent your thought?

You make the argument that her statement is in the context of suffering, which is fine, but I made the point this doesn't change the truth of her assertions, which are:

1.Christ does not destroy.
2.He improves everything He touches.

We are to observe all His lessons throughout His life and teachings to learn these two things. Then we apply these two things to the subject of the suffering of the righteous. That's what she's doing.

Your thought seems to be that these two statements were intended to apply *only* in the case of sufferings, which is what my rewording of her statement is doing.

So again I ask, how is this not accurately reflecting your thought?

II.You made the same point in regards to this rewording:

Quote:
Sickness, suffering, and death are the work of an antagonistic power (sometimes, when sufferings are the issue; but not judgments). Satan is the destroyer (sometimes; other times it's God); God is the restorer(sometimes; when He's not the destroyer).


This is, this point:

Quote:
That “point premise” again is just your “straw man” and circular view. You’re really just arguing with yourself.


But the rest of what you wrote looks to be once again justifying this rewording. This is, it accurately reflects your thought, as far as I can tell. You say that you disagree with the rewording, but the rest of your post agrees with the points of the rewording. So I ask the same question in regards to this rewording as to the other one, which is in what way is it not accurately reflecting your thought?

III.You write:

Quote:
Satan has generally caused sin, suffering and death for all, however there are many instances when there are no natural cause and effect (= organic consequences) for a needed, object lesson and timely judgement. Indeed the last thing Satan wants is to do something that will make people think twice before continuing on a path of sin. So God has to do this work out of Justice.


This is probably the crux of our disagreement. You see sin as basically innocuous, or, at least, some sins. Since there is not negative consequence (that's not imposed, like God's eventually killing the one who sins), God must impose an artificial consequence (killing someone in this lifetime), so that a person will think twice about continuing on a path of sin. This is what God has to do this work out of Justice.

So your argument is as follows:

1.Sin (at least some sins) does not naturally have negative consequences.
2.There are imposed negative consequences in the final judgment.
3.God imposes negative consequence in the here and now so that people will wake up to the fact that there are imposed negative consequences in the hereafter.

My argument is as follows:

1.All sin has negative consequences.
2.Therefore it is not necessary for God to impose any negative consequences to sin, but simply reveal what the negative consequences are.

I see the cross as essential to this last point. That is, the cross revealed, as nothing else, what the negative consequences of sin are.

So if sin is innocuous, then your reasoning follows, but if it's not, then it doesn't. Our disagreement, to a large extent, comes down to this point.

Regarding the last point I made, that when the SOP mentions God's judgment, it is brought out either immediately preceding or following, God's "withdrawal" or "release" or "giving over" of the one fighting against God, I don't understand the difficulty in getting this point. I've simply pointing out that when she speaks of God's judgments, she usually brings out that God was withdrawing etc. in the immediate context.

Here are some examples:

Quote:
God’s money is needed. It is hoarded and buried in the world, while multitudes are starving for temporal food and spiritual knowledge. It is spent in foolish amusements, in dissipating games and sports and idolatrous practises. God says, “Shall I not visit for these things?” Already he is sending his judgments upon the earth. Terrible plagues are visiting our world, in famines, in floods, in calamities by sea and land, in earthquakes in divers places. And because of men’s wickedness the Lord does not restrain the destroying power. {RH December 8, 1896, par. 12}


Quote:
[W]e remembered that we were living in a time similar to the time preceding the judgments which fell upon the old world. The Spirit of God is now withdrawing from the people of the earth. Men, wrapped up in prosperity, seeking and getting gain, have placed their affections upon earthly things. Few have recognized the long-suffering mercy of God. Few have realized or acknowledged his protecting care. Few have appreciated his goodness and love, although he has kept them from dire disaster and death. As in the days that were before the flood, there has been a strange forgetfulness of God.{RH August 13, 1889, par. 8}


Quote:
By their transgression of God's law the people of Judah had forfeited His protection...By their apostasy and rebellion they were inviting the judgments of God (5T 749).


Quote:
With these words of light and truth before them, how dare men neglect so plain a duty? How dare they disobey God when obedience to His requirements means His blessing in both temporal and spiritual things, and disobedience means the curse of God? Satan is the 389destroyer. God cannot bless those who refuse to be faithful stewards. All He can do is to permit Satan to accomplish his destroying work. We see calamities of every kind and in every degree coming upon the earth, and why? The Lord’s restraining power is not exercised. The world has disregarded the word of God. They live as though there were no God. Like the inhabitants of the Noachic world, they refuse to have any thought of God. Wickedness prevails to an alarming extent, and the earth is ripe for the harvest. {6T 388.3}


IV.Finally, in regards to the point about principles needing to be exegetically derived, of course context is important when considering any statement. But a statement like the following:

Quote:
All that man needs to know or can know of God has been revealed in the life and character of His Son. {8T 286.1}


is clear of itself.

Here's the context:

Quote:
All that man needs to know or can know of God has been revealed in the life and character of His Son. {8T 286.1}
Testimonies for the Church Volume 8, p. 286.2 (EGW)
“No man hath seen God at any time; the only-begotten Son, which is in the bosom of the Father, He hath declared Him.” John 1:18. {8T 286.2}
Testimonies for the Church Volume 8, p. 286.3 (EGW)
Taking humanity upon Him, Christ came to be one with humanity and at the same time to reveal our heavenly Father to sinful human beings. He was in all things made like unto His brethren. He became flesh, even as we are. He was hungry and thirsty and weary. He was sustained by food and refreshed by sleep. He shared the lot of men, and yet He was the blameless Son of God. He was a stranger and sojourner on the earth—in the world, but not of the world; tempted and tried as men and women today are tempted and tried, yet living a life free from sin. {8T 286.3}
Testimonies for the Church Volume 8, p. 286.4 (EGW)
Tender, compassionate, sympathetic, ever considerate of others, He represented the character of God, and was constantly engaged in service for God and man. {8T 286.4}
Testimonies for the Church Volume 8, p. 286.5 (EGW)
“The Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, ...full of grace and truth.” Verse 14. {8T 286.5}
Testimonies for the Church Volume 8, p. 286.6 (EGW)
“Unto the men whom Thou gavest Me out of the world,” He said, “I manifested Thy name,” “that the love wherewith Thou hast loved Me may be in them.” John 17:6, A. R. V., 26. {8T 286.6}
Testimonies for the Church Volume 8, p. 286.7 (EGW)
“Love your enemies,” He bade them; “bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you; that ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven;” “for He is kind unto the unthankful and to the evil.” “He maketh His sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust.” “Be ye therefore merciful, as 287your Father also is merciful.” Matthew 5:44, 45; Luke 6:35, 36. {8T 286.7}


The context changes nothing. The principle is exactly as one would expect it to be, just by reading the sentence.

Now if there is some statement which you think is unclear taken by itself, without the context, so that the principle is misstated, please point out which ones these are, and how the principle should be correctly stated. This is what I was doing in the rewording above, putting the principles according to your view of things. If you disagree with how I put it, please put the principle the way you think it should be put.


Those who wait for the Bridegroom's coming are to say to the people, "Behold your God." The last rays of merciful light, the last message of mercy to be given to the world, is a revelation of His character of love.
Re: Why did God command people to stone, scorch, and smite sinners to death? [Re: Tom] #133847
05/28/11 09:31 PM
05/28/11 09:31 PM
NJK Project  Offline
Banned Member
Dedicated Member
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 1,098
Laval, Quebec

Originally Posted By: Tom
Addressing your points.

I. What I wrote in terms of my rewording of her statement is a straw man.

Here's what I wrote:

Quote:
We are to observe carefully every lesson which deals with suffering (but not lessons which don't deal with suffering; only lessons dealing with suffering should be considered), Christ has given us throughout His life and teaching;He does not destroy. He improves whatever He touches.


In what way does this not accurately represent your thought?

You make the argument that her statement is in the context of suffering, which is fine, but I made the point this doesn't change the truth of her assertions, which are:

1.Christ does not destroy.
2.He improves everything He touches.

We are to observe all His lessons throughout His life and teachings to learn these two things. Then we apply these two things to the subject of the suffering of the righteous. That's what she's doing.

Your thought seems to be that these two statements were intended to apply *only* in the case of sufferings, which is what my rewording of her statement is doing.

So again I ask, how is this not accurately reflecting your thought?


I myself never saw a need to pointedly make “Christ’s lessons” be limited to only sufferings. I rather see that they include reasons in regards to suffering, but are not limited to only those. Other things that ‘Christ touched to improve’ did not need to go through suffering, as seen in many miracles. However in the applicable episode with Peter’s and the disciple’s testing, they were permitted to suffer in order to come out as better Apostles on the other end. (Luke 22:31, 32) Apparently Satan asked Jesus Himself to so touch the disciples. Another example of this is Lazarus who was permitted to die by Christ for the glory of God and also Lazarus’s healing and resurrection.

Originally Posted By: Tom
II.You made the same point in regards to this rewording:

Originally Posted By: Tom
Sickness, suffering, and death are the work of an antagonistic power (sometimes, when sufferings are the issue; but not judgments). Satan is the destroyer (sometimes; other times it's God); God is the restorer(sometimes; when He's not the destroyer).


Tom: This is, this point:

Originally Posted By: NJK Project
That “point premise” again is just your “straw man” and circular view. You’re really just arguing with yourself.


Tom: But the rest of what you wrote looks to be once again justifying this rewording. This is, it accurately reflects your thought, as far as I can tell. You say that you disagree with the rewording, but the rest of your post agrees with the points of the rewording. So I ask the same question in regards to this rewording as to the other one, which is in what way is it not accurately reflecting your thought?


Because the condition of “sometimes” is moot to me here as this “Sickness, suffering and death” are only applying in context to non-judgements. The Bible is clear that God uses sickness, suffering and death in judgements, so I defaultly saw that there was no need to make the distinction here as I see that it is naturally understood to not include acts of judgements. It is as mootly useless as trying to justify the ways in which Law Enforcement and the Judicial Systems in western societies normatively enforce and preserve Law and Order. Your description is only applicable to Criminals. Lumping God’s actions as these acts of (non-judgement) sickness, suffering and death is innate wrong to me as His actions are always non-arbitrary and Just, eventhough they involve applicable force. God cannot be labelled as a “Destroyer” as He is acting out of Justice. Just like a policeman is not a felon, or a murderer even when he may have (justly) been speeding and crossing red lights, or killed someone in the line of duty.

So in both cases, I had not seen a need, in any way, to make your textual amendments. I indeed saw that those distinctions were contextually/theologically understood. There was therefore no need to so restate if for those statements. You, viewing things from your point of view, of course only saw the contrary and this need to explicitly differentiate.

Originally Posted By: Tom
III.You write:

Originally Posted By: NJK Project
Satan has generally caused sin, suffering and death for all, however there are many instances when there are no natural cause and effect (= organic consequences) for a needed, object lesson and timely judgement. Indeed the last thing Satan wants is to do something that will make people think twice before continuing on a path of sin. So God has to do this work out of Justice.


This is probably the crux of our disagreement. You see sin as basically innocuous, or, at least, some sins. Since there is not negative consequence (that's not imposed, like God's eventually killing the one who sins), God must impose an artificial consequence (killing someone in this lifetime), so that a person will think twice about continuing on a path of sin. This is what God has to do this work out of Justice.

So your argument is as follows:

1.Sin (at least some sins) does not naturally have negative consequences.
2.There are imposed negative consequences in the final judgment.
3.God imposes negative consequence in the here and now so that people will wake up to the fact that there are imposed negative consequences in the hereafter.

My argument is as follows:

1.All sin has negative consequences.
2.Therefore it is not necessary for God to impose any negative consequences to sin, but simply reveal what the negative consequences are.

I see the cross as essential to this last point. That is, the cross revealed, as nothing else, what the negative consequences of sin are.

So if sin is innocuous, then your reasoning follows, but if it's not, then it doesn't. Our disagreement, to a large extent, comes down to this point.


The problem is that whenever this difference is brought up and discussed, you outrightly ignore or suddenly end discussing/responding to the latest points, even involving the Bible and SOP on key issues such as legislated and effectuated capital punishments, acts of judgement destruction done by God Himself, Divine Vengeance, the Tree of Life, etc. Your view needs to be “shielded”, from the clear statements made against it in the Bible and SOP, and that with a teflon-coated brick wall where nothing, however Biblical and factual they actually are, can neither stick or get through. This “stone-walling” to engaging all points is not conducive to a constructive and truth-arriving discussion. So if you really want to continue discussing these ‘fundamental’ discussion issues, then go back to where you stopped responding to my points and begin from their by answering those points.

Originally Posted By: Tom
Regarding the last point I made, that when the SOP mentions God's judgment, it is brought out either immediately preceding or following, God's "withdrawal" or "release" or "giving over" of the one fighting against God, I don't understand the difficulty in getting this point.


Well until those present examples, I had no idea what you were saying. If you understand something, it does not automatically mean that I would or should. Hence the request for clarification and concrete, corroborating/illustrating examples.

Originally Posted By: Tom
I've simply pointing out that when she speaks of God's judgments, she usually brings out that God was withdrawing etc. in the immediate context.


That restatement itself is much more clear than the previous confusingly, somewhat, (indeed just enough), periphrastic and muddled:

Originally Posted By: Tom
One last point is that invariably when the SOP mentions God's judgments, it is brought out, either immediately preceding or following, God's "withdrawal" or "release" or "giving over" of the fighting against God into the enemy's power.


Originally Posted By: Tom
Here are some examples:

Originally Posted By: SOP RH December 8, 1896, par. 12
God’s money is needed. It is hoarded and buried in the world, while multitudes are starving for temporal food and spiritual knowledge. It is spent in foolish amusements, in dissipating games and sports and idolatrous practises. God says, “Shall I not visit for these things?” Already he is sending his judgments upon the earth. Terrible plagues are visiting our world, in famines, in floods, in calamities by sea and land, in earthquakes in divers places. And because of men’s wickedness the Lord does not restrain the destroying power.


In a sequitur way, the ‘non-restraining of the destroyer’, with is “And because...” opening, seems to be in addition to the effectuation of the prior “Divinely-sent plagues”, and that for plausibly added wickedness than the previously listed acts of selfishness. Interestingly enough this resembles, if not is in the template of: the first 6 Last Plagues being at God’s doing, through His Angels, with the 7th involving the unrestrained destroying power of, presumably, but not necessarily, here, Satan.

Indeed the destroying power could be the judgement destroying power that God Himself can wield. These destructions can easily be made to occur by not tempering or quenching a naturally formed disaster which does not have to be pointed created/done by Satan.

Originally Posted By: SOP RH August 13, 1889, par. 8
[W]e remembered that we were living in a time similar to the time preceding the judgments which fell upon the old world. The Spirit of God is now withdrawing from the people of the earth. Men, wrapped up in prosperity, seeking and getting gain, have placed their affections upon earthly things. Few have recognized the long-suffering mercy of God. Few have realized or acknowledged his protecting care. Few have appreciated his goodness and love, although he has kept them from dire disaster and death. As in the days that were before the flood, there has been a strange forgetfulness of God.


God’s withdrawing His Spirit from people is not what causes disasters which God had been protecting them of. Again these could be normally forming disasters, (e.g., unsteady fault lines, formed hurricanes, Tornado producing weather conditions, belching or active volcanoes, gathering abundant rain cloud capable of causing floods, etcs). All are natural formations that God may indeed be, unseenly working to variously disrupt and prematurely end. So by Him instead allowing them to fully follow their development and/or destruction course He Himself would be effectively sending these destructions. Satan really is not actively involved here, even if those adverse elements are ultimately all the result of the sin he had authored. Interestingly enough, as in the case of e.g, the Flood and S&G, as well as other acts of judgements by God, He needs something more potent and timely to effectuate “undelayed and striking Justice” and so much develop His weapons of destruction himself.

Originally Posted By: 5T 749
By their transgression of God's law the people of Judah had forfeited His protection...By their apostasy and rebellion they were inviting the judgments of God.


In this case, their was indeed an organic threat in the Assyrians present to do the destruction. Though, as I had said, God can also stir up/summons a foreign power to do this work of destruction when it is not “organically” intending/desiring to. Furthermore the ‘forfeiting of God’s protection here’ straightforwardly entails that ‘in the event of an attack by Assyria, God then could not protect Judah.’ God ‘forfeiture’ did not result in the Assyrians being drawn to fight Judah. It just assured their victory in the case that such a war took place. And as seen in that episode’s history, when Hezekiah prayed later, God was able to protect them against an already drawn opposing army.

Originally Posted By: SOP 6T 388.3
With these words of light and truth before them, how dare men neglect so plain a duty? How dare they disobey God when obedience to His requirements means His blessing in both temporal and spiritual things, and disobedience means the curse of God? Satan is the 389destroyer. God cannot bless those who refuse to be faithful stewards. All He can do is to permit Satan to accomplish his destroying work. We see calamities of every kind and in every degree coming upon the earth, and why? The Lord’s restraining power is not exercised. The world has disregarded the word of God. They live as though there were no God. Like the inhabitants of the Noachic world, they refuse to have any thought of God. Wickedness prevails to an alarming extent, and the earth is ripe for the harvest.


In a Theological way, I see this as involving indirect/passive participance by Satan. I.e,. the effectuated destructions are from naturally forming disasters that God does not act to prevent. In other words, I don’t see that every natural disaster is an active act of Satan. Indeed if that was true in those days of EGW, then how much more today. I rather see that Satan would love to prevent all those catastrophe so that men may live care-free and not have any notion of judgements.

Nonetheless, it must also be seen that in especially her day which was largely an “Age of Faith” most people would see these acts as “acts of God”. And as they saw nothing wrong in their lifestyle and practices, they would only be susceptible to “cursing God” for “unfairly” punishing them. So Satan would have some incentive to cause such natural disasters.

Similarly, in the Age of Unbelief and Unreason that we live today, when, as with e.g., Katrina was said to be God’s judgement on New Orleans for its lifestyle, it caused much more people to become upset at the people making these claims, than cause genuine repentance. So Satan does indeed do things that advantage him, and God may have no better option than to allow these things to at least tangibly build up/confirm the faith and awareness of the righteous. (Cf. Dan 12:10)

Originally Posted By: Tom
IV.Finally, in regards to the point about principles needing to be exegetically derived, of course context is important when considering any statement. But a statement like the following:

Quote:
All that man needs to know or can know of God has been revealed in the life and character of His Son. {8T 286.1}


is clear of itself.

Here's the context:

Quote:
All that man needs to know or can know of God has been revealed in the life and character of His Son. {8T 286.1}
Testimonies for the Church Volume 8, p. 286.2 (EGW)
“No man hath seen God at any time; the only-begotten Son, which is in the bosom of the Father, He hath declared Him.” John 1:18. {8T 286.2}
Testimonies for the Church Volume 8, p. 286.3 (EGW)
Taking humanity upon Him, Christ came to be one with humanity and at the same time to reveal our heavenly Father to sinful human beings. He was in all things made like unto His brethren. He became flesh, even as we are. He was hungry and thirsty and weary. He was sustained by food and refreshed by sleep. He shared the lot of men, and yet He was the blameless Son of God. He was a stranger and sojourner on the earth—in the world, but not of the world; tempted and tried as men and women today are tempted and tried, yet living a life free from sin. {8T 286.3}
Testimonies for the Church Volume 8, p. 286.4 (EGW)
Tender, compassionate, sympathetic, ever considerate of others, He represented the character of God, and was constantly engaged in service for God and man. {8T 286.4}
Testimonies for the Church Volume 8, p. 286.5 (EGW)
“The Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, ...full of grace and truth.” Verse 14. {8T 286.5}
Testimonies for the Church Volume 8, p. 286.6 (EGW)
“Unto the men whom Thou gavest Me out of the world,” He said, “I manifested Thy name,” “that the love wherewith Thou hast loved Me may be in them.” John 17:6, A. R. V., 26. {8T 286.6}
Testimonies for the Church Volume 8, p. 286.7 (EGW)
“Love your enemies,” He bade them; “bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you; that ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven;” “for He is kind unto the unthankful and to the evil.” “He maketh His sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust.” “Be ye therefore merciful, as 287your Father also is merciful.” Matthew 5:44, 45; Luke 6:35, 36. {8T 286.7}


The context changes nothing. The principle is exactly as one would expect it to be, just by reading the sentence.


As I have said before, and indeed in the case of this point, it is not the point/principle itself that has a problem, but how you understand them and/or what you think applies to it. In this case here you won’t include the fact e.g., that Jesus did not do away with capital punishment, despite a perfect chance to do so, also spoke of Divine Vengeance, and did not do some things, such as Hell Fire destruction, only because that was not in His mandate, though He both amply and most descriptively spoke about it and also justly greatly wanted to bring it about (Luke 12:49, 50). So the issue is not with the principle themselves but squarely with your understanding of them and the selective and artificial parameters/limitations that you impose on them.

Originally Posted By: Tom
Now if there is some statement which you think is unclear taken by itself, without the context, so that the principle is misstated, please point out which ones these are, and how the principle should be correctly stated. This is what I was doing in the rewording above, putting the principles according to your view of things. If you disagree with how I put it, please put the principle the way you think it should be put.


I have already copiously dealt with your view of the principles you list. But as stated in this post, whenever the discussion reaches a point where you do not have an answer to my points, you just ignore them and/or isolatively deal with another topic, if not raise a side issue and never return to the prior topic. Yet you continue to maintain that your view is perfect. In this way, how can you but continue to see this. Indeed this present topic is another instance of this topic shifting, with many other posts and prior points left completely unanswered by you. Non-“insultingly” speaking, as usual from me, this is like ‘“clinical” discussion ADHD.’


“Truly I say to you, to the extent that you did not do it to one of the least of these, you did not do it to Me.” Matt 25:45 NJK Project
Re: Why did God command people to stone, scorch, and smite sinners to death? [Re: NJK Project] #133849
05/29/11 03:26 AM
05/29/11 03:26 AM
Tom  Offline
Active Member 2012
14500+ Member
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 14,795
Lawrence, Kansas
Quote:
NJK: Now that I understand your point of view more clearly based on what you have finally forthrightly/clearly stated below, I can actually now see/understand how and why this is “right on point for you, in your view. That is because you believe that OT writers themselves had, actually, a wrong view of God.

Tom: I don't think this is the right way of thinking about this. God is infinite, so no human (besides Jesus Christ) could have a view of God that was complete. What I said was, "They certainly didn't have as clear a view of the character of God as Jesus Christ."

NJK:Your expressed statements and practices in regards to your view clearly show that you have much more than ‘complete comprehension’ in mind. According to your view, one has to not believe the Bible when it says that God said, commanded or did something.


We should allow Scripture to interpret itself. God often presents Himself as doing that which He permits. This doesn't mean "one has to not believe the Bible when it says that God said, commanded or did something."

For example, Scripture says that "God killed Saul." But, in actuality, Saul took his own life.

Another example is that Scripture says that God sent fiery serpents upon the Israelites, but the serpents were there the whole time; God simply removed His protection from them.

Quote:
If you can dichotomize your view as you please then great for you. I just cannot comprehensively see from your that one understanding (Christ’s greater revelation) does not involve the other (not taking even the God-quoting OT writers at their words). Which is why you just don’t answer questions that deal with such direct statements of God. That is a major red flag for me, as I don’t one-sidedly build my Theology on just a selective set of passages, but seek to harmonize everything that has been said on the topic. This is indeed where we foundationally differ.


Why question have you asked me that I haven't answer?

Where we fundamentally differ is in how we view God's character, and how we view sin.

Quote:
NJK: I would only see that this applies to the parts of the Bible, where these writers were “free” to purely express their own thoughts, derived from their own experiences with God, e.g., the “Writings” of the OT (e.g., Psa/Pro/Eccl), however I also do see that much of the “free” statements by writers was derived from things that God had actually said.

Tom: All throughout the Bible the Bible writers are communicating their thoughts.


NJK:Not “all throughout” but generally speaking, only in certain part. I.e., not when they were either quoting God’s own words or making statements directly derived from these direct statements.


A couple of problems here.

It is certainly the case that the writers are communicating their thoughts when they are making statements directly derived from statements they heard from God. This is completely obvious. Just think about what is happening. They hear God say something, and then write about what they heard. It's impossible that this would not involve their communicating their thoughts.

Even in the case where they are recording something which they directly heard or saw, they are *still* communicating their thoughts. There's never a time when a Bible writer is not communicating his thoughts. He things something, and writes it down.

When EGW writes that the language of God is not recorded in Scripture, it is precisely that the Bible writings are communicating their thoughts which is being said. This is what stating that God is not represented as a writer in Scripture means. This is what it means to say that God is speaking to men in the language of men.

Another problem is that "all throughout" does not mean "without exception." Even if we allowed as an exception those cases where a Bible writer is recording what he heard God say (which isn't an exception to the statement that God as a writer is not represented in Scripture), it would still be the case that over 99% of the time Bible writers were communicating their thoughts, so to say this happens "all throughout" is completely accurate.

Quote:
As I said later and you agreed, the same thing was involved in EGW’s writings.


I don't know what this is in reference to.

Quote:
T:They are God's penmen, not His pen.

NJK:That does not involve/include thing that were directly, through various prophetic revelations (Heb 1:1) stated by, and heard from, God.


Yes it does. This is made clear from the quote from which this sentence was taken. That is, that God, as a writer, is not represented in Scripture; that God communicating in the language of men; etc.

Quote:
NJK:Not in the sense of your ‘He caused the OT to be reworded where: ‘God did not actually say or do what it says he did or do’, but OT writers always misunderstood Him.


I've said people have misunderstood the OT writers. I didn't say the OT writers "always misunderstood Him."

It doesn't help a discussion to misrepresent another's view like this. Especially doing so repeatedly, after one has already been corrected, is unhelpful. I've already stated on numerous occasions that the problem is not with what was written, but with the understanding of what was written.

Quote:
NJK:What I am saying is that they had ample revelation in the OT to get the same understanding that Jesus got. Jesus did not make his extra-biblical misconception corrections from direct revelations from God but by what He “exegetically” (i.e., especially including the greater Theological and substantive context) understood from those same OT writings.


I said that Christ had a clearer understanding of God's character than the OT writers. Do you really disagree with this?

Quote:
T:What I have been saying is that Jesus Christ was the clearest revelation of God. It was the whole purpose of His mission to reveal God. This was necessary because of the work Satan had been doing to misrepresent God's character.

NJK:And he achieved this mainly by variously causing people to doubt the Word of God, such as this not trusting that even direct revelations were accurate.


Please provide some evidence to support your idea here. I say Satan did so primarily by vesting God with his own attributes (cf. DA chapter 1).

I'd say that Satan does use doubting Scripture as a way of influencing us in our view of God's character. Since through Scripture is God's primary means of communicating with us, if we doubt Scripture, we're doubting God's ability to communicate with us, and if we doubt that, how can we trust Him?

Quote:
NJK:I can see how doubting God’s Character Justice does bolster the devil’s work. Indeed that is why people persist in rebellion today, not seeing/believing that God will enter into judgement with them.


People enter into rebellion against God because they prefer sin to God, or because they do not love or trust God. They don't enter into rebellion because they don't believe God will enter into judgment with them. This idea doesn't make sense.

If what you are suggesting were true, then it would follow that all that would be necessary to not be in rebellion with God is to believe He will enter into judgment with them. But surely you can see this isn't the problem. The problem is that one is not right with God; one fears Him; one doesn't trust Him. The problem is to reconcile an estranged relationship. This takes place when the rebels heart is melted by the revelation of the love of God shining from the cross:

Quote:
How, then, are we to be saved? “As Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness,” so the Son of man has been lifted up, and everyone who has been deceived and bitten by the serpent may look and live. “Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the 176world.” John 1:29. The light shining from the cross reveals the love of God. His love is drawing us to Himself. If we do not resist this drawing, we shall be led to the foot of the cross in repentance for the sins that have crucified the Saviour. (DA 175)


Quote:
T:Until the cross, even holy angels were impacted by Satan's misrepresentations.

NJK:What are you basing this on?


The SOP.

Quote:
NJK:I rather see that they were not yet convinced that the alternate way that Satan had proposed was deserving of the completely eradicating judgement that God wanted to effectuate on it.


I haven't seen any evidence this was ever an issue for the angels. Can you quote anything to substantiate this idea?

Here's a statement from the SOP speaking to the impact of the cross on the angels:

Quote:
That which alone can effectually restrain from sin in this world of darkness, will prevent sin in heaven. The significance of the death of Christ will be seen by saints and angels. Fallen men could not have a home in the paradise of God without the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world. Shall we not then exalt the cross of Christ? The angels ascribe honor and glory to Christ, for even they are not secure except by looking to the sufferings of the Son of God. It is through the efficacy of the cross that the angels of heaven are guarded from apostasy. Without the cross they would be no more secure against evil than were the angels before the fall of Satan.(ST 12/30/89)


The chapter "It Is Finished" from "The Desire of Ages" goes into detail about how the cross impacted the holy angels.

Quote:
So e.g., when the Bible says that God commanded Moses to kill the person violating the Sabbath, there was no misunderstanding involved here right? As with the many other God-quoting, God-commanded and/or God-directly-effectuated judgements in the Bible right? Your typical “God permits” reason here has been further shown to be invalid and would also only be addressing some episodes of such effectuated judgements.


Do you remember what Christ said to the disciples in regards to marriage? That because of the hardness of man's heart, God permitted divorce, but from the beginning it was not so? And the disciples replied tragicomically, "His disciples say unto him, If the case of the man be so with [his] wife, it is not good to marry." (Matt. 19:10)

This gives some idea of just how far from God's ideal will things had gotten. Christ explained what God's ideal will was, and the disciples responded that if God's ideal will is true, it's better not to marry.

Divorce is not the only area where God's ideal will was not understood. There wasn't any misunderstanding of the communication from Moses to the Israelites in regards to the divorce laws, but Christ saw further. He understood what God's ideal will was, and communicated that.

The same thing is true in other areas as well.

All that we can know of God was revealed in the life and character of His Son. The whole purpose of Christ's mission was the revelation of God. Christ fully and completely communicated God's ideal will. We do not need to supplement Christ's revelation.

If we have views based on our reading of the OT which do not agree with Christ's revelation of God's ideal will, we should go with Christ's revelation, as that's the clearest revelation. Evidently there's something we're not understanding correctly if we see discrepancies.

Quote:
NJK: The people’s added misconceptions are what need to be addressed and Christ added furthering and fulfilling revelations. The Inspired Bible writers got God’s revelation right. It was the people who misunderstood that revelation. And to say that these Bible writers got it wrong, implies that God Himself wrongly expressed, legislated and/or otherwise reveal it.

Tom: It dosn't imply this.

NJK: Previously I had said that a misunderstanding in Bible writers could have occurred in their actual “ad lib” writings, i.e., vs. writing what God had “directly” revealed. And I do not actually see an example of this “misunderstanding” in the Bible.

Tom: What you wrote was stronger than this. You wrote, "to say that these Bible writers got it wrong, implies that God Himself wrongly expressed, legislated and/or otherwise reveal it."

I don’t see so given what those particular statement involve. Again you are spuriously trying to dichotomize your view.


What are you talking about? I directly quoted you! You're finding fault with my directly quoting you?!

Quote:
Again, I wouldn't say that the Bible writers got it wrong, but that God is infinite, and they are human. God as a writer is not expressed in Scripture in terms of rhetoric or logic is what I recall the EGW quote to say.


So then, as Mountain Man also asks for, pointedly explain, once and for all, how you see that someone in the Bible writing a: “Thus says the Lord” is expressing an imperfect statement and will of God!!??


Here I'm quoting Ellen White. I've given you the reference (Selected Messages, vol. 1).

Quote:
NJK: I understand that you do with, e.g., every instance where it says that ‘God took judgement actions on someone/ a group of people.’ For the many reasons already expressed in this thread, including especially the ones that show that your understanding of what EGW revealed in 14MR 1-3|GC 35-37 was only a secondary way to effectuate judgements, namely “no (more) mercy” judgements, I indeed do see that you are quite wrongly and overreachingly misapplying that view.

Tom: She never said that this was a secondary way to bring about judgments. This is simply an assumption you have,

NJK:That’s is what all inclusive, proper exegesis reveals.


No it doesn't. For example, she writes:

Quote:
I was shown that the judgments of God would not come directly out from the Lord upon them, but in this way: They place themselves beyond His protection. He warns, corrects, reproves, and points out the only path of safety; then if those who have been the objects of His special care will follow their own course independent of the Spirit of God, after repeated warnings, if they choose their own way, then He does not commission His angels to prevent Satan’s decided attacks upon them. It is Satan’s power that is at work at sea and on land, bringing calamity and distress, and sweeping off multitudes to make sure of his prey. And storm and tempest both by sea and land will be, for Satan has come down in great wrath. He is at work. He knows his time is short and, if he is not restrained, we shall see more terrible manifestations of his power than we have ever dreamed of. {14MR 3.1}


If you don't see this as an adequate explanation of how God brings about judgments, it's incumbent upon you to produce an argument as to why not.

Quote:
If you were doing so you would be seeing this. Indeed those two methods are pointedly seen in the destruction of Jerusalem. One for the first allowed mercy part and the second for the utter end, no-more mercy part.


Here's what she wrote:

Quote:
The Jews had forged their own fetters; they had filled for themselves the cup of vengeance. In the utter destruction that befell them as a nation, and in all the woes that followed them in their dispersion, they were but reaping the harvest which their own hands had sown. Says the prophet: "O Israel, thou hast destroyed thyself;" "for thou hast fallen by thine iniquity." Hosea 13:9; 14:1. Their sufferings are often represented as a punishment visited upon them by the direct decree of God. It is thus that the great deceiver seeks to conceal his own work. By stubborn rejection of divine love and mercy, the Jews had caused the protection of God to be withdrawn from them, and Satan was permitted to rule them according to his will. The horrible cruelties enacted in the

36

destruction of Jerusalem are a demonstration of Satan's vindictive power over those who yield to his control.

We cannot know how much we owe to Christ for the peace and protection which we enjoy. It is the restraining power of God that prevents mankind from passing fully under the control of Satan. The disobedient and unthankful have great reason for gratitude for God's mercy and long-suffering in holding in check the cruel, malignant power of the evil one. But when men pass the limits of divine forbearance, that restraint is removed. God does not stand toward the sinner as an executioner of the sentence against transgression; but He leaves the rejectors of His mercy to themselves, to reap that which they have sown. Every ray of light rejected, every warning despised or unheeded, every passion indulged, every transgression of the law of God, is a seed sown which yields its unfailing harvest. The Spirit of God, persistently resisted, is at last withdrawn from the sinner, and then there is left no power to control the evil passions of the soul, and no protection from the malice and enmity of Satan. The destruction of Jerusalem is a fearful and solemn warning to all who are trifling with the offers of divine grace and resisting the pleadings of divine mercy. Never was there given a more decisive testimony to God's hatred of sin and to the certain punishment that will fall upon the guilty.

The Saviour's prophecy concerning the visitation of judgments upon Jerusalem is to have another fulfillment, of which that terrible desolation was but a faint shadow. In the fate of the chosen city we may behold the doom of a world that has rejected God's mercy and trampled upon His law. Dark are the records of human misery that earth has witnessed during its long centuries of crime. The heart sickens, and the mind grows faint in contemplation. Terrible have been the results of rejecting the authority of Heaven. But a scene yet darker is presented in the revelations of the future. The records of the past,--the long procession of tumults,

37

conflicts, and revolutions, the "battle of the warrior . . . with confused noise, and garments rolled in blood" (Isaiah 9:5),--what are these, in contrast with the terrors of that day when the restraining Spirit of God shall be wholly withdrawn from the wicked, no longer to hold in check the outburst of human passion and satanic wrath! The world will then behold, as never before, the results of Satan's rule.

But in that day, as in the time of Jerusalem's destruction, God's people will be delivered, everyone that shall be found written among the living. Isaiah 4:3. Christ has declared that He will come the second time to gather His faithful ones to Himself: "Then shall all the tribes of the earth mourn, and they shall see the Son of man coming in the clouds of heaven with power and great glory. And He shall send His angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and they shall gather together His elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other." Matthew 24:30, 31. Then shall they that obey not the gospel be consumed with the spirit of His mouth and be destroyed with the brightness of His coming. 2 Thessalonians 2:8. Like Israel of old the wicked destroy themselves; they fall by their iniquity. By a life of sin, they have placed themselves so out of harmony with God, their natures have become so debased with evil, that the manifestation of His glory is to them a consuming fire.


Where is even one sentence here that is out of harmony with what I've been sharing? Where is there any hint of God's working in two different ways here?

Quote:
The same thing occurs with the 7 Last Plagues.


I'm curious about something here. Ellen White writes that these last plagues were similar in character to the Egyptian plagues. So do you see the same thing happening with the Egyptian plagues? (i.e., God working in two different ways).

Quote:
1.The exercise of force is contrary to the principles of God's government.
2.Compelling power is found only under the government of Satan.
3.All that we need to know, or can know, of God was revealed in the life and character of His Son.
4.God does not stand toward the sinner as an executioner of the sentence against transgression; but He leaves the rejectors of His mercy to themselves, to reap that which they have sown.
5.Sickness, suffering, and death are work of an antagonistic power. Satan is the destroyer; God is the restorer.


Simply restating these points does not make them mean what you claim they mean. Deal with the many already stated points that show that they are not implying what you understand.


These are simple statements which anyone can understand. Take the last one as just one example:

Quote:
Sickness, suffering, and death are work of an antagonistic power. Satan is the destroyer; God is the restorer.


There's nothing difficult here. "Sickness, suffering, and death are work of an antagonistic power." What do you think this means? Indeed, how can this be misunderstood?

Quote:
T:You've never adduced any evidence that what she has said above is a "secondary way to effectuate judgments." That there is such a thing, as multiple ways to bring about judgments, is under dispute.

NJK:As cited above I indeed have.


You've just made the claim. That's not the same thing as adducing evidence. I've provided the quote from "The Destruction of Jerusalem." Go ahead and make the case that she has to different mechanisms in mind there. Produce some evidence to support your claim.

Quote:
T:The way that I have said that God brings about judgments is in harmony with the principles laid out above.

NJK:You are understanding these principles in an overreachingly different way than what EGW intended.


Make an argument to support your claim. You have the quote in front of you.

Quote:
T:If God had some other way of bringing about judgments, not in harmony with the above judgments, that would be problematic.

NJK:You are the one who is choosing to only look at one aspect of God’s judgement-effectuating. And the substantive Biblical record is what is to stipulate ‘hermeneutic rules of understanding’ not isolatively/merely EGW. That’s an unbiblical approach.


Provide some evidence to support your claims.

Quote:
T:God's character is consistent.

NJK:Which is why He allows for mercy even when effectuating judgement.


This much is true.

Quote:
Indeed many people in Jerusalem may not have themselves rejected Christianity. So God allowed for them to escape the destruction and have a further chance merely by remaining alive to get this saving knowledge of this Truth.


I agree with this, but this isn't what we were disputing. I was disputing your idea that GC 35-37 has to mechanisms at work, that God is using two different methods of effecting judgment, one where He directly destroys/causes suffering/etc., and another where He permits Satan to do these things.

Quote:
The Bible is written by inspired men, but it is not God’s mode of thought and expression. It is that of humanity. God, as a writer, is not represented. Men will often say such an expression is not like God. But God has not put Himself in words, in logic, in rhetoric, on trial in the Bible. The writers of the Bible were God’s penmen, not His pen.


NJK: Indeed some expression may seem and are ungodly.(None come to mind actually) However I see that the substance itself is not affected by the mode of expression.

Tom: Certainly one's understanding of what another communicates, which is what we're talking about, is impacted by the mode of expression.


(A) Not when “quoting” a source. The source itself would have to make the “ungodly expression” It is because you view all acts of judgement as evil and violent that you spuriously posit that God was in such direct statement cases always being misunderstood and misquoted.

(B) Again, while this may generally be true in life, I myself don’t actually see this occurring in the Bible. EGW saying: “Men will often say such an expression is not like God.” does not mean that this is the case.

Indeed, when one reads that SOP statement in full context, EGW is actually supporting the understanding that Biblical writers did not have a misconception about God. They wrote under thought inspiriation. She is simply saying that what they wrote in applicable, non direct quoting places, was not literally, i.e., verbatim the words, logic and rhetoric of God, as in a ‘verbal inspirational’ way. She also personally dealt with those same issues. Her full statement:

Originally Posted By: SOP 1SM 21.2
It is not the words of the Bible that are inspired, but the men that were inspired. Inspiration acts not on the man's words or his expressions but on the man himself, who, under the influence of the Holy Ghost, is imbued with thoughts. But the words receive the impress of the individual mind. The divine mind is diffused. The divine mind and will is combined with the human mind and will; thus the utterances of the man are the word of God.-- Manuscript 24, 1886 (written in Europe in 1886).


So for any misunderstanding to have patently been occurring, as you are claiming. These writers would have to be constantly misconstruing the inspired thought that God’s Spirit was continually putting in their heads.


First of all, the problem is not with that Bible writers, but with the understanding of what they wrote.

Secondly, you wrote that the substance of what is being written is not impacted by the mode of expression, but that this is false is evident on the face of it. For example, you use a mode of expression that's very difficult to decipher, as you write in exceedingly long sentences and don't proof-read what you write. That certainly impacts the substance you are trying to communicate.

Different languages have strengths and weaknesses. One cannot always say the same things in one language that one can say in another. God chose to communicate in Hebrew, since that was the language that those to whom God was speaking spoke. But Hebrew is not God's language, and, of course, His choosing to communicate in Hebrew had an impact in what He was saying.

But, this is a minor point. The major point is that our world view, our paradigm, our understanding of God's character impacts our understanding of what has been written. In order to make things as clear as possible, God sent His Son.

Quote:
By coming to dwell with us, Jesus was to reveal God both to men and to angels. He was the Word of God,—God’s thought made audible...

But turning from all lesser representations, we behold God in Jesus.(DA 19, 21)


Quote:
NJK:I also think that the Bible is substantively perfectly revealed in what is prescritive and also, by being truthful, in what it describes. I also think that whenever it relates that God did something, then that is indeed what occurred. (Of course you do see so).

Tom: The Bible often presents God as doing that which He permits.


NJK:Again this is not a substantiated claim.


Sure it is. I've given many examples of this. Hardening of Pharaoh's heart, the sending of spies, fiery serpents, killing of Saul, sending strong delusion, sending lying spirits, destruction of Jerusalem, the cross, Job, are a few of these. Here's a new one:

Quote:
He cast upon them the fierceness of his anger, wrath, and indignation, and trouble, by sending evil angels among them. (Psalm 78:49)


God didn't send evil angels among them, but permitted the evil angels to go.

Quote:
NJK:God is either directly or indirectly acting is those situations which are not necessarily always “permitting”. Indeed only in Job’s case do I see it applying as you claim. Otherwise I can easily see that God acted through an agency.


Ok, let's consider a couple of these.

First the hardening of Pharaoh's heart.

Quote:
But when Pharaoh saw that there was relief, he hardened his heart and did not heed them, as the Lord had said....But Pharaoh hardened his heart at this time also neither would he let the people go...Satan wrought...in a manner calculated to harden the heart of Pharaoh" (1T 292)


So what did God do if not permit this to occur?

Regarding the fiery serpents, we read:

Quote:
Shielded by divine power, they had not realized the countless dangers by which they were surrounded. In their unbelief they anticipated death, and now the Lord permitted death to come upon them. The poisonous serpents that infested the wilderness were called fiery serpents, on account of their sting, it causing violent inflammation and speedy death. As the protecting hand of God was removed, great numbers of the people were attacked by these venomous creatures. {EP 301.1}


This is stating my position as clearly as is possible to do so. "The Lord permitted death to come upon them." There's no hint of anything at all going on here other than what it says: "the protecting hand of God was removed."

The destruction of Jerusalem is another one. I've quoted at length regarding this above, so just a short quote here:

Quote:
Their sufferings are often represented as a punishment visited upon them by the direct decree of God. It is thus that the great deceiver seeks to conceal his own work. By stubborn rejection of divine love and mercy, the Jews had caused the protection of God to be withdrawn from them...(GC 35)


This is not only clear that what happened here is that God's protection was caused to be removed, but that Satan seeks to conceal "his own work" by causing others to view this as a punishment visited upon them by God.

I won't go through all of these, but the point has been decidedly made that God is presented as doing that which He permits, in the clearest language possible.

Quote:
T:This is a principle, like "forever" does not necessarily mean "for all eternity."

NJK:I have already shown that this is only when the context implies this.


This doesn't make sense. To understand what "forever" means we need to go outside the immediate context, considering all that Scripture has to say. For example:

Quote:
10And the devil that deceived them was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone, where the beast and the false prophet are, and shall be tormented day and night for ever and ever. (Rev. 20:10)


The context here doesn't tell us what "forever" means here. It's by comparing Scripture with Scripture that we know that "forever" means for as long as the given event is applicable.

Quote:
NJK: Why won’t you substantively address this instead of, as usual just repeating what you had previously said??!


I keep repeating things I've said because you keep misrepresenting my view. Value comes from a discourse like this when each party can correctly represent the view of the other. If you correctly represent my view, and offer arguments against that view, I can strengthen my view in meeting the arguments, or adjust the view, or disregard it, in response to counter arguments. But you if misrepresent my view, then there's no value in your arguments, since they aren't hitting anything I'm saying. So I keep repeating the same things in the hope that you'll address what I'm actually saying.

Quote:
So when we say something occurred, like God killed Saul, what does that mean? It might mean that Saul took His own life. Or when it says that God sent fiery serpents against the Israelites, what does that mean? It might mean that God did nothing more than remove His protection. Or when God sent strong delusion against those who received not the love of the truth, that might mean that God left to them to their own delusions.

All repeatedly, exegetically, addressed and disproven/debunked


??? This certainly isn't the case. I can't think of a single one of these examples that's not applicable. For example, here's the last one:

Quote:
Especially solemn is the apostle’s statement regarding those who should refuse to receive “the love of the truth.” “For this cause,” he declared of all who should deliberately reject the messages of truth, “God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie: that they all might be damned who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness.” Men cannot with impunity reject the warnings that God in mercy sends them. From those who persist in turning from these warnings, God withdraws His Spirit, leaving them to the deceptions that they love. {AA 266.2}


How has this been "debunked"? Scripture says, "“God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie:" This is presenting God as doing something He permits. Here's where it says God is permitting:

Quote:
From those who persist in turning from these warnings, God withdraws His Spirit, leaving them to the deceptions that they love.


This is clear, right? In one case we have "God shall send them strong delusion." This is God being presented as doing something. In the other we have "God withdraws His Spirit, leaving them to the deceptions that they love." This is God being presented as permitting that which He had been presented as doing.

Quote:
T:There are all sorts of examples like this.

NJK:You’ll have to cite new ones than the ones you have as they have been disproven and/or address the points that disprove them.


I can't imagine what you're thinking here. You don't have a leg to stand on here. We have in one case, direct language "God sends, etc." and in the other "God permits." This proves the assertion.

Quote:
NJK: This text clearly is just saying that “in the same way God had variously spoken through prophets in the past, now spoke through His Son Jesus Christ.”

Tom: I don't know anybody who interprets this text this way. I've never heard this idea until now.

NJK:That does not mean that it is not valid.


Actually, it does. It could conceivably be the case that your unique point of view could be true, but it's inconceivable that the text is clearly just saying something if you're the only human being who sees this.

Quote:
NJK:It exegetically indeed is. It is the same Spirit that was prophetically speaking. It was just able to achieve more through Jesus.


The "more through Jesus" is the point that was made.

Quote:
And what was later revealed in Jesus did not in any way contradict what God’s Spirit had previously revealed.


Of course not. This is not the point. The point is that Jesus Christ was the clearest revelation of the Father.

Quote:
Tom: These were chosen because they're easy to find. I hadn't read what these had said, but just looked for *any* commentary, because this explanation is the only I've ever heard, and seems clear just by reading the text.


I exegetically see this as the sole/limiting understanding here. God’s Spirit did not reveal unbiblical things in the past. Also notice e.g., that it was Christ Revelation to Paul ca. 4 years after Jesus’s ascension showed that the keeping of OT ceremonial laws was no longer required. Similar to this, further, more pointed revelation, all of what Jesus revealed was already hinted in the revelations of the OT, just not with “executive” force then.


This doesn't look to be responsive to the point, which is:

Quote:
The Highest of All Revelations Is Given Us Now in the Son of God, Who Is Greater than the Angels, and Who, Having Completed Redemption, Sits Enthroned at God's Right Hand.


Quote:
Tom: The point is that Jesus Christ is greater. This is the theme of Hebrews in a nutshell.


The book of Hebrews served to complete the types to Anti-type transition in Christ. The issue of judgements in the OT is not subject to this type/anti-type development, and indeed, it was not hinted that OT statements of judgements would be so “changed” (= reworded) in the NT. So this is really a proof text to support your view. Indeed, at best, a similar “replacing” revelation by Christ for judgements, given their incontrovertible substantive occurrence in the OT, like e.g., ceremonial practices, would come to only mean that such judgements would now no longer be done by God in this way in the NT era.


Again, this isn't responsive to the point, which is that Jesus Christ is the greatest revelation of the Father.

NJK: Interestingly enough, I only see two times in the Bible where God had to correct a prophets, and that for relatively benign reasons, namely Nathan (2 Sam 7:1-17) and Samuel (1 Sam 16:6, 7). Seems to me they were quite faithful in correctly transmitting what had been revealed/said to them. So I do not see a basis here that what was recorded in the OT from God was wrongly done.

Tom: What are your responding to here? Where have I said that anything was wrongly done?

NJK:The OT quotings of God being what He actually had in mind. These two examples show that when a prophet misconceived, misunderstood something about God, God then immediately intervened to correct him.[/quote]

Although this is outside from our discussion, from the point of logic, this is an invalid conclusion. That God corrected a viewpoint in one or two instances does not imply that no prophet anywhere at any time had a viewpoint that was incorrect.

Quote:
So that is why I do not that this was not at all the case with any statement of the OT.


This doesn't make sense.

Quote:
God’s Spirit evidently so made sure that what was written was in full harmony with the Intention and Will of God. E.g., God would have intervene to prevent Israel from stoning someone to death or going to war as this would not have been what He had ordered.


This is poor logic as well. The cases of slavery, divorce, and polygamy disprove this idea.

Quote:
Indeed David was not permitted to build the Temple because his own hand (and not Israel in general) had shed much blood, even if that was “before God” (1 Chr 22:8). Though these were necessary actions, God wanted a non-warrior to build His Temple. Indeed, correspondingly. though God does such great judgement actions, He only wants a worship of Him that is not based upon these acts. Still such effectuated Justice is a necessary and righteous part of God Character. If not, He would never have directly commanded David to engage in any of these wars. (E.g. 1 Chr 14:9, 10 versus 13-16).


I don't see that you responded to my question above. I asked, "What are your responding to here? Where have I said that anything was wrongly done?" and you didn't answer.

Quote:
T:Haven't I been saying that the problem is with how what was written has been perceived?

NJK:I do not sequiturly/fully see that from what you have been saying.


Ok, then I'll continue to repeat it, until you can sequiturly/fully see it.

Quote:
NJK:Indeed the problem is that you are also including direct statements of God in this view of yours. You may be not explicitly saying/intending that, but your OT revisionism and non-answers, say otherwise. Indeed you won’t answer anything that has to do with direct statements of God ordering war, capital punishment and judgement.


I may have written over a thousand posts on this topic (several hundred for sure) which is more posts than you've written at all. So I could just as well claim that you haven't posted anything.

Quote:
(You are actually seeming, by those non-answers, to be trying to buy time until you can find an even plausible answer for them. As with other similar issues, you should indeed clearly answer those direct questions to avoid this resulting logical/rational perception.)


You simply don't know what you're talking about. I have over 14,000 posts, and many of these posts are on this topic.

Quote:
NJK: That is of course because you are viewing/judging things by your view,

Tom: Of course. And you are viewing/judging things by your view, which is why you say the things you say.

NJK:Well you need to do a better job of proving your view,


To someone who is unwilling, it's not possible to prove it. All I can hope is to do a good job expressing it, and that it can at least be understood and correctly represented.

Quote:
NJK: indeed by engaging the many points that are showing that it is not in harmony with the Bible. Selectively only using some texts for a view is the patent way of establishing a teaching that is not actually Biblical. It is only plausibly so when only those partial selection of text are used. Still, the texts that you are claiming in support do not in themselves support your view as they are accurately understood when considered in the greater context of all applicable texts, if not simply through proper exegesis.


This is pointless. It's just a claim without evidence.

Quote:
What’s the real issue/problem here Tom, as with other similar occurrences elsewhere??? I have already answered this objection of yours. Why won’t engage what I have already said in response? Did you not see that post? Or did you not bother to read it?? Or did you forget what you had read??? Or does it not matter what I had said???? Which one is it????? And then you vexatiously complain when I get upset by this patent disrespectful discussion snubbing as if I have to silently taken this from you? What’s the deal here??


I'd say the main deal is your lack of either ability or desire to write clearly and succinctly. You go on and on and on, and make very few points, and there's just so much to sift through that's it's hardly surprising that I might miss something. I'm going through everything in this post, but I won't often have time to do so.

I suggest you try to write in a summary post what your main ideas are in regards to the topic we are discussing, and what you see my main ideas are. So far the main ideas I've been able to gather from you are that there is not an organic relationship between sin and death, and that God executed judgments in more than one way, sometimes permitting sickness/suffering/destruction to occur, and sometimes causing these things Himself.

Quote:
Tom: The most detailed explanation I've see in the first chapter of the Desire of Ages. The chapter on the revolution in France also is pretty detailed, and is along the same lines as the first chapter.


Well wherever EGW does expound on this “perfect mixture”, she rightly understands that they both simultaneously exists and are distinctly manifested.


In Scripture, these are not in conflict. For example:

Quote:
“Thus says the LORD of hosts:

‘ Execute true justice,
Show mercy and compassion
Everyone to his brother. (Zech. 7:9;NJKV)


Justice is effected by means of mercy.

Quote:
T:It's helpful to note principles involved. I've already articulated some.

NJK:Your articulated principles do not extent to what you claim of them.


Yes they do (Gratuitous assertions my be gratuitously denied).

Quote:
T:We know that at times God works as explained in GC chapter 1, and that this example has God working things out in harmony with the principles articulated before. Does He sometimes work differently, according to other principles? I don't see that you've made any such case.

NJK:My point, as stated in that Signs article is that God does not wholly dispense with Justice for the sake of Mercy.


Justice means killing, and inflicting disease, things like that, against those who are disobedient?

Quote:
NJK: Because God is merciful, He still does not do away with the justice elements in His Law and Character.


So if God weren't merciful, He would do away with the justice elements of His Law and Character? I guess what you mean is that even though God is merciful, He does not do away with the justice elements of His law and character.

I think you're seeing justice as punishment here, but this isn't how justice was viewed in the Old Testament. Justice has to do with the restoration of the community to shalom.

Quote:
So He statutorily instituted in Israel that a murdered person should be avenged (=Gen 9:5, 6). (You have not responded to that Genesis statement by God).


What sort of response are you looking for?

Quote:
Tom: It doesn't appear that you do. If you could articulate my position in a way that I would agree with, I would agree that you understand my view. Are you able to do so?

NJK:Easy. You see that nothing that is written in the OT can be defaultly said to be a correct perception of God’s ideas, will and ways.


I guess this is your idea of a joke. But mine was a serious question. Can you articulate my position in a way I would agree with?

Please note that the key point of this request is that you articulate my position "in a way I would agree with."

Quote:
NJK: I can see why you don’t get my incredulity here. I see that the Bible writers did not have a misunderstanding with what had occurred,

Tom: The issue is not with the Bible writers!

NJK:Really, so according to you who is it with then in pointedly direct quoting of God? It seems quite clear to me that we should not take what these statement say as accurate representation of God’s will. Then who is responsible for this supposed misperception and misquoting of God?


There's no misquoting here. Simply bear in mind that God often presents Himself as doing that which He permits. The misperception occurs when this principle is not grasped.

Quote:
(And if that is what you don’t think you said, then do spare me a terse: ‘that not what I said’ reply, and do quote or articulate for yourself what you said or meant. As seen below, (bold) you can do this when you think you have, at least, a seemingly plausible answer.)


Just quote something I said. You don't have a leg to stand on here. If you misstate a position I say once, that could be due to a misunderstanding. But after I correct you, and you persist, that's on you; you're doing it on purpose.

So just stop. Don't purposely misrepresent the positions of people with whom you disagree. That's just not right.

Quote:
NJK: I find no Biblical example or support, including from Jesus Himself, for this rewriting of the Biblical text.

Tom: I've given over a dozen examples of what I asserted.


By now all disproven a Biblically valid examples. At the very least, try new ones or address the standing objections.


I've cited several in this thread. What's an example of a case where I've cited an example of God being presented as doing something He permits when this isn't what was happening?

Quote:
NJK: As I understand the why’s of God’s timely OT judgements, indeed as He did need to timely act to check free developments that, I believed, He did not always anticipate as a concrete possibility (cf. Isa 5:4). All of these acts of judgement are also microcosms and warnings of what the Final Hell destruction will be.

Tom: I haven't been discussing with you as to why the judgments occurred, but the mechanism involved in the judgments.

NJK:That what/how is clear to me. And as my statement emphasized, it is the involved “why” that make Him use these direct and active methods for reasons of timeliness and also due, full and proper effectuations. Again these issues are not “dichotomizable” to me.


This isn't well written, but I'll address what I think your point is. If we accept the principle that God is constantly protecting us from a thousand dangers, all of them unseen, then the why need not be impacted by the mechanism. The "why" involved is that God permitted an evil to occur (i.e., "evil" in the sense of an unfortunate event), to prevent a great evil from occurring. The mechanism could either be that God directly did something, or that He permitted something, in order to accomplish this. So the "why" would be the same, although the mechanism involved differed.

Quote:
NJK: No. These “thus says the Lord” are a distinct portion of the Biblical Text, which I see a paramount in God’s revelation. Similarly to how I see the SOP’s “I was shown” statements. And in matters of history, these Bible writers straightforwardly and matter of factly related what had occurred and I do not see Jesus changing these accounts.

Tom: Yet again, this is not the issue.

NJK:It is if all of what is being said in the Bible is to be questioned as to its both verbal substance and meaning.


God is often presented as doing that which He permits. This occurs both by means of direct quotes, and otherwise. There's no need to question anything. There's just a principle of interpretation to grasp.

Quote:
T:Jesus Christ said what He heard, and lived what He saw, of God as revealed in the Old Testament. He read the same accounts as everybody else, so the problem is not with the accounts!

The problem is with one's perceptions of what was written. These perceptions are often at odds with what Jesus Christ revealed in His life and teachings.

NJK:As typical with your answers on this issue, it is substantively partial and logically simplistic. What is written is clear, especially in direct quotings of God.


Then why are there thousands of denominations? Surely somebody somewhere isn't understanding something correctly.

Quote:
NJK:You are just systematically ignoring these statements to sustain a surface validity of your view.


What statements?

You write as if the viewpoint I have is something I wanted to have, and went about obtaining it. What I believe is simply the result of my trying to ascertain truth. My original background was anti-SDA Calvinism. If my disposition were what you are suggesting, I would have just stayed as I was, as systematically ignoring statement to sustain a surface validity is something anti-SDA Calvinists are very capable of doing.

Quote:
NJK:You effectively and evidently clearly do not believe “the problem is not with the accounts!”.


It seems clear to me from this post that the problem involves the principle that God is often presented as doing that which He permits.

Quote:
NJK:Indeed won’t even let them exegetically speak for themselves as they pointedly do. With you, exegesis is to be ignored, especially as you see that these writers perceptions affected their exegesis, making say things that were not really what happened!?! How does that stated view of yours support your claim here.


Again, I think the issue has to do with the above mentioned principle. You seem to be denying this principle, with the single exception of Job. Even though my position in regards to what occurred in many of these incidents is a minority view, I think you're the only one who disagrees with this particular principle. The position that everyone else has who disagrees with me is that yes, God is often presented as doing that which He permits, but that doesn't mean that God isn't sometimes doing the things He is presented as doing.

Quote:
NJK: Indeed if your view was the Truth, I would think Jesus would be systematically engaging in recorded statements of, e.g.,: ‘you have read “God rained fire on Sodom”, but I say on to you God never does a judgement Himself, and this was actually a volcano that was always supposed to erupt then.’ etc.

Tom: Light is progressive. Jesus Christ spoke of the things which He felt were most pressing at the time. There are all sorts of things which are true of which Jesus Christ did not address directly.

NJK:So how then did He reveal everything, especially with such a crucial view of an OT episode that He used as the illustrative basis for His own end time judgement. He did not receive the full light on this???

This is a prime and most indicative example of you also making Jesus be subject to your view.


You asked why Jesus didn't explain all this. I said there were many things He didn't explain. You're response is, ":So how then did He reveal everything..." So you're asserting that Jesus actually did reveal everything?

Quote:
T:The whole purpose of Christ's mission was the revelation of God. He revealed the principles I'm articulating; love your enemies, turn the other cheek, walk the second mile. Christ gave His life for His enemies. He never recommended violence, and when it was suggested He burn them, He rebuked those who thus suggested because they did not know what spirit they were of. He died the most horrible death at the hands of those who hated Him. He returned kindness for cruelty.

NJK:And, as copiously seen throughout His Ministry, He mostly did this by explaining misunderstood OT passages/episode.


I assume "this" here is the revelation of God. If so, what you are asserting here is not the case. He mostly revealed God's character by how He lived (i.e., His deeds of kindness, healing, ministry, etc.)

Quote:
NJK:So why not also with this crucial S&G episode which manifestly was still “misunderstood” by NT writers?


I disagree with your assertion here. I believe the NT writers understood that God is often presented as doing that which He permits, and they did so themselves.

Quote:
Indeed Teaching on the Scriptures was a major part of His Ministry.


It wasn't His purpose to correct every conceivable error a person might have had in regards to what Scripture taught about God's character. Indeed, that would have been impossible. Light is progressive. God takes people where they are, and through revelation, moves them closer to the truth. This doesn't happen all at once.

Just think of where they were coming from. They had a militaristic view of God's kingdom, where the Messiah would come and physically rescue them from their enemies. They didn't understand the spiritual nature of Christ's kingdom. Christ had a lot to deal with.

Quote:
T: If you had more than the actual words of God in mind, then we are dealing with what actually happened, right? And even with the words of God, there are questions, as God often presented Himself as doing what He permits. For example, consider the episode of the fiery serpents. What happened there? Isn't this was our disagreement entails? I believe the serpents were already there, and that God had been protecting the Israelites from them the whole time, and He merely ceased doing so for a time. This is despite the direct language used.

NJK: This is where I see that you are being finally being forthcoming about what you actually think of Biblical exegesis. Evidently you see it as irrelevant.

Tom: How does what you're saying here in any way tie into the points that I just made? Or questions I asked?

NJK:I am dealing with the paramount “This is despite the direct language used.” Which means: “Exegesis is irrelevant to understanding the Bible.”


(post truncated here by software. next post continues)

Last edited by Tom; 05/29/11 03:30 AM. Reason: truncated post

Those who wait for the Bridegroom's coming are to say to the people, "Behold your God." The last rays of merciful light, the last message of mercy to be given to the world, is a revelation of His character of love.
Re: Why did God command people to stone, scorch, and smite sinners to death? [Re: Tom] #133850
05/29/11 03:29 AM
05/29/11 03:29 AM
Tom  Offline
Active Member 2012
14500+ Member
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 14,795
Lawrence, Kansas
I have made the point that God is often presented as doing that which He permits. Scripture uses direct language that God sent fiery serpents against the Israelites. This is explained by the SOP as meaning that God removed His protection from the serpents which were already there. Your conclusion to this is that "Exegesis is irrelevant to understanding the Bible." I'm incredulous to this response.

I'll point out once again that you're on your own here. That is, while my understanding of certain incidents is at odds with many posting here, that the principle is true that God is often presented as doing that which He permits is agreed to by everyone here besides you. That means, to be consistent, your assertion that "Exegesis is irrelevant to understanding the Bible" applies to everyone else here as well.

Quote:
NJK: And also “Bible writers did not relate things accurately.”


Why is this in double quotes? Who are you quoting? Certainly not me.

Quote:
NJK:As for your other points, that had been already dealt with, long ago, and through this exgetical method, so there was no point to restate those patently ignored answers, especially, as now revealed here by you, ‘exegetical facts do not matter’.


If you're talking about the snakes, you're on your own here also. You have some fanciful idea that God did something to instill fear in the snakes so they would attack, but this isn't anything even resembling exegesis.

Here again is the EGW statement:

Quote:
Shielded by divine power, they had not realized the countless dangers by which they were surrounded. In their unbelief they anticipated death, and now the Lord permitted death to come upon them. The poisonous serpents that infested the wilderness were called fiery serpents, on account of their sting, it causing violent inflammation and speedy death. As the protecting hand of God was removed, great numbers of the people were attacked by these venomous creatures. {EP 301.1}


That God's action here consisted of His removing His protection to allow the Israelites to be exposed to a danger which was already existing is incontrovertible.

Ok, this is everything, except for insults at the end of the post, which I'll skip.

I decided to answer this entire post, as you seem to complain if I don't do so. However, I'm simply not going to have time to do so on a regular basis. I spent something like 4 hours on this post.

Much of what is written here is redundant. What seems to be the main bone of contention here is the assertion that God is often presented as doing that which He permits. My understanding of our position is that you see the principle of God doing that which He permits as being applicable only to Job, and, I would extrapolate, to other similar incidents where God permits Satan to cause sufferings to a righteous person. Other than this case, you believe that whenever it says that God did something, that God took direct action to bring about the thing which it says He did. Is this your position?


Those who wait for the Bridegroom's coming are to say to the people, "Behold your God." The last rays of merciful light, the last message of mercy to be given to the world, is a revelation of His character of love.
Re: Why did God command people to stone, scorch, and smite sinners to death? [Re: Tom] #133870
05/30/11 04:39 PM
05/30/11 04:39 PM
NJK Project  Offline
Banned Member
Dedicated Member
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 1,098
Laval, Quebec
Quote:
NJK: Now that I understand your point of view more clearly based on what you have finally forthrightly/clearly stated below, I can actually now see/understand how and why this is “right on point for you, in your view. That is because you believe that OT writers themselves had, actually, a wrong view of God.

Tom: I don't think this is the right way of thinking about this. God is infinite, so no human (besides Jesus Christ) could have a view of God that was complete. What I said was, "They certainly didn't have as clear a view of the character of God as Jesus Christ."

NJK: Your expressed statements and practices in regards to your view clearly show that you have much more than ‘complete comprehension’ in mind. According to your view, one has to not believe the Bible when it says that God said, commanded or did something.

Tom: We should allow Scripture to interpret itself. God often presents Himself as doing that which He permits. This doesn't mean "one has to not believe the Bible when it says that God said, commanded or did something."


This assumption/assertion that “God often presents Himself as doing that which He permits.” is one that is bourne out of poor exegesis. The Bible is exegetically clear and non-ambiguous/ambivalent when ‘God permits something’ or ‘directly or indirectly does something through Himself or through a Divine agency. That is why and how all of your examples to try to substantiate this claim have been exegetically disproven and debunked. You do not see this because you are not given these exegetical points their due weight, still that does not render them invalid or vacuous of any meaning. The Hebrew Language has several verbal stems and tenses and each has its pointed and distinct meaning and connotation. It is by the careful use of these that Bible writers variously expressed how they understood God did various action. There is no linguistic justification to lump all of these distinct verbal expressions into one bland and blanket category of ‘they are all saying that “God often presents Himself as doing that which He permits.”’ Hebrew writers clearly and correctly understood the contrary and carefully related these differences in their writings. You need to get up to speed with that widely, if not unanimously understood/taught scholarly fact, even if solely at the teaching level. Students, even Seminary students are free to apply or not apply what they have learned in Seminary, however that does not make them right.

Originally Posted By: Tom
For example, Scripture says that "God killed Saul." But, in actuality, Saul took his own life.


The Bible incontrovertibly, exegetically says that “God caused the death of Saul.” Exactly how, i.e., what agency was used to achieve this is not specified, however this exegetical indication implies/involves that Saul was somehow, perhaps psychologically, as he was susceptible to (1 Sam 16:14-18), to take his own life. God wanted it to be done that day, and through the use of an “(unspecified) agent” made sure that it was done. However, as Satan surely did not want Saul to die and thus turn over the throne to the more Spiritual and clearly more competent David (E.g., the slaying of Goliath; also 1 Sam 18:6-9), then he probably did not even volunteer his “services” here to be God’s agent. Indeed it was in the interest of Satan to provide an evil spirit to terrorize Saul as God’s desired as he then could influence Saul to make bad decisions that would be detrimental to Israel, as it was indeed the case. So more than likely, a God-commissioned angel acted in pushing Saul to take his own life.

And that “evil spirit from God” (1 Sam 16:14-18) was, though not indicated here, sent through the same process that was revealed in the Ahab episode. That is God “opened the floor” to ‘agents of terror’ here and an evil Spirt from Satan’s camp volunteered his services. God also probably then also limited what that spirit could or could not do, as also seen with Job. So it was indeed “from God,” i.e., ‘from God’s mandating/commissioning.’ Indeed, the underlying Hebrew has the notion of “by reason of the interest/intent of Yahweh”.

I had also pointed out the that, unlike in this episode, the Bible uses a Polel verb when speaking of a direct killing by God, yet you just chose to completely ignore that exegetical fact.

Originally Posted By: Tom
Another example is that Scripture says that God sent fiery serpents upon the Israelites, but the serpents were there the whole time; God simply removed His protection from them.


For the many points that I have stated against this claim of yours, (which you have not answered head on, but simply restated this claim), this also in not what the Bible says, or what the SOP fully intended in meaning. Together, as exegetically due, they reveal that this withdrawing of God’s protection was in the form of Him acting to cause the serpents to come in the camp and also bit the people.

Quote:
NJK: If you can dichotomize your view as you please then great for you. I just cannot comprehensively see from your that one understanding (Christ’s greater revelation) does not involve the other (not taking even the God-quoting OT writers at their words). Which is why you just don’t answer questions that deal with such direct statements of God. That is a major red flag for me, as I don’t one-sidedly build my Theology on just a selective set of passages, but seek to harmonize everything that has been said on the topic. This is indeed where we foundationally differ.

Tom: Why question have you asked me that I haven't answer?


“Questions that deal with such direct statements of God” More specifically, statements where God told Israel to effectuate capital punishment, render equivalent justice, go to war against other cities/nation and completely wipe them out; statements expression God’s intent to effectuate vengeance, etc.

Originally Posted By: Tom
Where we fundamentally differ is in how we view God's character, and how we view sin.


That is resolved by proper exegesis and not eisegetical impositions of principles, even if it is EGW who is making them.

Quote:
NJK: I would only see that this applies to the parts of the Bible, where these writers were “free” to purely express their own thoughts, derived from their own experiences with God, e.g., the “Writings” of the OT (e.g., Psa/Pro/Eccl), however I also do see that much of the “free” statements by writers was derived from things that God had actually said.

Tom: All throughout the Bible the Bible writers are communicating their thoughts.

NJK: Not “all throughout” but generally speaking, only in certain part. I.e., not when they were either quoting God’s own words or making statements directly derived from these direct statements.

Tom: A couple of problems here.

Tom: It is certainly the case that the writers are communicating their thoughts when they are making statements directly derived from statements they heard from God. This is completely obvious. Just think about what is happening. They hear God say something, and then write about what they heard. It's impossible that this would not involve their communicating their thoughts.


That is not what I had in mind. I meant them hearing e.g., Moses quoting God and relating that God said (as Paul in the NT also exactly understood - Rom 12:19), through Moses in Deut 32:35: ‘Vengeance is Mine, and retribution,’ and then David later expressing the derived, and thus also inspired thought: “O LORD, God of vengeance, God of vengeance, shine forth! Rise up, O Judge of the earth, Render recompense to the proud.” (Psa 94:1, 2) This involved a first and basis part where what God had said was quoted and then the distinct statement by David based on what He had read God had said.

Originally Posted By: Tom
Even in the case where they are recording something which they directly heard or saw, they are *still* communicating their thoughts. There's never a time when a Bible writer is not communicating his thoughts. He things something, and writes it down.


The Bible clearly say that such quotings are ‘thoughts which are of divine origin.’

Originally Posted By: Bible 2 Pet 2:20, 21
But know this first of all, that no prophecy of Scripture comes to be one's own explanation (#1955 - Gr. epilusis; cf. #1956), for no prophecy was ever made by an act of human will, but men moved by the Holy Spirit spoke from God.


This text is saying in the context of the statement from God on the mount of Transfiguration making the OT prophetic word even more sure (vss. 17-19) that no prophetic utterance at all were ever a matter of personal interpretation. This “prophetic” word does not only included statements such as in Dan 8:14, but also any word that is said to be stated by God Himself. Thus any “Thus says the Lord”. The “prophet” was indeed the spokesperson of God and did not only accomplish this task by making “event prophecies” but also by relating what the Spirit of God had told him to say. So Peter is saying that “no such “prophetic (i.e. “God-spoken”) word in Scripture is left to any man to privately explain. There are to be taken just as they say. So here when the voice of God said that Jesus was His Son, then that was not left to any human reasoning or interpretation. It is just as it says, and indeed confirmed what God had previously said in OT (event/classical) prophecies. So I see that explaining something that “God spoke” to mean anything less/else than what is pointedly said going against this Biblical understanding. So when God says He will do something or has done something, or commands that something should be done, that is because, as He has said, He will indeed do it. The Bible is also very specific through incontrovertible and precise grammar and syntax to indicate the exact mode of feasance, e.g., whether direct or indirect.

EGW, by implication, supports this as she says:

Originally Posted By: SOP 1 SM 21.2
Inspiration acts not on the man's words or his expressions but on the man himself, who, under the influence of the Holy Ghost, is imbued with thoughts. But the words receive the impress of the individual mind.


She is echoing this Biblical understanding that the thoughts from which Bible writers wrote were themself inspired by God’s Spirit. And I further see that this is pointedly speaking of instances where there is not a quoting of God involved, as in the quotings, as seen in EGW’s vision, these men who were receiving this communication through some form of vision, trance or dream, only had to faithfully record what they had then heard. Indeed this is demonstrated in EGW’s many “said the angel...” or “I heard (quote of Divine-utterance)”. There was no need, nor room for “interpreting” anything during those direct quoting instances. Only a faithful verbatim relating of what was said need to be done. However when, e.g., Solomon wrote His proverbs, God inspired him with Divine thoughts and he expressed them in the best human knowledge he could. That was indirectly similar seen in EGW’s many “words fail me...” statements. Indeed I see that EGW’s statement that: “The Bible is written by inspired men, but it is not God's mode of thought and expression” applies to this non-quoting/non-“prophetic” (as Peter put it) part of Scripture.

Originally Posted By: Tom
When EGW writes that the language of God is not recorded in Scripture, it is precisely that the Bible writings are communicating their thoughts which is being said. This is what stating that God is not represented as a writer in Scripture means. This is what it means to say that God is speaking to men in the language of men.


As explained above this only applies to non-quoting/non-“prophetic” parts. These prophetic parts are indeed what God understood as “putting His words in that prophet’s mouth” (Deut 18:18; cf. Isa 51:16). See a possible difference between the two forms of communication, i.e., Spirit (inidrect) mouth (direct) in Isa 59:21

Originally Posted By: Tom
Another problem is that "all throughout" does not mean "without exception."


That’s definitional, even colloquial, news to me. To me the double/redundant emphasis of “all” and “throughout” is to emphatically mean ‘no exceptions at all’. (cf. in the SOP 2SM 399.3)

Originally Posted By: Tom
Even if we allowed as an exception those cases where a Bible writer is recording what he heard God say (which isn't an exception to the statement that God as a writer is not represented in Scripture),


I actually is since God is not doing the writing there either. Only the Ten Commandments could make this claim, but I do not see that is not the technical intent of this “God writing” statement. As stated above, I see this statement as generically referring to ad-lib compositions by Bible writers and not verbatim transcribings.

Originally Posted By: Tom
it would still be the case that over 99% of the time Bible writers were communicating their thoughts, so to say this happens "all throughout" is completely accurate.


Specifically speaking, from just the hits for the following distinct statements I get a figure of 97.1% (888 out of 31103 verses) and less

“Thus says the LORD” - 419
“The LORD said” - 233
“Says the LORD” - 84
“God said” - 46
“the word of the LORD came” - 102
“the word of the God came” - 4

Furthermore: (1) the text of prophetic visions are not included (e.g., Dan 11); (2) entire or large portions of chapters are many times non-introducedly the statements of God (e.g., Isa 58 (see vs. 14); Jer 5:20-31); and (3) those “thus say the Lord intro’s many times only say so for the first part of sections of texts quoting God (e.g, Ezek 45:9, 18). And as it is generally understood that ca. 25% of the Bible is prophecy, and this may include all of the God-said statements, as in a “Red-Letter” OT, this total is conceivably easily 25% and more.

The key thing here is that this minority percentage of factually 25% the Biblical corpus is more than enough, as the rest of the Bible is greatly derived from those direct statements of God. The same is seen in the writings of EGW where a very small percentage of “I was shown” type of statements and other visions/revelations served as a basis for her writings.

So, “all throughout” not only does not involve exceptions for me, unless this is explicitly specified, but I really don’t see it applying in such a situation where only 75% and less of the whole is affected.

Quote:
NJK: As I said later and you agreed, the same thing was involved in EGW’s writings.

Tom: I don't know what this is in reference to.


I was referring to this later exchange in that post:

Originally Posted By: Post #133790
NJK: I do see that the Inspiration of Bible writers was very much like what was seen with EGW. They primarily wrote upon what they had seen in visions and dreams and “heard” from God. Similarly most of EGW “early writings’ were such direct revelations. Then she began to derive testimony from such direct revelations and additional ones. Bible writers similarly did the same thing. However I see that they had a much closer experience with God than did EGW (e.g., Moses’ in person meetings with God.) Indeed God was tangibly in the midst of Israel for many centuries, even right through periods of apostasy, though no additional revelation and (advancing/visionary prophetic) light was given.

Tom: Ok.


As you apparently read through a post before answering, you should have noticed it.

Quote:
T:They are God's penmen, not His pen.

NJK: That does not involve/include thing that were directly, through various prophetic revelations (Heb 1:1) stated by, and heard from, God.

Tom: Yes it does. This is made clear from the quote from which this sentence was taken. That is, that God, as a writer, is not represented in Scripture; that God communicating in the language of men; etc.


As explained above, a for reasons of being truthful, I do not see that when a Bible Writer was quoting God, he took the liberty, though he was at, to paraphrase God. I see that they were faithful to write exactly what they had heard. And it must be kept in mind that the communication between God and man was much more frequent, clear and pronounced in Bible Times. Indeed God spoke with Moses “mouth to mouth.” (Num 12:6-8). As Moses also was a prophet (Deut 18:15-18) the statement in this verse to other prophets apparently only spoke of any other person who may be raised as a prophet, as God then saw, (as Exod 32 & Num 14 showed), that only Moses was ‘most faithful’ in all of Israel then. However I see that when God could find such another faithful person, he spoke to him ‘mouth to mouth’ as with Moses, as Moses indeed manifestly understood (Deut 18:15, 18).

Quote:
NJK: Not in the sense of your ‘He caused the OT to be reworded where: ‘God did not actually say or do what it says he did or do’, but OT writers always misunderstood Him.

Tom: I've said people have misunderstood the OT writers. I didn't say the OT writers "always misunderstood Him."


That’s not what I got from your previous responses, which includes what is “undivorceably” also implicated.

Originally Posted By: Tom
It doesn't help a discussion to misrepresent another's view like this. Especially doing so repeatedly, after one has already been corrected, is unhelpful. I've already stated on numerous occasions that the problem is not with what was written, but with the understanding of what was written.


First of all, no need to put this in a generic voice here, speak only for what you think is happening with you. Secondly, I am not representing anything just involving all that your assertions entail and that through proper exegesis, (as it is responsibly and scientifically/Theologically due), which, as seen in your statements below, you foundationally see as being void of any distinctive or determinative meaning.

Here is a representative recent discussion history of what you have been saying:

Originally Posted By: Post #133784
NJK: As this is all in relation to e.g., who actually did destructions in the OT, I see no Biblical, I.e., later OT, NT, SOP) evidence that contradict what had priorly revealed as taking place.

Tom: The contradiction is not with what had been previously been revealed, but with people's perceptions of what had been revealed. I've made this point repeatedly.

NJK: So then why are you (exegetically) ignoring and/or rewording what has been revealed.

Tom: People's perceptions is a part of exegesis; this can't be ignored.


Originally Posted By: Post #133790
T:If you had more than the actual words of God in mind, then we are dealing with what actually happened, right? And even with the words of God, there are questions, as God often presented Himself as doing what He permits. For example, consider the episode of the fiery serpents. What happened there? Isn't this was our disagreement entails? I believe the serpents were already there, and that God had been protecting the Israelites from them the whole time, and He merely ceased doing so for a time. This is despite the direct language used.

NJK: This is where I see that you are being finally being forthcoming about what you actually think of Biblical exegesis. Evidently you see it as irrelevant.


If, as you claim: “the contradiction is not with what had been previously been revealed, but with people's perceptions of what had been revealed,” that therefore me that what had been revealed was, as you think, ‘God had not directly acted to forcefully send the snakes’ but that is what these Bible writers understood. Ergo my observation of your view that “the Bible writers got it wrong.” I.e., they had been revealed something, which implies through a supernatural means, even if solely by ‘thoughts imbued God’s Spirit’ (1 Sam 21.2), however they went on to relate something that is actually contrary to what was revealed. E.g., ‘God actively acted to do something’ when He had only “permitted” it by a protection withdrawing move. This can only involve those Bible writers getting something, effectively total wrong. And if they did so with every instance where you similarly claim that “God only permitted something to happen”, yet they used varying verb tenses to relate those instances which are all supposed to be the same. Therefore that can also mean that they were greatly confused and it really depended on not only who the writer was, but as a writer can use two verb form for different acts of God in the same book, then it practically depends on the subjectivity and whim of the writer. I.e., how he was personally viewing God.

Your exegesis-denying view here is quite circularly based on your claim that “God often presented Himself as doing what He permits”. I have shown that there is no valid example of this in the Bible as exegesis is clear that God is varyingly involved in those actions. I see that EGW is to be subject to the Biblical revelation, and if a difference is seen, the Bible wins out, however I have seen that when this does not occur, her statements actually are indeed not contradicting what the Bible reveals.

So I see that the problem with your view is foundationally that you are placing the writings of EGW over the Bible and through this justifying rendering Biblical exegesis completely void of any meaning. I really don’t know what to say here. Even continuing this conversation is not worthwhile as your approach lack any Bible or SOP basis. We really don’t have the same Final Arbitrator/Authority, which should be the Bible, as EGW counseled, which implies its exegetical contributions, so it is virtually impossible that we’ll agree here.

Quote:
NJK:What I am saying is that they had ample revelation in the OT to get the same understanding that Jesus got. Jesus did not make his extra-biblical misconception corrections from direct revelations from God but by what He “exegetically” (i.e., especially including the greater Theological and substantive context) understood from those same OT writings.

Tom: I said that Christ had a clearer understanding of God's character than the OT writers. Do you really disagree with this?


Yes in that I see that Christ had a fuller understanding. “Clearer” implies not seeing something as it is. My “fuller” involves not having all the pieces of the puzzle yet, however what later came with Jesus only completed the puzzle and did not take anything (i.e., any jot or tittle) from the OT. So e.g., the was no problem with Capital Punishment, just the need to actually restore it back to the righteous level that it was always suppose to be on from the start.

Quote:
T:What I have been saying is that Jesus Christ was the clearest revelation of God. It was the whole purpose of His mission to reveal God. This was necessary because of the work Satan had been doing to misrepresent God's character.

NJK: And he achieved this mainly by variously causing people to doubt the Word of God, such as this not trusting that even direct revelations were accurate.

Tom: Please provide some evidence to support your idea here. I say Satan did so primarily by vesting God with his own attributes (cf. DA chapter 1).


Every time a false prophet rose up to pointedly speak against a pronouncement that a prophet of God, or even the Biblical writings were saying. (E.g., Jeremiah’s ordeals)

That is also seen today with people dealing with the Bible and also within SDA Circles with direct revelations of EGW (as they are explicitly ascertainable).

Originally Posted By: Tom
I'd say that Satan does use doubting Scripture as a way of influencing us in our view of God's character. Since through Scripture is God's primary means of communicating with us, if we doubt Scripture, we're doubting God's ability to communicate with us, and if we doubt that, how can we trust Him?


I think it does not need to go higher than disbelieving that was is written is either accurate and/or actually the “Word of God”. Indeed that is why most people who do not believe in God don’t even consider the character of God. They simply reject the claim that they Bible is true and/or is God’s Word. Even believers engage in unbiblical path by doubting that a part of God’s word that condemns their ways is either true, binding, accurate/applicable, authoritative or consequential (as seen in e.g., same-sex relationships; premarital relations, Sunday Sacredness, etc.). And those people will usually be the first to claim that their unbiblical behavior is acceptable because “God is Love/Merciful” (cf. Jude 1:4). So they actually do not have a negative view of God’s Character per se, just “His Word”.

Quote:
NJK: I can see how doubting God’s Character Justice does bolster the devil’s work. Indeed that is why people persist in rebellion today, not seeing/believing that God will enter into judgement with them.

Tom: People enter into rebellion against God because they prefer sin to God, or because they do not love or trust God. They don't enter into rebellion because they don't believe God will enter into judgment with them. This idea doesn't make sense.


Perhaps not to you but, it makes perfect Theological/Biblical sense to me. Show me a criminal who will commit a crime with a group of 10 uniformed police officers standing around him. It is only because they can clearly see that they won’t get away with their crime that they refrain from doing it while these cops are present. However when they are gone and out of sight, thus they are more likely not to face Justice for it, then they go ahead and do it. (That is also e.g., why people who are driving over the speed limit normatively slow down when the pass a police car.) So it is with sinners vs. God. If one knows with absolute concrete certainty that your are surely going to suffer punishment for committing a sin(s) then they’ll surely refrain from doing it. However this ‘absolute certainty’ would, with men, actually require that they see God face to face and also see Him doing the judgement on others. Because people have not had such concrete proof. Even in Bible times, as God did not concretely manifest Himself to even His People but only through various forms that could actually be explained away as something else, people have this sense of security that no God will actually punish them for violating what He claims is His Law. So the sin, and that openly without hesitation or shame. Indeed as the world is becoming more and more “atheistic” and unbelieving, including with “nominal” Believers, this boldness in sin is clearly being seen. That is indeed all what God intended to convey and what Moses understood just after relating God’s Law (Exod 20:18-20; cf. Job 1:8)

Originally Posted By: Tom
If what you are suggesting were true, then it would follow that all that would be necessary to not be in rebellion with God is to believe He will enter into judgment with them.


Well it is true and it is because that God does not want a relationship based/developed merely upon such a fear, though foundational and healthy for fallen man, that He many times deliberately masked His actions of judgement as something that could be perceived as only natural, especially as time has advanced.

Originally Posted By: Tom
But surely you can see this isn't the problem.


Why don’t you let me determine what I ‘surely can or cannot see’ in/from my own view!!?

Originally Posted By: Tom
The problem is that one is not right with God; one fears Him; one doesn't trust Him. The problem is to reconcile an estranged relationship. This takes place when the rebels heart is melted by the revelation of the love of God shining from the cross:


One is not ‘right with God; nor fear Him; nor does not trust Him’ (only if they actually know of God), because they indeed either don’t know God or believe that there is any such thing as God. To such atheist, the Cross and Jesus death on it was simply the just execution of a delusional deceiver. If your “rebels heart is melted by the revelation of the love of God shining from the cross” claim was all that it took, then all the people and many “rebels” (cf. DA 760.4) looking on at the Cross would have, on that very same Friday, before the sun set and surely long before the Resurrection, instantaneously become Believers in Christ. They actually “believed” in God but despisingly rejected Jesus. The only issue here was that they did not believe in Jesus.

Furthermore your “reconcile an estranged relationship” is only, tangibly, applicable to someone who actually had a “relationship” with God/Christ in their past. The ethereal view that this means Man in general actually does not follow through in practical, individual-by-individual reality.

Originally Posted By: SOP DA 175.5
How, then, are we to be saved? “As Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness,” so the Son of man has been lifted up, and everyone who has been deceived and bitten by the serpent may look and live. “Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the 176world.” John 1:29. The light shining from the cross reveals the love of God. His love is drawing us to Himself. If we do not resist this drawing, we shall be led to the foot of the cross in repentance for the sins that have crucified the Saviour.


Persisting non-believers in the Cross are, when actually confronted with its Story and Truth, indeed are not drawn because they defaultly or subsequently refuse to believe in it. This issue is not mere looking/gazing/contemplating as, at the very least, the Jews in Christ’s day showed, especially during the crucifixion, but believes. (= John 3:14-20)

Quote:
T:Until the cross, even holy angels were impacted by Satan's misrepresentations.

NJK: What are you basing this on?

Tom: The SOP.


Great. My question was “where exactly”?? I.e., page and paragraph #.

Quote:
NJK: I rather see that they were not yet convinced that the alternate way that Satan had proposed was deserving of the completely eradicating judgement that God wanted to effectuate on it.

Tom: I haven't seen any evidence this was ever an issue for the angels. Can you quote anything to substantiate this idea?


If you just want to see evidence, then go back in this thread where I have defended this view that I merely summarily stated here. If you do not accept that presented evidence then that is a different story, and you then need to address the points that I made in establishing this view.

Originally Posted By: Tom
Here's a statement from the SOP speaking to the impact of the cross on the angels:

Originally Posted By: SOP ST 12/30/89
That which alone can effectually restrain from sin in this world of darkness, will prevent sin in heaven. The significance of the death of Christ will be seen by saints and angels. Fallen men could not have a home in the paradise of God without the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world. Shall we not then exalt the cross of Christ? The angels ascribe honor and glory to Christ, for even they are not secure except by looking to the sufferings of the Son of God. It is through the efficacy of the cross that the angels of heaven are guarded from apostasy. Without the cross they would be no more secure against evil than were the angels before the fall of Satan.


This is only tangibly (i.e., in actual/realistic process) possible with someone/a Being who first/actually, in some actionable/inceptive degree “believes” in God/Christ. For the unbeliever the cross defaultly has no significance to him, and so a deeper look/contemplation will never be done. Also it was clearly and soberingly seen at the Cross that God, despite His great Love and Mercy, will surely not let sin go unpunished. (The SOP somewhere says something along these lines).

Originally Posted By: Tom
The chapter "It Is Finished" from "The Desire of Ages" goes into detail about how the cross impacted the holy angels.


Where exactly? All I am reading in that Chapter is that they came to understand Satan’s character and in DA 764.4 that: “though they did not then understand all, they knew that the destruction of sin and Satan was forever made certain, that the redemption of man was assured, and that the universe was made eternally secure”

Quote:
NJK: So e.g., when the Bible says that God commanded Moses to kill the person violating the Sabbath, there was no misunderstanding involved here right? As with the many other God-quoting, God-commanded and/or God-directly-effectuated judgements in the Bible right? Your typical “God permits” reason here has been further shown to be invalid and would also only be addressing some episodes of such effectuated judgements.

Tom: Do you remember what Christ said to the disciples in regards to marriage? That because of the hardness of man's heart, God permitted divorce, but from the beginning it was not so? And the disciples replied tragicomically, "His disciples say unto him, If the case of the man be so with [his] wife, it is not good to marry." (Matt. 19:10) ...
Christ explained what God's ideal will was, and the disciples responded that if God's ideal will is true, it's better not to marry.


In the allowance by God in the Law of Moses, I rather see an act of great caring, just as, as previously explained, God permitting Israel to buy as many foreign slaves as they could afford. In those two cases, the woman and those slaves were going to be miserably treated as unwanted people. So to guard against the injustices and hardships that they would surely endure for the rest of their lives, God permitted divorce for the woman and the taking in by Israel for the foreign slave. They then would have a better life, and if another man loved and accepted that woman, then it can be seen that the reason claimed for the divorce was only a subjective one to that first husband. God preferred to not have unhappy marriages with the woman suffering at the hand of the husband and also inviting temptations for fornication and adultery and thus granted divorces in such case, despite greatly hating it as He clearly said in Mal 2:16. So as God’s intention for His laws is for the best of one’s life, He had no problem allowing for a clearly hated relationship to continue.

I see that Jesus only addressed the portion of that law that was being abused. I.e., as the questioners of Jesus revealed, Deut 24:1 “indecency/defilement” was being abused as ‘any subjective/frivolous dislike’ (= “any reason” Matt 19:3). So as with Christ’s other Law magnifying statements, Jesus only specified that this reason of “defilement” was only applicable to issue of adultery. He therefore narrowed it down to one issue, indeed not even doing away with divorce, despite the perfect plan that God had for marriage in Eden.

It is in the light of this “lone permissible reason” vs. the previous “any reason at all” that the disciples made their, I think/see quite serious statement that, since that is indeed the intent of that Law, i.e., with marital unions being really quite binding and not whimsically/frivolously dispensable, it was then better to not marry at all. Christ indeed to their statement seriously as he went on to warn that this was not recommended for all men and really only a eunuch (whether naturally or by physical “preempting” force) could ‘successfully” endure this lifelong privation. He then also indicated that becoming a eunuch for the kingdom of God, as Paul later would do (1 Cor 7:7-9), was the only viable alternative for a “healthy” man choosing to live like this. (19:11-13).

So in summary, Jesus did not annul or change anything here in the OT. He just closed a loophole by specifying what that “indecency/defilement” was all about. It could even be that, as Christ said, Moses, and that because of the hardness of the hearts of men, saw it better to grant divorces for reasons beyond this one which probably indeed may have been the only initial one intended by God.

Originally Posted By: Tom
This gives some idea of just how far from God's ideal will things had gotten.


While God’s ideal was for no diviorce, He Himself did allow for divorces for the same reason he allowed for capital punishment. To deal with an issue of high handed sin. For divorce itself that was adultery. And for e.g, murders, capital punishment served to also bring justice to the situation. (Gen 9:5, 6). It was the people who abused that Law and Moses under inspiration granted them these frivolous divorces so as to avoid sufferings in marriages and also temptations for adultery. So it was for a greater good. As with the other views of the law that Jesus corrected, it was the people who caused to occur any great divergence from God’s ideal. In marriage God’s ideal is for a loving and faithful relationship and divorce allows for this ideal to be protected in genuine cases. Indeed a person usually cannot forgive or trust an adulterous spouse.

Notwithstanding, as the penalty for adultery was death, then the “defilement reason” allowed by God may have been for something less then divorce. And as a man could be tricked or not know of such defilement in advance then God allowed for this, effectively, ‘marriage-back guarantee’. So this provision worked both ways. This was also in perfect harmony with God’s law which would preclude a man ever knowing in advance of those defilement. Indeed in such cases it was up to the woman to be honest enough to make this be factually be known.

It must also be kept in mind that in Eden, when God had instituted marriage, he was dealing with perfect being. They therefore would be free from ever having any “indecency”. So this provision was fairly made by God in the light of the reality of Fallen and subject to sickness and disease, men. Yet to honor God’s ideal and seek to work back to the perfection of Eden, even now, after the fall, then the counsel of Jesus is best. Just as counsels on diet are, though the post-fall/flood Biblical revelation allows for the eating of clean meats.

Originally Posted By: Tom
Divorce is not the only area where God's ideal will was not understood. There wasn't any misunderstanding of the communication from Moses to the Israelites in regards to the divorce laws, but Christ saw further. He understood what God's ideal will was, and communicated that.


As stated above I don’t see it as a misunderstanding, just an abuse and loophole that needed to be ended and closed. There is also the Theological issue, as I understand it within the context of Man’s free will and a not yet existent future that sometimes men do things that God did not think that they would do. (cf. Isa 5:1-4). So this gross abuse of the “indecency/defilement” clause by man may have been another example of this. (I believe that the sexual perversion and misconduct of Sodom & Gomorrah and other surrounding cities was another such occurrence of this which is why, apparently Yahweh Himself can to earth to (incredulously) verify if the rumors He was hearing in Heaven was the actual case (Gen 18:1, 20, 21)). So Jesus acted to fix this unforeseen development.

Originally Posted By: Tom
The same thing is true in other areas as well.


I assume you mean what I actually had expected you to directly comment on. Namely capital punishment. I didn’t see you claims for divorce as being valid with your belief that: “There wasn't any misunderstanding of the communication from Moses to the Israelites in regards to the divorce laws”. Again they abused this God-given permission to then mean “any reason at all”. It was pointedly this that Jesus corrected.

It is also exegetically crucially important that Jesus really pointedly spoke of a right to remarry. He therefore closed the loophole that the general reasons of indecency allowed one to remarry, but specified that it should only be applicable in cases when a valid “indecency reason” is for reasons of adultery. This would all be like Jesus saying then that Christians should become vegan-vegetarians however Christ did not do this, yet this is what the SOP clearly is emphasizing now.

Originally Posted By: Tom
All that we can know of God was revealed in the life and character of His Son. The whole purpose of Christ's mission was the revelation of God. Christ fully and completely communicated God's ideal will. We do not need to supplement Christ's revelation.


I don’t see a strong support from your ‘divorce’ examples for this claim here. And as just mentioned above, this view would mean that believers today do not have to be vegan-vegetarians! How does that fit in your view?? I personally have not problem with that because my view is that Jesus only dealt with what was within His mandate. The rest of God’s revelations to men was going to be done through other “prophetic” mouthpieces/spokesperson that God would raise up. Starting with Paul.

Originally Posted By: Tom
If we have views based on our reading of the OT which do not agree with Christ's revelation of God's ideal will, we should go with Christ's revelation, as that's the clearest revelation. Evidently there's something we're not understanding correctly if we see discrepancies.


In regards to Justice/judgement, I, through due proper exegesis, see no difference/discrepancies at all.

Quote:
NJK: The people’s added misconceptions are what need to be addressed and Christ added furthering and fulfilling revelations. The Inspired Bible writers got God’s revelation right. It was the people who misunderstood that revelation. And to say that these Bible writers got it wrong, implies that God Himself wrongly expressed, legislated and/or otherwise reveal it.

Tom: It dosn't imply this.

NJK: Previously I had said that a misunderstanding in Bible writers could have occurred in their actual “ad lib” writings, i.e., vs. writing what God had “directly” revealed. And I do not actually see an example of this “misunderstanding” in the Bible.

Tom: What you wrote was stronger than this. You wrote, "to say that these Bible writers got it wrong, implies that God Himself wrongly expressed, legislated and/or otherwise reveal it."

NJK: I don’t see so given what those particular statement involve. Again you are spuriously trying to dichotomize your view.

Tom: What are you talking about? I directly quoted you! You're finding fault with my directly quoting you?!


No. I am stating again that I only say it possible that a misunderstanding could have occurred in the portions of the Bible that do not involve quoting God. That is why only revelations of God (i.e., ‘expression, legislations and/or other revelations by God Himself’) was included for that statement. You claim that this was stronger than that, presumably the to include the entire Bible vs. my ‘particular various statement from/of God Himself’ is due to you not understanding what I had said. So the fault is entirely on you.

Quote:
Tom: Again, I wouldn't say that the Bible writers got it wrong, but that God is infinite, and they are human. God as a writer is not expressed in Scripture in terms of rhetoric or logic is what I recall the EGW quote to say.

NJK: So then, as Mountain Man also asks for, pointedly explain, once and for all, how you see that someone in the Bible writing a: “Thus says the Lord” is expressing an imperfect statement and will of God!!??

Tom: Here I'm quoting Ellen White. I've given you the reference (Selected Messages, vol. 1).


And, as previously said and explained above, in pointed regards to that statement, I do not see that EGW’s statement applies to those ‘Thus says the Lord’ direct statements of God in the Bible.

Quote:
NJK: I understand that you do with, e.g., every instance where it says that ‘God took judgement actions on someone/ a group of people.’ For the many reasons already expressed in this thread, including especially the ones that show that your understanding of what EGW revealed in 14MR 1-3|GC 35-37 was only a secondary way to effectuate judgements, namely “no (more) mercy” judgements, I indeed do see that you are quite wrongly and overreachingly misapplying that view.

Tom: She never said that this was a secondary way to bring about judgments. This is simply an assumption you have,

NJK: That’s is what all inclusive, proper exegesis reveals.

Tom: No it doesn't. For example, she writes:

Originally Posted By: SOP 14MR 3.1
I was shown that the judgments of God would not come directly out from the Lord upon them, but in this way: They place themselves beyond His protection. He warns, corrects, reproves, and points out the only path of safety; then if those who have been the objects of His special care will follow their own course independent of the Spirit of God, after repeated warnings, if they choose their own way, then He does not commission His angels to prevent Satan’s decided attacks upon them. It is Satan’s power that is at work at sea and on land, bringing calamity and distress, and sweeping off multitudes to make sure of his prey. And storm and tempest both by sea and land will be, for Satan has come down in great wrath. He is at work. He knows his time is short and, if he is not restrained, we shall see more terrible manifestations of his power than we have ever dreamed of.


Tom: If you don't see this as an adequate explanation of how God brings about judgments, it's incumbent upon you to produce an argument as to why not.


As I had stated before in exegetical detail from the context of that SOP statement, (points which you also did not respond to), (1) this type of judgement applies to people who had once been followers of God but rebelled; (2) this is for an utter, no more mercy end scenario.

In regards to a secondary method. This is exegtically evident when one understand that God Himself does direct judgements, as exegetically seen in the Bible and SOP. So when there is not this organic option and/or when Satan has no incentive to do this “shooting-himself-in-the-foot” judgement, the God does it, also for reasons of proper punishement/justice, striking and memorable object-lesson; applicable mercy and timeliness.

Quote:
NJK: If you were doing so you would be seeing this. Indeed those two methods are pointedly seen in the destruction of Jerusalem. One for the first allowed mercy part and the second for the utter end, no-more mercy part.

Tom: Here's what she wrote:

Originally Posted By: SOP GC 35-37
The Jews. ... .consuming fire.


Tom: Where is even one sentence here that is out of harmony with what I've been sharing? Where is there any hint of God's working in two different ways here?


I’ve thoroughly dealt with that SOP passage throughout this thread. And whenever our discussion reaches a point where you do not have an answer you just stop responding to that line of discussion, and as typical, just restate your initial arguments as if it had never been discussed before. This is starting to be quite comical on your part. If you really think your view is valid here as your oblivious restatement are manifestly trying to indicate then refute, and that head on, all of my standing arguments against it. That’s the only way, as most logical, you’ll convince me that ‘you’re still right.’

Quote:
NJK: The same thing occurs with the 7 Last Plagues.

Tom: I'm curious about something here. Ellen White writes that these last plagues were similar in character to the Egyptian plagues. So do you see the same thing happening with the Egyptian plagues? (i.e., God working in two different ways).


Firstly, the only SOP quote I found was:

Originally Posted By: SOP LDE 244.1
The plagues upon Egypt when God was about to deliver Israel, were similar in character to those more terrible and extensive judgments which are to fall upon the world just before the final deliverance of God's people.


Clearly she is refering to the plagues themselves and not to the method/process in which God was going to administer it. In fact their force/extent is not even included in this character as the Final Plagues will be “more terrible and extensive judgments”. Indeed by solely their reach of potentially the whole world they will be so.

Secondly, there was mercy found in God’s judgement of Egypt, as God would end a plague when Pharaoh, even if temporarily felt sorry, thus limiting the damage that was being done. However that was to no actionable end (i.e., ending the succession of plagues since God was determined to bring about all 10. And God only limited the exacting of justice to what was retributive and not, as I understand it, in excess of the various loss and damages that Israel had incurred.

Thirdly, there is a Theologically/Exegetically significant reason why the Egyptians Plagues were 10 and the Last Plagues are 7. The number 10 is fitting for a judgement while 7 is only for a representational one. As I had said, the Egyptian plagues was indeed to exact complete judgement upon Egypt for all that it had tangibly done to Israel over those years of slavery. The 7 Last Plagues in only a partial judgement. The full judgement of the wicked, and the full outpouring of the wrath of God upon them will occur later during the Hell Fire judgement. Indeed the 7 Last Plagues which is only felt by those living before Christ returns is pointedly for the sins under the end time, antichrist power. They will pay for the sin and harm done during pointedly that reign.


“Truly I say to you, to the extent that you did not do it to one of the least of these, you did not do it to Me.” Matt 25:45 NJK Project
Re: Why did God command people to stone, scorch, and smite sinners to death? [Re: Tom] #133872
05/30/11 04:52 PM
05/30/11 04:52 PM
NJK Project  Offline
Banned Member
Dedicated Member
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 1,098
Laval, Quebec
Quote:
Tom: 1.The exercise of force is contrary to the principles of God's government.
2.Compelling power is found only under the government of Satan.
3.All that we need to know, or can know, of God was revealed in the life and character of His Son.
4.God does not stand toward the sinner as an executioner of the sentence against transgression; but He leaves the rejectors of His mercy to themselves, to reap that which they have sown.
5.Sickness, suffering, and death are work of an antagonistic power. Satan is the destroyer; God is the restorer.

NJK: Simply restating these points does not make them mean what you claim they mean. Deal with the many already stated points that show that they are not implying what you understand.

Tom: These are simple statements which anyone can understand.


I have already responded to them and shown why I do not see that they mean or extend to what you understand in them. Deal with those standing objection if your serious about having a discussion. Otherwise this is just a way one conversation with you not responding to my questioning/disproving/debunking objections. And of course, you are right in both doing this and undisturbedly maintaining your initial view.

Originally Posted By: Tom
Tom: Take the last one as just one example:

Originally Posted By: SOP
Sickness, suffering, and death are work of an antagonistic power. Satan is the destroyer; God is the restorer.


Tom: There's nothing difficult here. "Sickness, suffering, and death are work of an antagonistic power." What do you think this means? Indeed, how can this be misunderstood?


By applying the exegetical parameter of: a writer’s context, including, when applicable and as EGW suggests elsewhere (if I recall correctly) the pertinent parts of her writings dealing with this. Indeed applying this responsible, exegetical method one can easily seen that his is speaking of non-judgements. If you want to object to my understanding here, then address it head on, follow through all the standing points made supporting it rather than arbitrarily yourself resetting that already started line of discussion and just restating what you had initially said as if nothing at all had been said since your first advancement of that thought.

Quote:
T:You've never adduced any evidence that what she has said above is a "secondary way to effectuate judgments." That there is such a thing, as multiple ways to bring about judgments, is under dispute.

NJK: As cited above I indeed have.

Tom: You've just made the claim. That's not the same thing as adducing evidence.


I copiously have in past posts, exegetical evidence, which includes the wider context of EGW’s writings and also her other accounts of God’s judgements which, as proper exegesis reveals show that God directly does judgement Himself. Hence that first method, and this, pointedly in regards to His own previous followers, the second method.

Originally Posted By: Tom
I've provided the quote from "The Destruction of Jerusalem." Go ahead and make the case that she has to different mechanisms in mind there. Produce some evidence to support your claim.


I have. “Go ahead” and look it up!! And as stated above I have already responded, and that long ago, to your GC 35-37 claim. Address those standing arguments against it. (You really think this derisive “go ahead”, “gas-lighting” egging on would make me not realize that it is you who had not responded to those already posted countering points!??)

Quote:
T:The way that I have said that God brings about judgments is in harmony with the principles laid out above.

NJK: You are understanding these principles in an overreachingly different way than what EGW intended.

Tom: Make an argument to support your claim. You have the quote in front of you.


I already have. Respond to those posted unanswered point in this thread!! As usually advised by me, take as much time as you need.

Quote:
T:If God had some other way of bringing about judgments, not in harmony with the above judgments, that would be problematic.

NJK: You are the one who is choosing to only look at one aspect of God’s judgement-effectuating. And the substantive Biblical record is what is to stipulate ‘hermeneutic rules of understanding’ not isolatively/merely EGW. That’s an unbiblical approach.

Tom: Provide some evidence to support your claims.


Look back on the record of this thread, indeed what you have chosen not to answer and you’ll surely find those evidences that you have ignored.

Quote:
T: God's character is consistent.

NJK: Which is why He allows for mercy even when effectuating judgement.

Tom: This much is true.


How is it true for you in your view since, God step away and turns over judgements to either natural consequence or the devil?? According to your understanding of this passage there is no longer any mercy to be involved as, e.g, :

GC 35.3 - “By stubborn rejection of divine love and mercy, the Jews had caused the protection of God to be withdrawn from them, and Satan was permitted to rule them according to his will....”

GC 36.1 - “It is the restraining power of God that prevents mankind from passing fully under the control of Satan. The disobedient and unthankful have great reason for gratitude for God's mercy and long-suffering in holding in check the cruel, malignant power of the evil one.”

GC 36.1 - “But when men pass the limits of divine forbearance, that restraint is removed. God does not stand toward the sinner as an executioner of the sentence against transgression; but He leaves the rejectors of His mercy to themselves, to reap that which they have sown...”

GC 36.1 - “The Spirit of God, persistently resisted, is at last withdrawn from the sinner, and then there is left no power to control the evil passions of the soul, and no protection from the malice and enmity of Satan. The destruction of Jerusalem is a fearful and solemn warning to all who are trifling with the offers of divine grace and resisting the pleadings of divine mercy....”

GC 36.2 - The Saviour's prophecy concerning the visitation of judgments upon Jerusalem is to have another fulfillment, of which that terrible desolation was but a faint shadow. In the fate of the chosen city we may behold the doom of a world that has rejected God's mercy and trampled upon His law.

Seems evident to me that “you [merely] want to have your cake and eat it too”! Or is that a tenet aspect of/justified by your ‘having a more attractive view’ foundational basis.

Quote:
NJK: Indeed many people in Jerusalem may not have themselves rejected Christianity. So God allowed for them to escape the destruction and have a further chance merely by remaining alive to get this saving knowledge of this Truth.

Tom: I agree with this, but this isn't what we were disputing.


Again how in your GC 35-37 view since when God’s judgement occurs the people being judged have already the point where they are ‘so [i.e., irreconcilably] out of harmony with God’. This granting of mercy would mean that God had turned over this judgement prematurely and those previously, supposedly all utterly wicked people, would only have repented in the face/fear of the present consequence. That would mean that God permitted Satan to do the full and unrestrained judgement, as you understand GC 35-37 but at some point during the judgement, when people were fearful of these consequences told Satan to back off so they could be forgiven. I don’t see how your view of GC 35-37 allows for this.

Originally Posted By: Tom
I was disputing your idea that GC 35-37 has to mechanisms at work, that God is using two different methods of effecting judgment, one where He directly destroys/causes suffering/etc., and another where He permits Satan to do these things.


And as my answer fully entails/involves, the God effectuate judgement is many times because He wants to have mercy when applicable. If given over to Satan in such cases of judgement, as inherently involved, it is a previously well thought-through decision and God does not have to go back on His decision. And as shown in the 7 Last Plagues, He indeed won’t, as already discussed (Rev 22:11).

Quote:
SOP: The Bible is written by inspired men, but it is not God’s mode of thought and expression. It is that of humanity. God, as a writer, is not represented. Men will often say such an expression is not like God. But God has not put Himself in words, in logic, in rhetoric, on trial in the Bible. The writers of the Bible were God’s penmen, not His pen.

NJK: Indeed some expression may seem and are ungodly.(None come to mind actually) However I see that the substance itself is not affected by the mode of expression.

Tom: Certainly one's understanding of what another communicates, which is what we're talking about, is impacted by the mode of expression.


And when it is God who is doing the speaking, there is no room for any misunderstanding, especially as God knows exactly which words, imagery, symbols and expression to use with an individual engage in this “prophetic communication” to get then to unmistakeably and perrfectly understand what He is saying and means.

Quote:
NJK: (A) Not when “quoting” a source. The source itself would have to make the “ungodly expression” It is because you view all acts of judgement as evil and violent that you spuriously posit that God was in such direct statement cases always being misunderstood and misquoted.

NJK: (B) Again, while this may generally be true in life, I myself don’t actually see this occurring in the Bible. EGW saying: “Men will often say such an expression is not like God.” does not mean that this is the case.

NJK: Indeed, when one reads that SOP statement in full context, EGW is actually supporting the understanding that Biblical writers did not have a misconception about God. They wrote under thought inspiriation. She is simply saying that what they wrote in applicable, non direct quoting places, was not literally, i.e., verbatim the words, logic and rhetoric of God, as in a ‘verbal inspirational’ way. She also personally dealt with those same issues. Her full statement:

Originally Posted By: SOP 1SM 21.2
It is not the words of the Bible that are inspired, but the men that were inspired. Inspiration acts not on the man's words or his expressions but on the man himself, who, under the influence of the Holy Ghost, is imbued with thoughts. But the words receive the impress of the individual mind. The divine mind is diffused. The divine mind and will is combined with the human mind and will; thus the utterances of the man are the word of God.-- Manuscript 24, 1886 (written in Europe in 1886).


NJK: So for any misunderstanding to have patently been occurring, as you are claiming. These writers would have to be constantly misconstruing the inspired thought that God’s Spirit was continually putting in their heads.

Tom: First of all, the problem is not with that Bible writers, but with the understanding of what they wrote.


In matters of direct Divine-quoting (+25% of the Bible), since they did not misunderstand, in term of recording/relating verbatim what they had heard, there was not problem there.

Originally Posted By: Tom
Secondly, you wrote that the substance of what is being written is not impacted by the mode of expression, but that this is false is evident on the face of it. For example, you use a mode of expression that's very difficult to decipher, as you write in exceedingly long sentences and don't proof-read what you write. That certainly impacts the substance you are trying to communicate.


Your example from my writing does not apply at all since I did not write a single word in the Bible. The only way it would is if you believe that Bible writers: ‘(1) use a mode of expression that's very difficult to decipher, (2) wrote in exceedingly long sentences, and (3) didn't proof-read what you write.’ I don’t see none of these three factors applying at all in the Bible. Indeed as (1) the Bible was initially and even later until things were written down mainly orally passed down, then what was so anecdotally, though deliberately precisely passed on was readily understood by the recipient; (2) did not have proof reading syntax issues and (3) as seen in the meticulous work of the ca. 8th-9th century A.D. Masoretes, carrying on the work of previous scribes, they carefully transmitted the Biblical texts.

Originally Posted By: Tom
Different languages have strengths and weaknesses. One cannot always say the same things in one language that one can say in another.


As the Jews were speaking to Jews, they did not have this issue in transmission. As their Hebrew text is much more than less, thanks to the careful scribes and Masoretes available today. It can be thoroughly, and crucially, comparatively studied out, especially in our modern computer age, to achieve translational precision.

Originally Posted By: Tom
God chose to communicate in Hebrew, since that was the language that those to whom God was speaking spoke. But Hebrew is not God's language, and, of course, His choosing to communicate in Hebrew had an impact in what He was saying.


Really???!! God can have problems perfectly relaying His will in Hebrew. The fact that God could easily corroborate His words with various visual revelations does away with any possibility of being misunderstood. Indeed with Moses, He simply brought him up to view a template for Israel’s Sanctuary. No chance of misunderstanding here. Same thing with the 10 Commandment expanding Laws found in the books of Moses.

Originally Posted By: Tom
But, this is a minor point.


I see a foundationally major as it shockingly reveals where you consider a source of misunderstanding could occur. Indeed here in statements involving God Himself directly, prophetically communicating. If that “secure line” is capable of having merely message relaying errors, then we are in serious trouble.

Originally Posted By: Tom
The major point is that our world view, our paradigm, our understanding of God's character impacts our understanding of what has been written. In order to make things as clear as possible, God sent His Son.


God’s direct revelation, indeed which was so “securely/directly” dome because Divine things had to be crucially accurately revealed to Man (vs. merely thoughts inspiring), has no room for such errors.

Originally Posted By: Tom
Originally Posted By: SOP DA 19.2
By coming to dwell with us, Jesus was to reveal God both to men and to angels. He was the Word of God,—God’s thought made audible...


When God wanted His thoughts to known heard in to OT He clearly and perfectly spoke it to prophets and ‘put it in their mouths’

Originally Posted By: Tom
Originally Posted By: SOP DA 21.2
But turning from all lesser representations, we behold God in Jesus.


Contrary to what you “... above implies these two quotes are not the continuation of the same thought. Here in DA 21.2 EGW has shifted to speak of the Divine Law of Giving and Unselfishness. To this theme/end, in the preceding paragraphs 20.2 & 21.1 examples in nature and then with God’s Heavenly Beings. It is to these “lesser representations” that she is referring to. She is not saying that God’s revelations in the OT were lesser representations. Indeed God’s own “prophetically expressed” word in the OT are not lesser as they are His perfect words. Even His thought inspired revelations in the rest of the OT are not “lesser representations”. ‘All Scripture is Inspired and profitable... ’ (2 Tim 3:16) And there was no Gospels or New Testament yet then.

Quote:
NJK: I also think that the Bible is substantively perfectly revealed in what is prescritive and also, by being truthful, in what it describes. I also think that whenever it relates that God did something, then that is indeed what occurred. (Of course you do see so).

Tom: The Bible often presents God as doing that which He permits.

NJK: Again this is not a substantiated claim.

Tom: Sure it is. I've given many examples of this. Hardening of Pharaoh's heart, the sending of spies, fiery serpents, killing of Saul, sending strong delusion, sending lying spirits, destruction of Jerusalem, the cross, Job, are a few of these.


Sure. And they al have unresponded to, standing arguments against them that disprove and debunk them. Thus they are “unsubtantiated.”

Originally Posted By: Tom
Here's a new one:

Originally Posted By: Bible Psalm 78:49
He cast upon them the fierceness of his anger, wrath, and indignation, and trouble, by sending evil angels among them.


God didn't send evil angels among them, but permitted the evil angels to go.


On what/From where are you basing this assertion??

Exegetically speaking, which is why I go by:

(1) the “send” verb is in the Piel Stem, so it was a forceful and direct action by God;

(2) this Psalm is retelling from vs. 42-51 of the Egyptian deliverance and in vss. 49-51 it is focusing on the slaying of the Firstborn;

(3) these “Angels of Evil” or more colloquially, “Angels of Calamity” (cf. Word Biblical Commentary); “Destroying Angels” (NASB) are evidently synonymous with the ‘Angel of Death’; the “Destroying Angel” spoken of in the Bible. (Exod 12:23)

(4) The Bible and the SOP are clear that is was God who was going to do this work of destruction. (Exod 11:4, 5, 7; 12:23, 27, 29; Num 3:13; PP 273.1-274.2; 279.3-4). In GC 614.2, EGW is distinguishing what God’s Angel have done in acts of judgement vs. what Satan’s Angel could do when permitted and she puts the work of this “Destroying Angel” with God’s Divine Agents of Destruction.

Originally Posted By: SOP GC 614.2
A single angel destroyed all the first-born of the Egyptians and filled the land with mourning.


Indeed EGW only saw this “destroying Angel” as God’s agent and so she clearly did not understand her own ‘Satan is the destroyer” statement to mean that this Angel were evil angels.

E.g.,
Originally Posted By: SOP ST, March 25, 1880 par. 3-4
That when the destroying angel went forth in the night to slay the first-born of man, and the first-born of beast, he passed over their houses, and not one of the Hebrews that had the token of blood upon their door-posts was slain. {ST, March 25, 1880 par. 3}
The people bowed their heads and worshiped, grateful for this remarkable memorial given to preserve to their children the remembrance of God's care for his people. There were quite a number of the Egyptians who were led to acknowledge, by the manifestations of the signs and wonders shown in Egypt, that the gods whom they had worshiped were without knowledge, and had no power to save or to destroy, and that the God of the Hebrews was the only true God. They begged to be permitted to come to the houses of the Israelites with their families upon that fearful night when the angel of God should slay the first-born of the Egyptians.


Cf.:
Originally Posted By: SOP CL 8.6-9.1
While at Loma Linda, Calif., April 16, 1906, there passed before me a most wonderful representation. During a vision of the night, I stood on an eminence, from which I could see houses shaken like a reed in the wind. Buildings, great and small, were falling to the ground. Pleasure resorts, theaters, hotels, and the homes of the wealthy were shaken and shattered. Many lives were blotted out of existence, and the air was filled with the shrieks of the injured and the terrified. {CL 8.6}
The destroying angels of God were at work. One touch, and buildings so thoroughly constructed that men regarded them as secure against every danger, quickly became heaps of rubbish. There was no assurance of safety in any place. I did not feel in any special peril, but the awfulness of the scenes that passed before me I cannot find words to describe. It seemed that the forbearance of God was exhausted, and that the judgment day had come. {CL 9.1}


Satan really had no personal incentive to do this work of destruction on Egypt and spare Israelites. As EGW says “Satan was unwilling to have the people of Israel released from Egyptian servitude that they might serve God.” (1T 292.1) God cannot force Satan to do His work just like He cannot force love and indeed obedience from him.

(5) The only issue of difference here is the mention of plural angels in the Bible vs. the mention of a lone angel in the SOP and also implied in the Exod 11 &12 account. I resolve this apparent contradiction by understanding that though one angel was being prominently spoken of, additional light may have been given to the writer of Psa 78 showing that more than one angel (= ‘a band/deputation of destroying angels’) had been involved in the execution of this task under the leadership of one authoritative/commanding angel.

In a similar way EGW constantly speaks of the destruction in Ezek 9 as being the work of a destroying angel and also the preceding sealing work as the work of an angel (e.g., 4BC 1161.5 - Letter 12, 1886; cf. EW 279.2). However in Ezek 9 both this “sealer” and the “6 destroyers” are depicted as men (Ezek 9:1, 2). So it may be quite similar to what occurred in Egypt were a commanding ‘seal-verifying’ angel went first and indicated to perhaps also ‘a band of 6 following destroying angels’ which households to enter and execute judgement.

Quote:
NJK:God is either directly or indirectly acting is those situations which are not necessarily always “permitting”. Indeed only in Job’s case do I see it applying as you claim. Otherwise I can easily see that God acted through an agency.

Tom: Ok, let's consider a couple of these.

Tom: First the hardening of Pharaoh's heart.

Originally Posted By: SOP 1T 292.1
But when Pharaoh saw that there was relief, he hardened his heart and did not heed them, as the Lord had said....But Pharaoh hardened his heart at this time also neither would he let the people go...Satan wrought...in a manner calculated to harden the heart of Pharaoh" (1T 292)


Tom: So what did God do if not permit this to occur?


It is only through shoddy and/or completely absent exegesis that you contrive this conclusion here. The full SOP quote without you calculated edits reads as:

Originally Posted By: SOP 1T 292.1
Pharaoh called for the magicians to work with their enchantments. They also showed signs and wonders, for Satan came to their aid to work through them. Yet even here the work of God was shown to be superior to the power of Satan, for the magicians could not perform all those miracles which God wrought through Moses. Only a few of them could they do. The magicians' rods did become serpents, [SEE APPENDIX.] but Aaron's rod swallowed them up. After the magicians sought to produce the lice, and could not, they were compelled by the power of God to acknowledge even to Pharaoh, saying: "This is the finger of God." Satan wrought through the magicians in a manner calculated to harden the heart of the tyrant Pharaoh against the miraculous manifestations of God's power. Satan thought to stagger the faith of Moses and Aaron in the divine origin of their mission, and then his instruments, the magicians, would prevail. Satan was unwilling to have the people of Israel released from Egyptian servitude that they might serve God. The magicians failed to produce the miracle of the lice, and could no more imitate Moses and Aaron. God would not suffer Satan to proceed further, and the magicians could not save themselves from the plagues. "And the magicians could not stand before Moses because of the boils; for the boil was upon the magicians, and upon all the Egyptians." Exodus 9:11.


(1) Clearly this is speaking of the ‘turning of the rod into a snake’ (Exod 7:8-13) which occurred even before the first plague of ‘Water into Blood’ occurred (Exod 7:14ff). It is in that sign that “Satan wrought through the magicians in a manner calculated to harden the heart of the tyrant Pharaoh”. And indeed as exegesis shows it is not said in that exchange that ‘God forced the heart of Pharaoh to be hardened (Piel)’ but that Pharaoh’s heart was naturally hardened (Qal), and that because of this Satan induced counterfeit.

(2) EGW clearly goes on to say as the Bible does that the magicians soon were no longer able to stand before Moses at God’s preventing hand, so this “wroughting” of Satan clearly does not apply to all the plagues and all of the ‘heart hardening’ instances.

Originally Posted By: Tom
Regarding the fiery serpents, we read:

Originally Posted By: SOP EP 301.1
Shielded by divine power, they had not realized the countless dangers by which they were surrounded. In their unbelief they anticipated death, and now the Lord permitted death to come upon them. The poisonous serpents that infested the wilderness were called fiery serpents, on account of their sting, it causing violent inflammation and speedy death. As the protecting hand of God was removed, great numbers of the people were attacked by these venomous creatures. {EP 301.1}


This is stating my position as clearly as is possible to do so. "The Lord permitted death to come upon them." There's no hint of anything at all going on here other than what it says: "the protecting hand of God was removed."


My exegetical points against your view here still stand and this EGW notion of ‘permitting death’ is harmonized with the Bible’s account of how it transpired -by the direct action of God. God Himself acted to effectuate this permitting. For me the Bible always has the last word over EGW.

Originally Posted By: Tom
The destruction of Jerusalem is another one. I've quoted at length regarding this above, so just a short quote here:

Originally Posted By: SOP GC 35.3
Their sufferings are often represented as a punishment visited upon them by the direct decree of God. It is thus that the great deceiver seeks to conceal his own work. By stubborn rejection of divine love and mercy, the Jews had caused the protection of God to be withdrawn from them...(GC 35)


This is not only clear that what happened here is that God's protection was caused to be removed, but that Satan seeks to conceal "his own work" by causing others to view this as a punishment visited upon them by God.


Just repeating things over and over does not make them so. Address the standing point against them. And since God does allow Satan to effectuate these no more mercy destructions, it is quite logical for him to mask his work then as seeming to be God’s own and make God seem like the bad guy. This is just like the United State “extra-ordinarily rendering” a detainee to a country where torture is allowed so that they can not seem like a law violating nation. Conversely here, there is a due judgement to be done and since God cannot do it without mercy, then there is no point for Him to do so and Satan is permitted to act. As I said, this is why this is pointedly shown to be done with people who formerly people of God as Satan then has this vengeful and public shaming incentive to do this destruction. Even in the end, the Beast worshipper will be, surfacely, Christ-claiming Christians. And so to shame them and take spiteful vengeance on Jesus when then Satan will have nothing left to gain, he will surely do such work of no-mercy destruction during the Last/7th Plague.

Originally Posted By: Tom
I won't go through all of these,


There is no point to anyway. Deal with the standing arguments against them.

Originally Posted By: Tom
but the point has been decidedly made that God is presented as doing that which He permits, in the clearest language possible.


As further shown above, your claim continues to be unsubstantiated.

Quote:
T:This is a principle, like "forever" does not necessarily mean "for all eternity."

NJK: I have already shown that this is only when the context implies this.

Tom: This doesn't make sense.

Tom: To understand what "forever" means we need to go outside the immediate context, considering all that Scripture has to say. For example:

Originally Posted By: Bible
10And the devil that deceived them was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone, where the beast and the false prophet are, and shall be tormented day and night for ever and ever. (Rev. 20:10)


Tom: The context here doesn't tell us what "forever" means here. It's by comparing Scripture with Scripture that we know that "forever" means for as long as the given event is applicable.


(1) Succinctly said, and part of my working thesis on this, the Greek literally means “for ages of the ages”. So it is literally only generically speaking of an indefinitely known period of time, and that relatively or unforeseeably long time.

(2) The immediate context helps one to see what is being speaking of. And since this is shown to be Hell here, we can then go to the rest of the Bible and see that the destruction of the wicked is shown to end in death. So the forever here will ultimately have a limit.

(3) In the case of Gen 3:22-24's “forever”, which EGW understood as “eternally” (PP 60.3), the wider context of the Bible and the SOP on this show that even in Heaven the redeemed will need to partake of the Tree of Life to live forever, and that periodically. So it clearly necessary even when sin is not present, indeed as seen in Eden. So it clearly has a life perpetuating element that, as God said in Gen 3:22-24 works even when sin is present in the person. Indeed if that was not the case, then their would be no need to so forcefully bar Adam and Eve from accessing it, and so that ‘the sinner would not live forever’. The presence of sin alone in man would have brought about their death.

Quote:
NJK: Why won’t you substantively address this instead of, as usual just repeating what you had previously said??!

Tom: I keep repeating things I've said because you keep misrepresenting my view.


Clearly that is not the issue. You repeating things because you think they are still right, despite the standing arguments against them which you just ignore. And I am dealing with what the Bible and SOP actually teach and not merely your view. So when you just refuse to let facts have their due weight, I don’t so subjectively and artificially limit my understandings. This is like having a discussion with someone who does not want to recognize that abortion the murdering of a viable human life but just want to see it as ‘a personal choice’ and that to ‘to simply terminate a pregnancy’.

Originally Posted By: Tom
Value comes from a discourse like this when each party can correctly represent the view of the other. If you correctly represent my view, and offer arguments against that view, I can strengthen my view in meeting the arguments, or adjust the view, or disregard it, in response to counter arguments. But you if misrepresent my view, then there's no value in your arguments, since they aren't hitting anything I'm saying. So I keep repeating the same things in the hope that you'll address what I'm actually saying.


So if you really think I am misrepresenting your view then correct my supposed “misrepresentation” rather than merely repeating what you had said and which was already debunked. Address those standing points that render you view spurious and worthless. You seem to be going by the tenet that ‘your view is to be correct no matter what the facts and arguments against it are.’ And just bringing up new (yet thus far still spurious) claims is not an answer against distinct prior one. Those trees are still felled and your initial forest is not as dense as when you first presented it, if in existence now at all.

Quote:
Tom: So when we say something occurred, like God killed Saul, what does that mean? It might mean that Saul took His own life. Or when it says that God sent fiery serpents against the Israelites, what does that mean? It might mean that God did nothing more than remove His protection. Or when God sent strong delusion against those who received not the love of the truth, that might mean that God left to them to their own delusions.

NJK: All repeatedly, exegetically, addressed and disproven/debunked

Tom: ??? This certainly isn't the case.


To an honest, exegetical and facts-guided person it is.

Originally Posted By: Tom
I can't think of a single one of these examples that's not applicable.


Well then read back through this thread, including these latest posts. Focus on what you have ignored/not answered.

Originally Posted By: Tom
For example, here's the last one:

Originally Posted By: SOP AA 262.2
Especially solemn is the apostle’s statement regarding those who should refuse to receive “the love of the truth.” “For this cause,” he declared of all who should deliberately reject the messages of truth, “God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie: that they all might be damned who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness.” Men cannot with impunity reject the warnings that God in mercy sends them. From those who persist in turning from these warnings, God withdraws His Spirit, leaving them to the deceptions that they love. {AA 266.2}


Tom: How has this been "debunked"? Scripture says, "“God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie:" This is presenting God as doing something He permits. Here's where it says God is permitting:

Quote:
From those who persist in turning from these warnings, God withdraws His Spirit, leaving them to the deceptions that they love.


Tom: This is clear, right? In one case we have "God shall send them strong delusion." This is God being presented as doing something. In the other we have "God withdraws His Spirit, leaving them to the deceptions that they love." This is God being presented as permitting that which He had been presented as doing.


Go back and address my posted arguments against your repeated claims here. And if all else fails, to me the Bible has the final word on this so, at the very least what EGW describes involves God’s sending act.

Quote:
T:There are all sorts of examples like this.

NJK: You’ll have to cite new ones than the ones you have as they have been disproven and/or address the points that disprove them.

Tom: I can't imagine what you're thinking here.


You don’t have to “imagine” anything. Just read and address my standing, exegetically based points against them. If you won’t and/or can’t do that then there is no point of continuing this discussion.

Originally Posted By: Tom
You don't have a leg to stand on here. We have in one case, direct language "God sends, etc." and in the other "God permits."


In those standing points, I have already explained how these notions of “sending” and “permitting” are harmonized. Permitting does not necessarily preclude an action to “send”, it just focuses on the decision process involved vs. the executive action that needs to be taken to effectuate it.

Originally Posted By: Tom
This proves the assertion.


When proper exegesis is involved, it takes much more than one element in a point to establish/prove an assertion. With the Bible and SOP there is much harmonization vs. “either/or” (and not favoring the SOP over the Bible) work that needs to be done to uphold the Spirit of God in both sets of revelations. And, if there is an actual irreconcilability, the Bible has the final say.

Quote:
NJK: This text clearly is just saying that “in the same way God had variously spoken through prophets in the past, now spoke through His Son Jesus Christ.”

Tom: I don't know anybody who interprets this text this way. I've never heard this idea until now.

NJK: That does not mean that it is not valid.

Tom: Actually, it does. It could conceivably be the case that your unique point of view could be true, but it's inconceivable that the text is clearly just saying something if you're the only human being who sees this.


It still is just clearly saying that. I am not responsible for the preconceptions that others bring into the text.

Quote:
NJK: It exegetically indeed is. It is the same Spirit that was prophetically speaking. It was just able to achieve more through Jesus.

Tom: The "more through Jesus" is the point that was made.


More is not necessarily the same as “clearer”. My added point is that there was no need for God to correct/clear up His OT Revelation, just provide more through the incarnate Christ.A nd still there was much more to be added after that. (E.g. ‘Paul’s Gospel’; the prophecies of Revelation, even the SOP/EGW’s revelations.). My point has always been that those revelation were only given on a need-basis which is why the incarnate Jesus did not either reveal all those things, nor tangibly do everything from the OT. Still He virtually covered all aspects of the OT including God’s Ministry of Wrath, Divine Vengeance and Judgement.

Quote:
NJK: And what was later revealed in Jesus did not in any way contradict what God’s Spirit had previously revealed.

Tom: Of course not. This is not the point. The point is that Jesus Christ was the clearest revelation of the Father.


I have the view of ‘addition/completion’ vs. ‘clearing up.’

Quote:
Tom: These were chosen because they're easy to find. I hadn't read what these had said, but just looked for *any* commentary, because this explanation is the only I've ever heard, and seems clear just by reading the text.

NJK: I exegetically see this as the sole/limiting understanding here. God’s Spirit did not reveal unbiblical things in the past. Also notice e.g., that it was Christ Revelation to Paul ca. 4 years after Jesus’s ascension showed that the keeping of OT ceremonial laws was no longer required. Similar to this, further, more pointed revelation, all of what Jesus revealed was already hinted in the revelations of the OT, just not with “executive” force then.

Tom: This doesn't look to be responsive to the point, which is:

Originally Posted By: Tom
The Highest of All Revelations Is Given Us Now in the Son of God, Who Is Greater than the Angels, and Who, Having Completed Redemption, Sits Enthroned at God's Right Hand.


It is if you duly take into consideration all of the contributing exegetical points here. In order to validate the theme of OT Covenant to NT Covenant switch that was going to be done in the book of Hebrew, apparently written for Jews, most probably newly converted Jewish Christians, this Authority of Christ over all things had to be first emphasized. The it was shown how Jesus completes the OT Revelations by being the anti-Type of these OT types.

Quote:
Tom: The point is that Jesus Christ is greater. This is the theme of Hebrews in a nutshell.

NJK: The book of Hebrews served to complete the types to Anti-type transition in Christ. The issue of judgements in the OT is not subject to this type/anti-type development, and indeed, it was not hinted that OT statements of judgements would be so “changed” (= reworded) in the NT. So this is really a proof text to support your view. Indeed, at best, a similar “replacing” revelation by Christ for judgements, given their incontrovertible substantive occurrence in the OT, like e.g., ceremonial practices, would come to only mean that such judgements would now no longer be done by God in this way in the NT era.

Tom: Again, this isn't responsive to the point, which is that Jesus Christ is the greatest revelation of the Father.


Well again, it does, for the same reasons as above.

Quote:
NJK: Interestingly enough, I only see two times in the Bible where God had to correct a prophets, and that for relatively benign reasons, namely Nathan (2 Sam 7:1-17) and Samuel (1 Sam 16:6, 7). Seems to me they were quite faithful in correctly transmitting what had been revealed/said to them. So I do not see a basis here that what was recorded in the OT from God was wrongly done.

Tom: What are your responding to here? Where have I said that anything was wrongly done?

NJK: The OT quotings of God being what He actually had in mind. These two examples show that when a prophet misconceived, misunderstood something about God, God then immediately intervened to correct him.

Tom: Although this is outside from our discussion, from the point of logic, this is an invalid conclusion. That God corrected a viewpoint in one or two instances does not imply that no prophet anywhere at any time had a viewpoint that was incorrect.


It does to me as it became part of the Biblical record. It is those Bible statements that are of pertinent relevance to this discussion on the “Word of God”. Other instances of that could have been corrected by God in the prophet long before that prophet made it publically known.

Quote:
NJK: So that is why I do not that this was not at all the case with any statement of the OT.

Tom: This doesn't make sense.


It sequiturly and logically makes sense to me especially as I am pointeldy dealing with “prophetic utterances”: I.e., not such Divine-corrections of what was recorded in the Bible implies that God did not see a need to correct the person speaking/writing in a prophetic context. So those “prophetic” statements were all perfectly transmitted to, and related by, these “spokespersons” of God an and reflects His perfect will.

Quote:
NJK: God’s Spirit evidently so made sure that what was written was in full harmony with the Intention and Will of God. E.g., God would have intervene to prevent Israel from stoning someone to death or going to war as this would not have been what He had ordered.

Tom: This is poor logic as well. The cases of slavery, divorce, and polygamy disprove this idea.


Not to me: I priorly have already responded to your claims involving slavery and polygamy. Deal with those standing points/arguments instead of just making this claim again as if I had not said anything. Above in these latest posts, I have dealt with your claims involving divorce. All of these were within God will for those post-fall and GC circumstances, which actually, to me shows how understanding and fair God is. It also speaks volumes to me against the then existing non-ideal practices that God did not at all permit to be done. Namely/Chiefly homosexuality. (See in this post for more on this topic - “Homosexual Lifestyle” section). God is indeed a God of Justice and justice acts to uphold any valid/truth-based argument, which, evidently homosexuality is not at all to God.

Quote:
NJK: Indeed David was not permitted to build the Temple because his own hand (and not Israel in general) had shed much blood, even if that was “before God” (1 Chr 22:8). Though these were necessary actions, God wanted a non-warrior to build His Temple. Indeed, correspondingly. though God does such great judgement actions, He only wants a worship of Him that is not based upon these acts. Still such effectuated Justice is a necessary and righteous part of God Character. If not, He would never have directly commanded David to engage in any of these wars. (E.g. 1 Chr 14:9, 10 versus 13-16).

Tom: I don't see that you responded to my question above. I asked, "What are your responding to here? Where have I said that anything was wrongly done?" and you didn't answer.


I had in the above answer then. It all involved/implied in your claim that even OT quotings of God are subject to being mistransmitted, misunderstood, misconceived and even misconstrued. My point was that those “prophetic” revelations were not or else God would have corrected them.

Quote:
T: Haven't I been saying that the problem is with how what was written has been perceived?

NJK: I do not sequiturly/fully see that from what you have been saying.

Tom: Ok, then I'll continue to repeat it, until you can sequiturly/fully see it.


That’s your preference/prerogative, though substantively/constructively useless. It won’t change the facts involved/implied or address my standing arguments against your view. You just don’t take into consideration all what your assertions sequiturly/fully entail. That is all the natural fruit of your subjective, non-exegetical and selective approach to ascertaining Biblical Truth. I, on the other hand, don’t spuriously limit myself and allow the Truth to freely lead where it actually does. Understanding that the “Word of God”, the Bible, (i.e., over EGW’s writings) is the Final Authority in matters of Faith and Doctrine is the cornerstone of Biblical Truth.

Quote:
NJK: Indeed the problem is that you are also including direct statements of God in this view of yours. You may be not explicitly saying/intending that, but your OT revisionism and non-answers, say otherwise. Indeed you won’t answer anything that has to do with direct statements of God ordering war, capital punishment and judgement.

Tom: I may have written over a thousand posts on this topic (several hundred for sure) which is more posts than you've written at all. So I could just as well claim that you haven't posted anything.


That argument is clearly merely vexatious and mindless. I wasn’t aware of your other posts. Why didn’t you just point me to exactly where you begin to do so?? You think I first read all your posts before engaging in this discussion?!

Quote:
NJK: (You are actually seeming, by those non-answers, to be trying to buy time until you can find an even plausible answer for them. As with other similar issues, you should indeed clearly answer those direct questions to avoid this resulting logical/rational perception.)

Tom: You simply don't know what you're talking about. I have over 14,000 posts, and many of these posts are on this topic.


Oh I do. Your reply here does not justify your non-answer and no posts references to my objections. Nice gas-lighting attempt. Doesn’t impress nor work with me. Quite to the contrary.

And even more factually clearly, beyond the above logical reasons involved, this is not a problem with me as in this thread Mountain Man, who has been studying with you for years also did not know of/recall what your view is/was on Capital Punishment. So start looking squarely at yourself and the fact that, at the very least, you are not pointing people to where you answers on this are.


“Truly I say to you, to the extent that you did not do it to one of the least of these, you did not do it to Me.” Matt 25:45 NJK Project
Re: Why did God command people to stone, scorch, and smite sinners to death? [Re: Tom] #133873
05/30/11 05:04 PM
05/30/11 05:04 PM
NJK Project  Offline
Banned Member
Dedicated Member
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 1,098
Laval, Quebec
Quote:
NJK: That is of course because you are viewing/judging things by your view,

Tom: Of course. And you are viewing/judging things by your view, which is why you say the things you say.

NJK:Well you need to do a better job of proving your view,

Tom: To someone who is unwilling, it's not possible to prove it. All I can hope is to do a good job expressing it, and that it can at least be understood and correctly represented.


Unwilling to what... accepting your unscholarly, unbiblical and irresponsible basis which helps your view merely run on, now, gas fumes?? I have to check my brain at the door to accept your view and its spurious and non-exegetical “proofs”. Much more than the peripheral ‘doing a good job expressing it’ you need to first do a good job with the validity of the substance you would then lastly need to properly convey.

Quote:
NJK: indeed by engaging the many points that are showing that it is not in harmony with the Bible. Selectively only using some texts for a view is the patent way of establishing a teaching that is not actually Biblical. It is only plausibly so when only those partial selection of text are used. Still, the texts that you are claiming in support do not in themselves support your view as they are accurately understood when considered in the greater context of all applicable texts, if not simply through proper exegesis.

Tom: This is pointless. It's just a claim without evidence.


The evidence of feasance of yours is strewn throughout this thread, with each point you have decided to ignore. But as you have a ‘view over exegesis’ belief, it can easily be seen why you don’t understand this foundational and paramount substantive and exegetical necessity.

Quote:
NJK: What’s the real issue/problem here Tom, as with other similar occurrences elsewhere??? I have already answered this objection of yours. Why won’t engage what I have already said in response? Did you not see that post? Or did you not bother to read it?? Or did you forget what you had read??? Or does it not matter what I had said???? Which one is it????? And then you vexatiously complain when I get upset by this patent disrespectful discussion snubbing as if I have to silently taken this from you? What’s the deal here??

Tom: I'd say the main deal is your lack of either ability or desire to write clearly and succinctly. You go on and on and on, and make very few points, and there's just so much to sift through that's it's hardly surprising that I might miss something. I'm going through everything in this post, but I won't often have time to do so.


I am merely substantiating my major points. In the end of such a point all you need to do is state whether you agree or not and pointedly why. I.e., which sub-/supporting points you do not find to be accurate and provide the evidence against for why. Furthermore, even, as done in these latest posts, it is pointed out that you didn’t respond to a prior point, you just ignore that indication/“reminder” again. It is clear to me that you only insist on ignoring that point, and quite manifestly because you cannot disprove its evidence against your view.

Originally Posted By: Tom
I suggest you try to write in a summary post what your main ideas are in regards to the topic we are discussing, and what you see my main ideas are.


That would be both redundant, and you’ll still need to address the underlying sub-points that were given to support that sectional view.

Originally Posted By: Tom
So far the main ideas I've been able to gather from you are that there is not an organic relationship between sin and death,


Correct, for the many reasons I have given to support it.

Originally Posted By: Tom
and that God executed judgments in more than one way, sometimes permitting sickness/suffering/destruction to occur, and sometimes causing these things Himself.


I’d say the vast majority of times except for the utter end in the War of the Jews with the actual destruction of Jerusalem, and in the future during the Final Plague. In between this may have occurred with individuals as shown in 14MR 1-3. Other than that I only see variously involved acts of judgement by God even when the SOP relates Him “permitting” something to occur. As the Biblical record pointedly, exegetically relates, this “permitting” also involves His executing/effectuating action.

Quote:
Tom: The most detailed explanation I've see in the first chapter of the Desire of Ages. The chapter on the revolution in France also is pretty detailed, and is along the same lines as the first chapter.

NJK: Well wherever EGW does expound on this “perfect mixture”, she rightly understands that they both simultaneously exists and are distinctly manifested.

Tom: In Scripture, these are not in conflict. For example:

Quote:
“Thus says the LORD of hosts:

‘ Execute true justice,
Show mercy and compassion
Everyone to his brother. (Zech. 7:9;NJKV)


Tom: Justice is effected by means of mercy.


I have already and exegetically responded to the presentation of this text as a supporting argument by you. Did you forget? No need to repeat things here. Answer my posted responses head on.

Quote:
T: It's helpful to note principles involved. I've already articulated some.

NJK:Your articulated principles do not extent to what you claim of them.

Tom: Yes they do (Gratuitous assertions my be gratuitously denied).


You are the one who thinks they are gratuitous. Evidently not being exegetically responsible blissfully frees you. I can’t do anything more in the light of this non-recognition/comprehension by you.

Quote:
T: We know that at times God works as explained in GC chapter 1, and that this example has God working things out in harmony with the principles articulated before. Does He sometimes work differently, according to other principles? I don't see that you've made any such case.

NJK: My point, as stated in that Signs article is that God does not wholly dispense with Justice for the sake of Mercy.

Tom: Justice means killing, and inflicting disease, things like that, against those who are disobedient?


Based on copious Biblical examples and statement of God, yes. It is a necessity, even if for quite beneficial, future life sparing object-lesson/exemplary reasons. (1 Cor 10:5-11)

Quote:
NJK: Because God is merciful, He still does not do away with the justice elements in His Law and Character.

Tom: So if God weren't merciful, He would do away with the justice elements of His Law and Character? I guess what you mean is that even though God is merciful, He does not do away with the justice elements of His law and character.


“Miswriting”. The “eventhough” correction is accurate.

Originally Posted By: Tom
I think you're seeing justice as punishment here, but this isn't how justice was viewed in the Old Testament. Justice has to do with the restoration of the community to shalom.


And... I am just supposed to accept this claim on mere pronouncement and/or face value?? Cite some texts that substantiate it.

It is instead clear to me that justice can only involve the punishment of the wicked whether in Israel or other nations (e.g., Psa 59:5; Jer 46:25; 50:18, 31)

Quote:
NJK: So He statutorily instituted in Israel that a murdered person should be avenged (=Gen 9:5, 6). (You have not responded to that Genesis statement by God).

Tom: What sort of response are you looking for?


Well as previously, repeatedly asked, how to you deal in your view with this (contradicting) fact that God Himself ordered right after the flood that Capital Punishment for murder should be done.

Quote:
Tom: It doesn't appear that you do. If you could articulate my position in a way that I would agree with, I would agree that you understand my view. Are you able to do so?

NJK: Easy. You see that nothing that is written in the OT can be defaultly said to be a correct perception of God’s ideas, will and ways.

Tom: I guess this is your idea of a joke. But mine was a serious question.


No. You are the one who thinks it is.

Originally Posted By: Tom
Can you articulate my position in a way I would agree with?


I already did as it fully entails. (= the fully involved “abortion is murder” vs. ‘it’s a personal, pregnancy-ending, choice’ opposing views). If you disagree with how I understand your view, then that’s a complete different issue and does not fall within my responsibility. And when you stop ignoring my posted points that disprove your views and/or show that this is indeed what it all entails, then will literally be on the same discussion page.

Originally Posted By: Tom
Please note that the key point of this request is that you articulate my position "in a way I would agree with."


That involves ignoring facts. You can do that yourself. Your view is not valid if its supporting points have all been disproven and debunked as it currently is the case.

Quote:
NJK: I can see why you don’t get my incredulity here. I see that the Bible writers did not have a misunderstanding with what had occurred,

Tom: The issue is not with the Bible writers!

NJK: Really, so according to you who is it with then in pointedly direct quoting of God? It seems quite clear to me that we should not take what these statement say as accurate representation of God’s will. Then who is responsible for this supposed misperception and misquoting of God?

Tom: There's no misquoting here. Simply bear in mind that God often presents Himself as doing that which He permits. The misperception occurs when this principle is not grasped.


As there is not exegetical proof for that claim, as further demonstrated in these latest posts, there nothing factual/valid to (view-controllingly) “keep in mind” here.

Quote:
NJK: (And if that is what you don’t think you said, then do spare me a terse: ‘that not what I said’ reply, and do quote or articulate for yourself what you said or meant. As seen below, (bold) you can do this when you think you have, at least, a seemingly plausible answer.)

Tom: Just quote something I said. You don't have a leg to stand on here. If you misstate a position I say once, that could be due to a misunderstanding. But after I correct you, and you persist, that's on you; you're doing it on purpose.


I already explained why this is what is incontrovertibly involved in your view above, in these latest posts.

Originally Posted By: Tom
So just stop. Don't purposely misrepresent the positions of people with whom you disagree. That's just not right.


I only “purposely” deal with what is Truth and all that is exegetically involved or entailed by an assertion/view. You just arbitrarily and subjectively/fancifully choose to not follow your views to their full/complete end.

Quote:
NJK: I find no Biblical example or support, including from Jesus Himself, for this rewriting of the Biblical text.

Tom: I've given over a dozen examples of what I asserted.

NJK: By now all disproven a Biblically valid examples. At the very least, try new ones or address the standing objections.

Tom: I've cited several in this thread. What's an example of a case where I've cited an example of God being presented as doing something He permits when this isn't what was happening?


For my cited exegetical reasons which you have not responded to, in all of those examples.

Even in the example of Job, as it was dealing with Job ad-libbing and candid statement, it was not a Biblical “revelation” per se. Moses had already set the record straight in that account.

Furthermore it was not a judgement of God so it is not an example of these judgements we are discussing.

And as God was involved, limiting Satan, it was ultimately an act of His. Just through a different, but directly “employed”, agency.

And, exegetically speaking (i.e., the use of Qal verbs in Job 1:21 except for the last “be (forcefully) blessed”)], Job’s comment was more to indicate that God has a right to naturally take away what He had priorly naturally given, and was not actually a commentary of how, (i.e, the “mechanism of”) this loss had occurred. That was not his concern as he wholly trusted/believed in the goodness of God no matter what happened to him.

Quote:
NJK: As I understand the why’s of God’s timely OT judgements, indeed as He did need to timely act to check free developments that, I believed, He did not always anticipate as a concrete possibility (cf. Isa 5:4). All of these acts of judgement are also microcosms and warnings of what the Final Hell destruction will be.

Tom: I haven't been discussing with you as to why the judgments occurred, but the mechanism involved in the judgments.

NJK: That what/how is clear to me. And as my statement emphasized, it is the involved “why” that make Him use these direct and active methods for reasons of timeliness and also due, full and proper effectuations. Again these issues are not “dichotomizable” to me.

Tom: This isn't well written, but I'll address what I think your point is. If we accept the principle that God is constantly protecting us from a thousand dangers, all of them unseen, then the why need not be impacted by the mechanism. The "why" involved is that God permitted an evil to occur (i.e., "evil" in the sense of an unfortunate event), to prevent a great evil from occurring. The mechanism could either be that God directly did something, or that He permitted something, in order to accomplish this. So the "why" would be the same, although the mechanism involved differed.


Since I have the view that God is still doing the action whether he “creates something new” (the earth opening up, the Flood, fire and brimstone on S&G) or uses a present organic means which he had been acting to protect against before, they still both are acts of God, then I see, as I understand the thread-starting question of this topic to be: What is the justifying reason why God allowed, pointedly the forms of personal acts for capital punishment to take place? I think to that can be added why does God Himself use acts that we would see as “violent” to effectuate such judgements/punishments. I.e., e.g., why not just let some peacefully die in their sleep as a judgement?

The “why” answer to me is that this was all for object-lesson reasons, and when organic consequences are used, it is indeed, as with the fiery serpents, so that Israel can understand that without Him and His protective care, they would not survive. The end goal is to try to instill that obedience to Him is the best option and the best way of doing this is through such natural consequences. However to deal with sudden situations to which there is no organic, natural remedy, then something fitting and new has to be done.

There is also the ultimate Theological reality that in the end, in order to be personally purged for having supported sin, God will have to expend His wrath upon sin and sinner. For the saved person, this was, as much as possible, representatively done to/upon Christ, but for the unsaved person, they’ll have to bear that wrath themselves in Hell Fire. So these “harsh” judgements for high handed sins was to serve as a tangibly and intendedly deterring reminder to that end reality that any rebellious person will have to suffer.

Quote:
NJK: No. These “thus says the Lord” are a distinct portion of the Biblical Text, which I see a paramount in God’s revelation. Similarly to how I see the SOP’s “I was shown” statements. And in matters of history, these Bible writers straightforwardly and matter of factly related what had occurred and I do not see Jesus changing these accounts.

Tom: Yet again, this is not the issue.

NJK:It is if all of what is being said in the Bible is to be questioned as to its both verbal substance and meaning.

Tom: God is often presented as doing that which He permits. This occurs both by means of direct quotes, and otherwise.


Only when the SOP is viewed in isolation of the Bible message that is to actually complete, correct and/or override it.

Originally Posted By: Tom
There's no need to question anything. There's just a principle of interpretation to grasp.


Only with this isolative approach of yours, I rightly/duly harmonize EGW’s comments to the Biblical testimony. Direct revelations of EGW when rightly understood and kept in their proper SOP-exegetical context are also, but still secondarily authoritative.

Quote:
T:Jesus Christ said what He heard, and lived what He saw, of God as revealed in the Old Testament. He read the same accounts as everybody else, so the problem is not with the accounts!

Tom: The problem is with one's perceptions of what was written. These perceptions are often at odds with what Jesus Christ revealed in His life and teachings.

NJK: As typical with your answers on this issue, it is substantively partial and logically simplistic. What is written is clear, especially in direct quotings of God.

Tom: Then why are there thousands of denominations? Surely somebody somewhere isn't understanding something correctly.


As I have seen in my past 13+ years of deeper and more scholarly studies, because of poor, deficient, shoddy and/or completely absent Biblical exegesis, including in the SDA Church and at the highest of religious educational level, namely its Seminaries. That is why our message is both not “fully” understood and also not convincingly/“credibly” shared.

Quote:
NJK:You are just systematically ignoring these statements to sustain a surface validity of your view.

Tom: What statements?


The Direct Quotes/statements of God e.g, ordering (“violent”) Capital Punishment, “offensive” Wars, population decimations, etc.

Originally Posted By: Tom
You write as if the viewpoint I have is something I wanted to have, and went about obtaining it. What I believe is simply the result of my trying to ascertain truth.


That may be your objective but your non-exegetical approach is what is the problem and why your view come across as fanciful and subjective. Indeed, in Biblical terms, the choice to make EGW’s writing authoritative over the Bible is in itself a personal preference given EGW’s own counsels against this.

Originally Posted By: Tom
My original background was anti-SDA Calvinism. If my disposition were what you are suggesting, I would have just stayed as I was, as systematically ignoring statement to sustain a surface validity is something anti-SDA Calvinists are very capable of doing.


Good start. It seems to me that you stopped this course and got of track. Pro 4:18 Pointedly when you decided that Biblical exegesis was not determinative or authoritative. That is doublyhard for me to understand from you given your claimed ‘Seminary education’, whatever that actually/really involved. (What you have claimed in regards to your “completion of coursework” does not make logical sense.)

Quote:
NJK:You effectively and evidently clearly do not believe “the problem is not with the accounts!”.

Tom: It seems clear to me from this post that the problem involves the principle that God is often presented as doing that which He permits.


To me that exegtically is not a valid claim at all.

Quote:
NJK:Indeed won’t even let them exegetically speak for themselves as they pointedly do. With you, exegesis is to be ignored, especially as you see that these writers perceptions affected their exegesis, making say things that were not really what happened!?! How does that stated view of yours support your claim here.

Tom: Again, I think the issue has to do with the above mentioned principle. You seem to be denying this principle, with the single exception of Job.


Indeed and as specified above, not even Job, particularly for the distinct “judgement” issue.

Originally Posted By: Tom
Even though my position in regards to what occurred in many of these incidents is a minority view, I think you're the only one who disagrees with this particular principle.


As I have seen for a fact proper/deeper/more exhaustive exegesis has a way of doing this as others spuriously refuse to do it.

Originally Posted By: Tom
The position that everyone else has who disagrees with me is that yes, God is often presented as doing that which He permits, but that doesn't mean that God isn't sometimes doing the things He is presented as doing.


Well to me, improper exegesis is most likely the reason. Indeed it arrives at that similar (spurious/non validly substantiated) claim and indeed your posted arguments are generally not disputed by these others, and that despite my exegetical facts/points against them. So evidently that view is also being “beleived” despite the standing facts against it and as I see it, as with you, it is to not engage the exegetical issues involve. I can surfacely understand this for others, but not for you as you (supposedly) are ‘/“ formally seminary educated”/’.

Quote:
NJK: Indeed if your view was the Truth, I would think Jesus would be systematically engaging in recorded statements of, e.g.,: ‘you have read “God rained fire on Sodom”, but I say on to you God never does a judgement Himself, and this was actually a volcano that was always supposed to erupt then.’ etc.

Tom: Light is progressive. Jesus Christ spoke of the things which He felt were most pressing at the time. There are all sorts of things which are true of which Jesus Christ did not address directly.

NJK:So how then did He reveal everything, especially with such a crucial view of an OT episode that He used as the illustrative basis for His own end time judgement. He did not receive the full light on this???

NJK: This is a prime and most indicative example of you also making Jesus be subject to your view.

Tom: You asked why Jesus didn't explain all this. I said there were many things He didn't explain. You're response is, ":So how then did He reveal everything..." So you're asserting that Jesus actually did reveal everything?


And my question was/is :How then did He, according to your understanding “reveal everything” if he didn’t explain everything. By natural sense “explaining” only involves things that need to be explained. So that would mean that Jesus would have left many OT things not explained and so HE would not have “revealed everything”. So my questions still remain. I.e. I do not see how you can claim that Jesus revealed everything if:

“Light is progressive.”

“Jesus Christ spoke of the things which He felt were most pressing at the time.”

There are all sorts of things which are true of which Jesus Christ did not address directly.”

And eve if these ‘not directly addressed things’ were not included in the Gospel accounts, by natural implication your “revealed everything” claim would mean that they were actually addressed but just not recorded. Which would be quite possible as John 21:25 can allow for.

To be quite frank with you, (and do correct me if I am wrong), I can only see this another sly view switching of you on your part following my pointing out of the John 16:12-15 evidence (also pointed out by Mountain Man) which you did not respond to me (or as I recall, neither to Mountain Man) but instead, with me, only peripherally quibbled about me not having included the words of the text in that post and so (as you apparently wanted to convey then) you were just going to ignore it as “pointless.” Manifestly you did not and used it to change your previous claim/stance on that pointed issue.

Quote:
T: The whole purpose of Christ's mission was the revelation of God. He revealed the principles I'm articulating; love your enemies, turn the other cheek, walk the second mile. Christ gave His life for His enemies. He never recommended violence, and when it was suggested He burn them, He rebuked those who thus suggested because they did not know what spirit they were of. He died the most horrible death at the hands of those who hated Him. He returned kindness for cruelty.

NJK: And, as copiously seen throughout His Ministry, He mostly did this by explaining misunderstood OT passages/episode.

Tom: I assume "this" here is the revelation of God.


Correct.

Originally Posted By: Tom
If so, what you are asserting here is not the case. He mostly revealed God's character by how He lived (i.e., His deeds of kindness, healing, ministry, etc.)


Ohhhh... really. I rather see that if Jesus had not made a copious amounts of statements surrounding His miracles, as pointedly and selectively recorded in the Gospel, this full revelation of God would not have been perceived, indeed as seen in the fact that his actions were being misunderstood by many (e.g., Mark 9:6; Luke 13:18).

Indeed even despite all of the miracles and acts of kindness during His ministry, His own disciples, strangely enough, did not ‘believe that He was from God’ until He finally, defaultly started to speak plainly to them (John 16:25-31), as just done in that Last Supper feast (John 14:1-16:24). Keep in mind that they are not saying this because they knew His ministry was about to end. They did not even awarely register, let alone, understand this soon drastic ending. SO it really was because, as this meeting Jesus had openly and straightforwardly spoken to them on divine truths concerning Himself.

So such explanatory teachings, and that throughout His Ministry, was indeed fundamentally crucial, “public relation/comprehension-wise” to His Ministry.

Quote:
NJK:So why not also with this crucial S&G episode which manifestly was still “misunderstood” by NT writers?

Tom: I disagree with your assertion here. I believe the NT writers understood that God is often presented as doing that which He permits,


Well you’ll need to substantiate this claim. I don’t see this notion expressed in their writings, including with Jesus teachings. (e.g., Matt 22:7; Luke 12:47-50; 2 Pet 2:4-6, 9; cf. Rom 12:19).

Originally Posted By: Tom
and they did so themselves.


Did what (else) themselves?? Your view does not have to be theirs. For starters, as discussed in previous recent posts, I see that they had a different view of the Inspiration of Scripture than you as it concerns the perfect transmission of direct revelations from God (2 Per 1:17-21).

Quote:
NJK: Indeed Teaching on the Scriptures was a major part of His Ministry.

Tom: It wasn't His purpose to correct every conceivable error a person might have had in regards to what Scripture taught about God's character. Indeed, that would have been impossible.


I am not making that so self-evidently “impossible” extreme “every conceivable error a person might have had” claim. He (1) only need to focused on major views which were that of the Pharisees, Sadducees, Essenses and Zealots, (2) people then, unlike today, and that for mainly various cultural reasons, did not normatively have individual/private views outside of what their followed teachers had. So dealing with those 4 views would virtually have included all other views.

Originally Posted By: Tom
Light is progressive. God takes people where they are, and through revelation, moves them closer to the truth. This doesn't happen all at once.


I see that Jesus only dealt with issue within His Plan of Redemption/New Covenant confirming and Character of God revelation mandate and this would involve doing explanatory teaching on all prominently espoused views which especially misrepresent the Character of God.

Originally Posted By: Tom
Just think of where they were coming from. They had a militaristic view of God's kingdom, where the Messiah would come and physically rescue them from their enemies. They didn't understand the spiritual nature of Christ's kingdom. Christ had a lot to deal with.


His Teachings on the Character of God would be a key part of these topics here. So they would not have been detrimental to His full pertinent teachings objectives.


“Truly I say to you, to the extent that you did not do it to one of the least of these, you did not do it to Me.” Matt 25:45 NJK Project
Re: Why did God command people to stone, scorch, and smite sinners to death? [Re: Tom] #133874
05/30/11 05:05 PM
05/30/11 05:05 PM
NJK Project  Offline
Banned Member
Dedicated Member
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 1,098
Laval, Quebec
Quote:
T: If you had more than the actual words of God in mind, then we are dealing with what actually happened, right? And even with the words of God, there are questions, as God often presented Himself as doing what He permits. For example, consider the episode of the fiery serpents. What happened there? Isn't this was our disagreement entails? I believe the serpents were already there, and that God had been protecting the Israelites from them the whole time, and He merely ceased doing so for a time. This is despite the direct language used.

NJK: This is where I see that you are being finally being forthcoming about what you actually think of Biblical exegesis. Evidently you see it as irrelevant.

Tom: How does what you're saying here in any way tie into the points that I just made? Or questions I asked?

NJK:I am dealing with the paramount “This is despite the direct language used.” Which means: “Exegesis is irrelevant to understanding the Bible.”

Tom: I have made the point that God is often presented as doing that which He permits. Scripture uses direct language that God sent fiery serpents against the Israelites. This is explained by the SOP as meaning that God removed His protection from the serpents which were already there. Your conclusion to this is that "Exegesis is irrelevant to understanding the Bible." I'm incredulous to this response.


Why would it be. Irrespective of the fact that your “permit” claim was then, and still is, spurious, hence the complete ignorance of it here, your view controllingly necessitates that Biblical exegesis be considered as not really meaning anything. Hence, despite the various grammatical and syntactical uses made by Bible writers, these are all irrelevant. That is the straightforward and only conclusion that can be made here. You then also come to involve direct-quotings of God in this view. You need to both think you views through and allow all applicable points to be involved in the validity weighing of it.

Originally Posted By: Tom
I'll point out once again that you're on your own here. That is, while my understanding of certain incidents is at odds with many posting here, that the principle is true that God is often presented as doing that which He permits is agreed to by everyone here besides you. That means, to be consistent, your assertion that "Exegesis is irrelevant to understanding the Bible" applies to everyone else here as well.


Well again, that is only because I am being exegetically responsible. That’s just the natural result of this more precise scholarly approach. I, by now, am well used to, for such deeper work reasons, “stand alone.” That is alone with God and His “fuller” truth. Look through the Bible and Church History and you’ll see that Truth is never determined by numbers but by the actual Biblical facts.

Quote:
NJK: And also “Bible writers did not relate things accurately.”

Tom: Why is this in double quotes? Who are you quoting? Certainly not me.


As this summarily loudly expresses what your view fully entails, those quotes fully apply for me.

Quote:
NJK: As for your other points, that had been already dealt with, long ago, and through this exgetical method, so there was no point to restate those patently ignored answers, especially, as now revealed here by you, ‘exegetical facts do not matter’.

Tom: If you're talking about the snakes, you're on your own here also. You have some fanciful idea that God did something to instill fear in the snakes so they would attack, but this isn't anything even resembling exegesis.


It’s not a fanciful idea. It is using factual natural science to corroborate what was exegetically revealed in the Bible. Indeed I foundational believe that always uses some form/degree of Science to accomplish things. On the other hand, your Bible and SOP completely opposing/contradicting claim that a volcanic eruption is what destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah and not God tangibly working through His own angels is what is “fanciful”.

Originally Posted By: Tom
Here again is the EGW statement:

Originally Posted By: SOP EP 301.1
Shielded by divine power, they had not realized the countless dangers by which they were surrounded. In their unbelief they anticipated death, and now the Lord permitted death to come upon them. The poisonous serpents that infested the wilderness were called fiery serpents, on account of their sting, it causing violent inflammation and speedy death. As the protecting hand of God was removed, great numbers of the people were attacked by these venomous creatures.


That God's action here consisted of His removing His protection to allow the Israelites to be exposed to a danger which was already existing is incontrovertible.


Already responded above. As Biblical exegesis is irrelevant to you and as this SOP account seems to corroborate your claim, it is not surprising to me that you fickly only choose the SOP account here, which is actually just a part of what fully happened with the Bible indicating the rest, all corroborated by what occurs in nature.

Indeed you just fancifully jump to whatever you think corroborates your view (namely either the Bible or SOP or something else (e.g., “volcanoes for S&G”)) to the exclusion of all other opposing statements, even within that source itself. So clearly, at least to me, it is your view that is the final authority as to what Truth Is.

Originally Posted By: Tom
Ok, this is everything, except for insults at the end of the post, which I'll skip.


“Insults”??! What is “insulting” about, pointedly, asking you to:

-substantiate your “name-calling” claim,

-answer my points instead of ignoring them,
-explain the illogicalities in ‘seminary education’ claim,

and:

-pointing out you non-exegetical ways and practices,

-pointing out that you need to think your views through,

-highlighting that you manifestly end answering a post whenever you no longer have valid answers. (Of course you are wanting to make this seem as a non-discriminatory ending, but just reading either what you left out or where you ended reveals your tactic here. And, as already pointed out time is really not the issue here. You can take as much time as necessary to full make the response to my substantive points. Indeed you usually prefer to quibble with non-substantive issue rather than substantive ones, of course when that suits you, or as done here, try to pass off all of these questions/points as “insults” and so not answer them.)

At the very least, you should be able to easily defend the “rightness” and truth in all of these.

Originally Posted By: Tom
I decided to answer this entire post,


Great. One down, 10+ both fully, and also partially, unanswered posts to go.

Originally Posted By: Tom
as you seem to complain if I don't do so.


No misunderstanding here, I do and still am complaining, and that with cause, way beyond discussion/views respect. Indeed as you are quite obviously only doing this with what you cannot answer yet continue to maintain that these disproven points are still contributing to making your view the supposedly right/Biblical one!??

And the issue is not merely answering a post completely, per se, but at the very least addressing all of the substantive points made in their against your view. So you still have many other such unanswered points left to address.

Originally Posted By: Tom
However, I'm simply not going to have time to do so on a regular basis.


Your loss/detriment/problem. My facts disproven your view will still stand as they rightfully self-deserve to against your view. But of course you’ll blissfully go on thinking and claiming that you are right.

Again time is not a reason here as you can take as long as necessary. You just don’t want to.

Originally Posted By: Tom
I spent something like 4 hours on this post.


And I had said that you could have, i.e., e.g., here taken 8 minutes per day over the next month to make this response. So time is not the issue. You manifestly just want to appear to be confident and sure of your view by posting replies, and difficulty-avoiding, selective ones at that, to my posts. That does not impress me. Just, as seen in your shallow response, shows that you have not involved proper, if any exegesis in your answers and have no intention to do so.

Originally Posted By: Tom
Much of what is written here is redundant.


Due mainly to your blind repetitions of already disproven claims.

Originally Posted By: Tom
What seems to be the main bone of contention here is the assertion that God is often presented as doing that which He permits. My understanding of your position is that you see the principle of God doing that which He permits as being applicable only to Job,


This has been further explained above. I indeed don’t see it as the lone/possible example anymore.

Originally Posted By: Tom
and, I would extrapolate, to other similar incidents where God permits Satan to cause sufferings to a righteous person.


Correct though I do not see any example in the Bible where this is said or related as ‘God permitting what He is doing.’ As seen in Luke 22:31, 32 it was clearly stated that Satan would do this, and with Lazarus, I see that it was understood that this was not a direct act of God.

Originally Posted By: Tom
Other than this case, you believe that whenever it says that God did something, that God took direct action to bring about the thing which it says He did.


Not exactly. If a Hiphil class of verbs were used then it was through some “agency”. If a Piel class then through “patiency”.


“Truly I say to you, to the extent that you did not do it to one of the least of these, you did not do it to Me.” Matt 25:45 NJK Project
Re: Why did God command people to stone, scorch, and smite sinners to death? [Re: NJK Project] #133984
06/01/11 10:36 PM
06/01/11 10:36 PM
Tom  Offline
Active Member 2012
14500+ Member
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 14,795
Lawrence, Kansas
Originally Posted By: NJK
T:Much of what is written here is redundant.

NJK:Due mainly to your blind repetitions of already disproven claims.


No, this is totally on you. I have many conversations with many people, and this has never been an issue. You're not organizing your thoughts in any systematic way.

If you could come up with a list of what you see to be the important principles involved, the could be helpful.

Also a list of what you see to be the differences in our points of view that has to do with content rather than methodology, that would be helpful (i.e., don't write something like, "I just accept what the Bible teaches, while you hold to your own ideas regardless of what Scripture says").


Those who wait for the Bridegroom's coming are to say to the people, "Behold your God." The last rays of merciful light, the last message of mercy to be given to the world, is a revelation of His character of love.
Page 99 of 105 1 2 97 98 99 100 101 104 105

Moderator  dedication, Rick H 

Sabbath School Lesson Study Material Link
Here is the link to this week's Sabbath School Lesson Study and Discussion Material: Click Here
Most Recent Posts From Selected Public Forums
The Value of Bible Types
by TruthinTypes. 03/17/24 06:22 PM
Orion Which Every One on the Globe Can See
by Rick H. 03/16/24 06:26 PM
Carbon Dioxide What's so Bad about It?
by Rick H. 03/16/24 06:23 PM
'Prophet' Summons UFOs
by ProdigalOne. 03/16/24 02:19 AM
Are the words in the Bible "imperfect"?
by Rick H. 03/15/24 08:53 PM
Will You Take The Wuhan Virus Vaccine?
by dedication. 03/11/24 06:31 PM
Get That Razor Wire Up!
by kland. 03/05/24 12:49 PM
Messages for This Time
by ProdigalOne. 03/04/24 05:54 AM
The Lake of Fire is Hell
by Rick H. 03/02/24 05:01 PM
Adventist Agriculture
by kland. 02/29/24 12:33 PM
How tall were Adam and Eve?
by dedication. 02/28/24 07:30 PM
Hebrew word YOM or yowm meaning?
by dedication. 02/26/24 05:42 AM
The Book of Job
by teresaq. 02/22/24 04:43 AM
Most Recent Posts From Selected Private Forums of MSDAOL
Christian Nationalism/Sunday/C
limate Change

by ProdigalOne. 03/16/24 08:38 PM
Perils of the Emerging Church Movement
by Rick H. 03/16/24 06:30 PM
Is There A Connection Between WO & LGBTQ?
by Kevin H. 03/12/24 09:20 PM
Climate Change and the Sunday Law
by kland. 03/05/24 01:37 PM
A Second American Civil War?
by Daryl. 03/04/24 06:14 PM
WHAT IS THE VERY END-TIME PROPHECY?
by Daryl. 02/29/24 11:21 AM
Should Walter Veight have preached this sermon?
by dedication. 02/21/24 05:28 PM
Labor Unions and Adventist
by Rick H. 02/20/24 01:59 PM
Spiritualism: Across The Gulf...
by Rick H. 02/20/24 01:52 PM
Samuele Bacchiocchi & Recent Article Concerns
by dedication. 02/20/24 01:39 AM
Forum Announcements
Visitors by Country Since February 11, 2013
Flag Counter
Google Maritime SDA OnLine Public Forums Site Search & Google Translation Service
Google
 
Web www.maritime-sda-online.com

Copyright 2000-Present
Maritime 2nd Advent Believers OnLine (formerly Maritime SDA OnLine).

LEGAL NOTICE:
The views expressed in this forum are those of individuals
and do not necessarily represent those of Maritime 2nd Advent Believers OnLine,
as well as the Seventh-day Adventist Church
from the local church level to the General Conference level.

Maritime 2nd Advent Believers OnLine (formerly Maritime SDA OnLine) is also a self-supporting ministry
and is not part of, or affiliated with, or endorsed by
The General Conference of Seventh-day Adventists headquartered in Silver Spring, Maryland
or any of its subsidiaries.

"And He saith unto them, follow Me, and I will make you fishers of men." Matt. 4:19
MARITIME 2ND ADVENT BELIEVERS ONLINE (FORMERLY MARITIME SDA ONLINE) CONSISTING MAINLY OF BOTH MEMBERS & FRIENDS
OF THE SEVENTH-DAY ADVENTIST CHURCH,
INVITES OTHER MEMBERS & FRIENDS OF THE SEVENTH-DAY ADVENTIST CHURCH ANYWHERE IN THE WORLD WHO WISHES TO JOIN US!
Powered by UBB.threads™ PHP Forum Software 7.7.1