Opus 2026-029: Says Who?

When you come to a statement in the Bible which is obviously false you move to an interpretation which makes allowance for figures of speech, such as metaphor, simile, hyperbole.  You do this pretty much naturally on some of these statements.  For instance, does God have feathers?  That seems like a silly question.

Psalm 91:4 (KJV) He shall cover thee with his feathers, and under his wings shalt thou trust: his truth shall be thy shield and buckler.

So if you believe in literal interpretation of scripture, and read this verse, then you have to believe that God has feathers.  Maybe He does.  I’m not sure I found any verses that says, “God does not have feathers.”  At the same time most of us agree it’s a pretty silly individual who accepts this or demands that it be interpreted literally.

So when we have statements that do not make sense or are totally illogical, even the definitive dispensationalist would say that it is figurative.  We have established the principal.  Now the problem comes in applying that principle.

You see, one person’s logic is often another person’s nonsense.  Columbus was convinced that the Earth was round and that if he sailed west, he would reach China.  To him this is a matter of logic, information and reason.  There were people who disagreed with him.  Which one gets to determine what science teaches?

In areas of Bible interpretation and theology one of the unfortunate truths is that most people start with the traditions of their elders, their system, their theology and twist the scripture to fit into the gaps.  I think we all do this.  The difference is that some of us are aware of it and struggle with it whereas others just get that smile of superior wisdom, and administer a pat on the head.  Or as it was sometimes in the history, they burn us at the stake.

I just watched a short video where James Tour presented an argument that I’ve heard from John Lennox before about how if we lived 500 years ago, we would’ve all been Immovable Earthers.  Why?  Because the Bible says so.

Psalm 93:1 (KJV) The LORD reigneth, he is clothed with majesty; the LORD is clothed with strength, [wherewith] he hath girded himself: the world also is stablished, that it cannot be moved.

His point was that with more knowledge we eventually changed our understanding and switched from literal to figurative.  It does not change the actuallly point of the verse.  Understanding the poetical nature of a passage does not rob it of meaning.  In some cases it deepens it.

We need to work on our discernment as well as our credulity. 

homo unius libri

Opus 2024-279: Dark Thoughts: Is God a Chicken?, Part 1 of 2

One of the ways in which I begin my day is to contemplate what God is like.  That can morph into spiritual hallucinations.  You can touch on the futility of the physical aspects.  It could be intellectual.  Ultimately I come to the place where I accept the clear, concise, accurate description of God is beyond my comprehension.

Think of the different ways in which you would have to put the details together to get a literal description of God.  One of my favorites is that He is a big chicken.  Notice this,

(Psa 91:4 KJV)  He shall cover thee with his feathers, and under his wings shalt thou trust: his truth shall be thy shield and buckler.

Feathers?  Wings?  I would say no one in their right mind would ever genuinely consider God to be a chicken, but then I think of some of the people I’ve met, and discussed things with, and have to back away from that statement.

What this puts me in mind of is interpreting scripture.  We often come across things in the Bible that are either difficult to understand, or, to be honest, impossible for us to understand.  And that speaks of prophecy.  I’ve just finished reading Isaiah.  There are long passages of vague references to unknown places and people that I will never be able to figure out.  That is either because I can’t or I’m just too lazy.  Or it’s on my bucket list and I probably won’t get to it before I die.

But let’s take some thing where we understand every word, and can even get a picture of it in our minds, but we need to try and understand what the Bible is saying.  Take, for instance, the reference to a camel going through the eye of a needle.

(Mat 19:24 KJV)  And again I say unto you, It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle, than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God.

Now you can approach this from several different ways.  A person of normal intelligence and goodwill would look at that, read the context, and understand that Jesus is using hyperbole to make a point.  It would be obvious that a camel cannot go through the eye of a needle.  The response of the disciples makes it sound like a literal statement and makes them seem a bit slow.  Jesus then goes on and explains that, yes, it is indeed impossible, but God can do anything.

You can get all that from reading but that is not good enough for some people.

To be continued...

homo unius libri

Opus 2024-001: A Place to Start

Psalm 91 is a great way to begin the year.  I read it in my normal worship routine this morning and it was almost like I picked it out on purpose.

It starts out with standard promises.

(Psa 91:2 KJV)  I will say of the LORD, He is my refuge and my fortress: my God; in him will I trust.

As I kept reading I nodded my head and said, “Yes.  I can identify with that.”

(Psa 91:3 KJV)  Surely he shall deliver thee from the snare of the fowler, and from the noisome pestilence.

Does FBI entrapment and a new variant of the Covid panic come to mind?  These are not new concerns of ordinary people.  History is full of tyrants oppressing everyone they can reach.  Plague and disease have been a part of life down through history.  Why should we be any different?

Then we have the concern about the knock in the middle of the night.  Recently I have been reading about people being “swatted”.  That means some anonymous person calls up and reports something terrible going on in your house and the swat team comes calling.

(Psa 91:5 KJV)  Thou shalt not be afraid for the terror by night; nor for the arrow that flieth by day;

See?  Nothing new here.  The chapter goes on this way.  

A lot of promises are given.  The one I like the most involves guardian angels,

(Psa 91:11 KJV)  For he shall give his angels charge over thee, to keep thee in all thy ways.

Like I said, a good place to start the year.

One word of caution before you get too excited:  Keep in mind that the promises are conditional.  They are not extended to everyone.  They are based on us calling on God and listening to His answers.  God loves to deliver people.  I think of a friend whose neighborhood was burning to the ground.  His house was not touched.  You could follow the path of the fire up to a certain point and it was as if something, or Someone, said, “No farther.”

Get in touch with that Someone.

Happy New Year.

homo unius libri