Binary Thinking is NOT Divine!

Binary or dichotomous thinking is at the root of so many of humankind's current problems. It is at the heart of prejudice, political and religious bias and extremism, and the polarization of our entire society. As Clay Drinko noted in How to Avoid Binary Thinking and Think More Clearly, "Binary thinking is everywhere today. You are either for or against something, conservative or liberal, or pro-choice or pro-life. The list goes on, from societal issues to team sports, and it’s to the point that things are spiraling out of control. After all, there are still current debates over wearing a mask or taking a vaccine to protect against Covid-19." He goes on to define this as "thinking there are two sides, and you can only pick one." Everything is framed as black or white, good or evil.

Drinko observes that this kind of thinking allows us to simplify and process complex ideas/situations. Of course, we can all see the value of this kind of thinking when faced with immediate danger. Drinko, however, succinctly summarized how this can turn into a distinct disadvantage when coping or dealing with chronic problems. He said: "The gray area in the middle of these complex issues is often ignored or goes unnoticed." In other words, we aren't allowing ourselves to comprehend the whole. We are effectively rejecting some of the information needed to make intelligent choices or to arrive at some kind of consensus or compromise with others. If I'm right, you have to be wrong. If I'm good/righteous, you have to be bad/evil. In logic, this either/or presentation is known as the False Dilemma Fallacy.

Clearer Thinking differentiates between three kinds of binary thinking: 1) The Truth Binary, 2) The Goodness Binary, and 3) The Identification Binary. They describe the truth binary as viewing "a statement as simply true or false, correct or incorrect. But on complex topics, simple viewpoints are often partially true and partially false, or true some percent of the time and false the rest of the time." They also describe the goodness binary as viewing "things as either good or bad, positive or negative, or moral or immoral, when, in fact, there is most often a mix of “good” and “bad” features when we consider complex, hotly-debated topics (even if, all things considered, one side really is better)." Likewise, they describe the identification binary as viewing "things as either a member of a class or not a member of that class, when in fact, almost every categorization admits edge cases that lie between categories, or fails to categorize some cases." Of course, the common thread among all of these different types of binary thinking is that they do not allow subtlety, nuance, or variability.

Nevertheless, as we have already suggested, binary thinking does have a place in human existence - a raison d'etre if you will. Body Helix summarizes the benefits of binary thinking in these terms: "Binary thinking helps us feel a sense of certainty. Binary thinking can come in handy when faced with an immediate crisis like slamming on your brakes when driving to avoid an accident. We can thank binary thinking for this kind of definitive decision-making." They go on to explain that "Our ancestors learned to categorize their world as either/or because it could save time and reserve mental resources for basic needs such as hunting and gathering food. They could use binary thinking to guide how they lived, and it would save them from danger in certain situations." Even so, the same article goes on to note that: "As we live in a world filled with a multitude of political, religious, and economic interests, binary thinking can and does create an incredible impasse. We feel the strain of binary thinking all around us every day. These lead to biases and prejudices. Preconceptions and misconceptions. This extreme thinking can cause serious overreactions or emotional responses and may result in significant consequences through impulsive behaviors. Binary thinking may allow us to see major advantages and disadvantages of a situation, but we miss the finer details to make an informed decision."

As I've noted in previous posts, binary thinking is alive and well in Fundamentalist/Literalist Christian communities. For instance, these folks insist that the Bible is an all or nothing proposition. It is either flawless, or it is so flawed that it must be rejected in toto! It is either essential, or it is useless. It is either the Word of God, or it is the superstitious nonsense of the past! That the Bible could be anything else is unthinkable! In similar fashion, these folks are used to thinking in terms of good and evil. You are either on God's side, or you belong to Satan! You either have the truth, or you are full of falsehood! This, however, is inconsistent with what the Bible has to say about God and itself.

In the real world, God decided to work through flawed humans to formulate the Bible. Knowing how the human mind works (because God designed it), and the weaknesses inherent to the human condition, GOD made the decision to involve humans in the writing, editing and formatting of the Bible. Moreover, the Bible informs us that the inspiration of God's Holy Spirit influences and guides, but it does NOT force or impose God's will on anybody. Likewise, Scripture also makes clear that the Holy Spirit does NOT remove our very human capacity to sin or make mistakes! Finally, Scripture makes very clear that God is a very complex entity who thinks on a much higher plane than we do. In other words, God is portrayed in those writings as having access to information that is unavailable to us! The God of the Bible is NOT limited by the things which limit us. Unlike us, the God of the Bible is NOT confined to two or three dimensions and CAN see the end/outcome of all the choices or decisions it makes!

Indeed, Scripture makes very clear in numerous places that our thinking and perspective is very inferior to God's thinking and perspective. In Isaiah, we read: "'My thoughts are nothing like your thoughts,' says the Lord. 'And my ways are far beyond anything you could imagine. For just as the heavens are higher than the earth, so my ways are higher than your ways and my thoughts higher than your thoughts.'" (55:8-9) In the book of Proverbs, we are told that "There is a path before each person that seems right, but it ends in death." (14:12) Likewise, we read in the first book of Samuel that God told him: "The Lord doesn’t see things the way you see them. People judge by outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart." (16:7) Unlike us, God is comfortable in the nuance and the details. Unlike us, God is aware of all of the potential consequences of the choices/decisions it makes!

Finally, the folks who might be tempted to attack the thesis of this post on the grounds of moral relativism (the notion that there aren't any universal or absolute moral principles extant in the world) would do well to remember that the very limited human mind CANNOT fully comprehend the Divine mind. In other words, yes, God has set a standard, but we must never be so arrogant as to suppose that we have fully comprehended or implemented that standard! Humans are notorious for wanting to decide for themselves what is right and what is wrong (see Genesis 2 and 3), but Scripture makes clear that this determination is God's alone. Hence, whatever God's will in some matter is - that's the way it is - regardless of whether you understand or embrace it! Thus, we are NOT advocating for moral relativism - we are advocating for the humility and willingness to admit that it is possible that we may not have fully comprehended or embraced God's actual standard (as in Christ's rejection of Moses' certificate of divorce). For instance, we can know that God's standard forbids murder, but we cannot discern the motivations of a person's heart or the dictates of their conscience (and we know that both are important to God, who is also fully aware of both).

How can we avoid falling into the trap of binary thinking? In the article mentioned above, Clay Drinko identified seven different strategies to avoid the pitfalls of dichotomous thinking. They are: 1) a willingness to try new things, 2) a willingness to meet new people and listen to their perspectives on things, 3) cultivating an "authentic curiosity" about things, 4) attempting to maintain an attitude of open-mindedness, 5) building empathy for other folks' experiences and perspectives, 6) a willingness to admit how little we really know about something, and 7) embracing the uncertainty inherent in living on this planet. In other words, "Instead of making assumptions and broad generalizations, full-spectrum thinking is when we investigate the nuance and explore the gray areas." (Same source) Hence, if we are truly interested in pleasing God, we should strive to put on the mind of God - to reject the binary thinking which seems to come to us so naturally as humans!

 

Trumpets and the Bible

Trumpets are a prominent symbol in the King James Version of the Bible. Unfortunately, this symbolism is too often overlooked or intentionally ignored within the Christian Church. Within Judaism, however, Rosh Hashanah is the "Head of the Year." (See Chabad.org's What Is Rosh Hoshanah?) To the Jews, it is the "Day of Shofar Blowing," "Day of Remembrance," and "Day of Judgement." (Same article) To be sure, a few Christians have observed the "Feast of Trumpets" and have offered various interpretations of the day's significance for Christians. Even so, one is left with the distinct impression that the trumpet does not occupy a very prominent place within the thinking of most of the Judeo-Christian world!

This, of course, stands in stark contrast to the place which this imagery occupies in their Scriptures! The word "trumpet" occurs 61 times in the KJV of the Bible, and the plural form occurs 51 times! (See Trumpet(s) in Blue Letter Bible's online version of Strong's Concordance) Now, admittedly, not all of those uses of the English word "trumpet(s)" refers to the same Hebrew word. More often than not, this is a translation of the Hebrew word "shofar" - the curved ram's horn used by the ancients. (Same source) However, it is also used to designate the Hebrew word "hasosra" - a silver wind instrument. (Same source) Even so, trumpets were employed by the ancient Israelites to 1) announce the presence of God, 2) summon the people to gather together, 3) move their camp when they were wandering in the wilderness, 4) signal the people in times of war, 5) announce sacrifices and celebrations, 6) praise God, and 7) announce the appointment of a new king after the kingdom was established. (See Zipporah's Meaning of Trumpets and Bible Den's Trumpets in the Bible)

Of course, understanding the various ways that "trumpets" were used by the ancient Israelites is essential to fulfilling the Torah's instructions regarding the Feast of Trumpets. In the book of Leviticus, we read: "Speak unto the children of Israel, saying, In the seventh month, in the first day of the month, shall ye have a sabbath, a memorial of blowing of trumpets, an holy convocation." (23:24) Notice that this was to be a "memorial" or "zikaron" (Hebrew, see Blue Letter Bible's Strong's article on zikaron). So, we see that the sense of the original Hebrew was that this was to be a memorial or reminder of this practice (sounding the trumpet). In other words, this Holy Day was intended to force the people to remember the role which God had assigned to the blowing of these trumpets in the practice of both their national and religious lives.

In the writings which we now refer to as the New Testament, we can see how this familiar symbolism was employed in the Christian faith and message. In the Gospel of Matthew, we read that Christ said that his return to this earth and the gathering of the elect would be accompanied by the blast of a trumpet (24:30-31). Additionally, the apostle Paul wrote to the saints of Corinth that the resurrection of the righteous dead to immortality would follow the sounding of the last trumpet (I Corinthians 15:52). Likewise, he wrote to the saints of Thessalonica that Christ's return and the resurrection of "the dead in Christ" would be preceded by the "trump of God" (I Thessalonians 4:16). Finally, in the book of Revelation, John describes seven trumpets which announce a series of events prior to the end of the age and the establishment of God's Kingdom on this earth (see chapters 8-11).

Interestingly, in his booklet Pagan Holidays - or God's Holy Days -Which?, Herbert Armstrong noted the trumpet's connection to the return of Christ and the resurrection of the dead and speculated that Christ may even return on that day! Likewise, in his excellent book The Thread: God's Appointments with History, the late Ron Dart emphasized the Feast of Trumpets connection to the resurrection and speculated about the joyous celebration which that event might engender among God's saints. Unfortunately, both men appeared to believe that the observance of the actual festival was as important to Christians as what the blast of that final trumpet actually symbolized. Even so, both of them also appeared to understand the trumpet's symbolic connection to the way that it had been used by the ancient Israelites (e.g., as a means of summoning/gathering, announcing, celebrating and praising).

Unfortunately, while the Church of God International mentions the resurrection and return of Christ in connection with the Feast of Trumpets, it adds a disturbing element which seeks to justify a very negative and controversial element of the beliefs of some of its members regarding that organization's messaging! In their summary of the Feast of Trumpets, we read that: "This festival represents the preaching of the gospel to the world by God’s faithful watchmen who have the responsibility of arousing the people from their spiritual slumber (Ezekiel 33:1–16). At this point, God has ceased to let mankind go his own way. The time has come to sound the alarm and attempt to save as many as we can—to save man from himself. Otherwise, man will succeed in self-destruction."

Never mind, that God was speaking to Ezekiel about his message to ancient Israel - they believe that the United States and Great Britian represent the modern manifestation of Israel on this earth! In the passage which they quoted above, God compared Ezekiel's commission to the job of the watchman - who was responsible for warning the people of impending danger (like the approach of an army). In other words, Ezekiel would be responsible for presenting God's warning message to the people of Israel, and God would hold him personally responsible if he failed to do so. Of course, the thing which CGI (and many other ACOGs) fails to comprehend is that the Christian message is completely different from the one which Ezekiel was expected to deliver to Israel! At the end of the Gospel of Matthew, we read that Christ told his disciples: "Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you..." (28:19-20) I don't know about you, but that doesn't sound anything like a warning message for Israel to me!

In similar fashion, CGI likes to appropriate God's instructions to Isaiah. In that Old Testament book of prophecy, we read: "Cry aloud, spare not, lift up thy voice like a trumpet, and shew my people their transgression, and the house of Jacob their sins." (Isaiah 58:1) Of course, CGI focuses on the "lift up thy voice like a trumpet" in this connection. Once again, their attachment to Anglo-Israelism has convinced them that their primary responsibility is to take up the mantle of Ezekiel and Isaiah and warn the Israelites away from their sins. Moreover, this compulsion appears to be so strong that it has caused them to abandon any feeling of responsibility to fulfill Christ's commission to his disciples - to preach his gospel (good news) to the world. Instead of sharing Christ's good news, they are dedicated to warning English-speaking people about their sins! I don't know about you, but that seems like quite a contrast to me!

Unlike Herbert Armstrong and the folks at CGI, I prefer to think of trumpets announcing Christ's return and the resurrection of the Christian dead. While I no longer share their view that Christians are obligated to observe the Feast of Trumpets (or the other festivals outlined in the Torah), I continue to see a great deal of value in this symbolism for Christians. I continue to look forward to the blast of that final trump.

Using God's Name for Falsehood

You shall not use the name of Jehovah your God irreverently, nor use it to swear to a falsehood. You will not escape punishment if you do. -- Exodus 20:7, Living Bible

According to the Jewish Virtual Library's Article on The Name of God, the above referenced commandment "refers solely to oath-taking, and <it> is a prohibition against swearing by God's Name falsely or frivolously (the word normally translated as "in vain" literally means 'for falsehood.'" Hence, from the Jewish perspective, proclaiming a message in God's name is serious business.

In this connection, it is interesting to note that Herbert W Armstrong was in the habit of signing his letters "In Christ's Name," and by claiming that he was "Christ's apostle." In light of the fact that we now know that many of the things that he taught were falsehoods, what does that suggest to us about Armstrong's relationship to this commandment? What's more, what does that suggest to us about those who continue to perpetuate those falsehoods in Christ's name? And, finally, what does that suggest to us about those who have worked to underscore and correct those falsehoods? In other words, who is misusing God's name? and who is honoring it?

What's Wrong with Watson's and Davis' Current Events Messaging?

According to Church of God International Pastors Bill Watson and Adrian Davis, the policy prescriptions of Biden and the Democrats are anti-Christian and pro-totalitarian. For them, Biden and the Democrats are busily putting the finishing touches on the demise of America. Indeed, they see all of this as the beginning of the end (as in the Apocalypse). For Watson and Davis, the current policies of the governments of the United States and Great Britain are facilitating the long-ago prophesied declines of these two nations. For them, the Culture War is a real war between good and evil.

What's wrong with their assessment of the situation? After all, don't a great many conservative and Republican Americans agree with what they have to say about Biden and the "Demoncrats?"

First, the peoples of Great Britain and the United States are NOT the descendants of the ancient Israelites (history, genetics, archaeology, linguistics, and Scripture all prove that they are NOT Israelites)! Hence, NONE of the prophecies concerning the ancient Israelites apply to them or our time. In short, Watson and Davis have misapplied and misinterpreted Biblical prophecy (which has rendered ALL of their prophetic pronouncements suspect)!

Second, like their Republican counterparts, Biden and the Democrats are worldly politicians. They are no better or worse than other worldly politicians! Also, their policies are no better or worse than those of their conservative/Republican colleagues. ALL human governments are flawed. All human politicians are imperfect and cannot discern the full impact of their policy prescriptions. To illustrate this point, one only needs to open his/her eyes and look at the problems that these policies are meant to address.

What are those problems? Are things really as bad as Watson and Davis portray them to be? And, if their guy/party was in power, would that really solve all of our problems and forestall the Tribulation? Moreover, if it did forestall the Apocalypse and Christ's return, is that something that Christians should actually wish to happen? After all, aren't we supposed to be looking forward to the complete overthrow of the governments of this world and the establishment of God's Kingdom on this earth?

The problems are familiar to all of us: climate change, pandemic, pollution, energy production, societal violence, the global economy, societal morality, wars, a lack of respect for the rule of law, the erosion of freedom/rights, deficit spending, wars and various conflicts between various nations of the earth, illegal immigration, and the decline in religious affiliations throughout the Western World. Ironically, both sides of the political spectrum in the United States and Britain have offered their own policy prescriptions to deal with many of these challenges. Even so, both sides tend to disparage the other as evil, totalitarian, ignorant, unpatriotic, or some combination of all of the above!

Of course, most of the policies which both sides present to deal with these problems are simplistic, superficial, and designed to advance the power and influence of the party(s) who are advocating them! For instance, the issue of illegal immigration does not always lend itself to easy solutions or moral clarity. After all, the Torah makes clear in a number of places that strangers/aliens in the land were to be treated fairly and hospitably (see Exodus 22:21, 23:9, Leviticus 19:33-34, Deuteronomy 10:18-19). As for taking care of those less fortunate than us, what could be more Christian than that? Likewise, women have been having abortions throughout human history (sure, it was very often illegal in times past, but there have always been those who have been ready and willing to terminate unwanted pregnancies). And, what do we do with a Christian or Jew who believes that human life begins when we draw our first breath? (See Genesis 2:7) As for pollution, what about God someday destroying those who destroy the earth? (Revelation 11:18) Likewise, as for Globalism, isn't the Kingdom of God going to be a kind of globalist regime? (See Daniel 2:44, Zechariah 14:9)

In conclusion, the problem with the messaging of Davis and Watson should be apparent to all - they have confused their responsibilities as citizens of God's Kingdom with the rights, privileges and responsibilities which they enjoy as citizens of Canada and the United States respectively. In short, they have forgotten that Christians are NOT supposed to be helping/propping up/participating in the realms of this present world! They both insist that everyone should see the world the way that they do and claim that anyone who doesn't is deceived, ignorant, or actively supporting these evils! Oh, if only they had eyes to see and ears to hear! 

The Ten Most Popular Posts in This Blog's History

It has been my experience, that only about one in ten of the people who decide to visit this blog actually bother to comment on a post (and many of those choose to do so privately). Hence, the only real means available to me to measure a post's impact is to look at the number of views it has generated over time. What follows is a list of the posts that have generated the most interest since this blog began back in 2014:

The Regression of CGI (2019)

God's Imperfect Apostles (2014)

Who is Miller Jones and why does he write this stuff? (2014)

God doesn't care which religion you profess! (2014)

Is suicide a one-way ticket to the Lake of Fire? (2014)

Conclusive proof that God didn't have anything to do with writing the Bible? (2015)

Soothsayers and Prophets (2019)

The Two Covenants (2019)

A few questions about God and homosexual behavior (2015)

God and Dinosaurs (2015)

And, since 2014, 2015 and 2019 took the all-time honors, here are the popular posts from those other years:

In 2016, the most viewed post was Pagan Holidays or God's Holy Days - Really?

In 2017, the most popular post was The Bloomington Statement

In 2018, the most popular post was SHOULD CHRISTIANS BE EATING LUCKY CHARMS?

In 2020, the most viewed post was Herbert W Armstrong: A Dangerous Cult Leader 

In 2021, the most viewed post was Two More "Prooftexts" for Unleavened Bread

In 2022 (so far), the most popular post has been Is that Christian?

Once again, the above picks reflect the interests of my readers. They do NOT necessarily reflect my own opinions about the posts which I consider to be the most important. Even so, I think that they reflect a kind of impartial commentary on this blog's content. These are the posts which my audience has deemed the most important!

NO, Christians Are NOT Obligated To Observe Torah Dietary Laws!

Pastor Mike James of the Church of God International has posted an article on their website entitled Did Jesus Keep the Kosher Laws? Unfortunately, the article perpetuates Mr. Herbert Armstrong's heretical teachings about a Christian's obligation to observe Torah Law. Like Armstrong, James frames the question in terms of "What did Jesus do?" Behind this question, of course, is the unspoken one: "Shouldn't we be following his example?" This line of reasoning, however, is deeply flawed and has caused some folks who are sincerely trying to follow God's will to reach some erroneous conclusions about what God expects from them! I know, because I was one of them.

James begins his post by defining what he means when he refers to "kosher laws." For him, that term encompasses both the Scriptural designations of clean and unclean foods found in the eleventh chapter of Leviticus and the oral traditions which Orthodox Jews claim to have derived from Moses. And, while Mike acknowledges that Jesus may have followed some of these oral traditions, he insists that only those guidelines which appear in the Scriptural Torah are actually binding upon Christians. For Pastor James (and most Armstrongites), it is crucial to differentiate between what is found in Scripture and these oral traditions of the Jews in determining what is or isn't binding upon Christians. Indeed, Mike made this all very clear in his article when he wrote: "This distinction is very important because it gets at the root of arguments on the law of God and whether we still need to observe it. We believe you need to keep God's law until heaven and earth pass away (Matthew 5:17–19). The law does not save us, but it helps us understand God's character and what sin is. By observing it, we are following the example of our Savior, Jesus Christ."

Unfortunately, what Mike and his associates fail to understand is that Jesus Christ HAD to perfectly fulfill ALL of the requirements of the Torah in order to pay the penalty for our sins! Moreover, in that passage that Mike referenced in his remarks (Matthew 5:17-19), we see that Christ said that nothing would "pass from the law till all is fulfilled." Jesus Christ fulfilled the Law! Heaven and earth didn't pass away before he accomplished that feat! It wasn't that Christ abolished or did away with the Law as the ACOGs claim that Traditional Christians teach, he filled it to the full - magnified it - distilled it - transformed it! And, in an ironic twist, it should be pointed out that even Mike is NOT suggesting that the entire Torah is still in full force and effect - still binding on Christians! Later, in this same post, Mike noted that "We know through the New Testament that the Old Testament sacrificial law is no longer required because Christ's sacrifice took all of that on (Hebrews 10:1–10)." So, we're NOT arguing about whether the whole law is carried forward into the terms of the New Covenant under Christ, we're arguing about which parts of it should be carried forward!

In this respect, Christ made very clear that the entire law was based on two principles: 1) Love for God, and 2) Love for each other. Later, both he and his disciples further clarified the Christian's responsibility in this respect by stating that the best way to demonstrate their love for God was by completely loving each other! For the Christian, both Jesus and his apostles declared that THIS would fulfill the requirements of the Law! In other words, for these new creatures in Christ, fulfillment would no longer be found in all of the dos and don'ts of the Torah, but by living in the Spirit of the Law. Moreover, even this obedience would NOT accomplish their reconciliation to God - earn them salvation - THAT WOULD BE ACHIEVED ONLY THROUGH THEIR ACCEPTANCE OF THE LIFE AND SACRIFICE OF JESUS CHRIST! Their obedience to the Law of Love would demonstrate that they had accepted Christ and were henceforward walking in the newness of the life which HE had given them!

Returning to the narrower question of the Christian diet, Mike said that Jesus remarks in the seventh chapter of the Gospel of Mark have been misunderstood by mainstream Christians. With all due respect, I believe that Pastor James has missed the point of Christ's remarks there! Indeed, Christ himself summarized the meaning of his remarks - once publicly, and once privately for the benefit of his disciples. We read there: "When He had called all the multitude to Himself, He said to them, “Hear Me, everyone, and understand: There is nothing that enters a man from outside which can defile him; but the things which come out of him, those are the things that defile a man." (Mark 7:14-15) Continuing, "When He had entered a house away from the crowd, His disciples asked Him concerning the parable. So He said to them, 'Are you thus without understanding also? Do you not perceive that whatever enters a man from outside cannot defile him, because it does not enter his heart but his stomach, and is eliminated, thus purifying all foods?' And He said, 'What comes out of a man, that defiles a man. For from within, out of the heart of men, proceed evil thoughts, adulteries, fornications, murders, thefts, covetousness, wickedness, deceit, lewdness, an evil eye, blasphemy, pride, foolishness. All these evil things come from within and defile a man.'" (Verses 17-23) In other words, in spiritual terms, washing and eating aren't what makes a person clean or unclean!

Later in his post, Pastor James also mentioned the great council which the Church held at Jerusalem for the purpose of confronting the issue of a Christian's obligation to the Torah once and for all. Unfortunately, Mike attempts to circumscribe (pun intended) the issue which that assembly addressed to whether or not Christians should be circumcised. Never mind, that even this narrow reading of the council's purpose would still be nullifying the requirement for Christian males to be physically circumcised. It should also be noted that this procedure was required by the Torah (Genesis 17:11) and was also performed on the Christ child (Luke 2:21). Hence, if we are being logically consistent, shouldn't Christians also be following Christ's example in this instance? Nevertheless, Scripture makes clear that the Jerusalem Council was about much more than circumcision.

Although the text of the fifteenth chapter of Acts, makes plain that the original confrontation arose over circumcision (Acts 15:1), it also makes clear that the debate quickly expanded to comprehend the entire question of a Christian's responsibility to the Law. We read that "some of the sect of the Pharisees who believed rose up, saying, “It is necessary to circumcise them, and to command them to keep the law of Moses." (Verse 5) During the council, we are informed that Peter stood up and asked "why do you test God by putting a yoke on the neck of the disciples which neither our fathers nor we were able to bear? But we believe that through the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ we shall be saved in the same manner as they." (Verses 10-11) Peter's speech was followed by a report from Paul and Barnabas about their missionary work among the Gentiles. (Verse 12) Next, James stood up and said: "Therefore I judge that we should not trouble those from among the Gentiles who are turning to God, but that we write to them to abstain from things polluted by idols, from sexual immorality, from things strangled, and from blood. For Moses has had throughout many generations those who preach him in every city, being read in the synagogues every Sabbath." (Verses 19-21) In other words, let's NOT make them responsible for observing all of the dos and don'ts of the Torah - Moses already has enough advocates for the covenant he outlined among the Jews! Moreover, this is reiterated in the actual text of the letter that was sent by the council to the Gentile Churches (see verses 23-29).

This understanding is also confirmed by what Paul wrote to the saints of Galatia about this early controversy in the Church. When he later confronted Peter about his backsliding in this regard, he wrote that he told him: "If you, being a Jew, live in the manner of Gentiles and not as the Jews, why do you compel Gentiles to live as Jews? We who are Jews by nature, and not sinners of the Gentiles, knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law but by faith in Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Christ Jesus, that we might be justified by faith in Christ and not by the works of the law; for by the works of the law no flesh shall be justified." (Galatians 2:14-16)

What Herbert Armstrong, David Pack, Gerald Flurry, Roderick Meredith, and Mike James have never seemed to understand is that the Torah points to Jesus Christ, and it was FULFILLED perfectly by him on our behalf! It's NOT that Christ nullified/abrogated/did away with the Law - He observed, fulfilled, magnified, and distilled ALL of its precepts for us! Under the terms of the New Covenant, we have received the salvation of our souls through Jesus Christ; and we obey the Law of Love (for God and each other) to demonstrate that we are a new creature because of what Christ has done for us. In other words, our obedience to that Law is the fruit or evidence that we have truly received God's gift - the Holy Spirit and are walking in the Light! And, for the record, the Law of Love also summarizes and fulfills the requirements of all of those individual dos and don'ts found in the Torah! This isn't about Law vs Lawlessness. It's about Christians observing the Law which applies to them and for the reasons given by Christ and his apostles!

 

The Oldest Books in the Old and New Testaments of the Bible

As anyone with even a cursory familiarity with the Judeo-Christian Bible knows, that book is composed of a collection of writings which were composed by a number of different authors and editors over a great span of time. Hence, it is no great wonder that many of us would be interested in the first contributions to both the Hebrew and Christian canons. After all, in identifying and exploring these works, we understand that we are looking through a window into the distant past and seeing a view of God and religion that is unadulterated and diluted by the inevitable evolution in thought and revelation which followed - a glimpse at the origins, the foundations of the whole! Moreover, as with so many other things associated with the study of the Bible, our suppositions about which books came first are skewed by the arrangement of the Bible as it appears in our time - the chronology and narrative of the book that we hold in our hands.

For example, most of us would suppose that the book of Genesis is the oldest document in the Hebrew Bible - the collection of writings which Christians refer to as the Old Testament. After all, that book recounts the story of creation, the prehistoric flood, and the ancestral origins of God's people (the Israelites). However, although these assumptions appear to make perfect sense at first glance, a scholarly deep dive into the various documents which make up the Hebrew canon has demonstrated that the book of Genesis was composed hundreds of years after the book of Job was written! That's right, a book about an extremely righteous and wealthy Gentile - with NO mention of Israel, covenants or laws - is the oldest book in the Hebrew canon!

 In beliefnet's article What is the Oldest Book in the Bible? by Stephanie Hertzenberg, we learn that there are a number of good reasons to believe that Job is the oldest book in the Hebrew canon. In brief, scholars point to the language, content, and things that are noticeably absent from the book. Hertzenberg observed that "Job is written in a form of Hebrew that is even older than the ancient Hebrew that makes up most of the Old Testament. In fact, the language used in Job is not even usually referred to as ancient Hebrew. Instead, it is called “Paleo-Hebrew.” The book also contains Syriac and Arabic expressions which point to a period of time between 1900 and 1700 B.C. when the Shemitic tribes had not yet separated into speaking separate Syriac, Hebrew and Arabic dialects." She went on to note that "Job also mentions several creatures and conditions that are unknown today. The phrases may refer to animals that have gone extinct or, more likely, were called by a different name in later books of the Bible." Finally, Hertzenberg points out that "There are no mentions of the covenant, the Law of Moses or the priesthood. There are not even any mentions of the Israelite people or the Promised Land. Instead, Job offers sacrifices himself for his sons without the use of a priesthood, temple or consecrated altar. His wealth is measured by the size of his herds and the amount of 'qesiytah,' unique silver coins, he possesses. Both herds and silver were used as ancient systems of money between 1900 and 1700 B.C."

Another feature of Job which sets it apart from the other writings of the Hebrew canon relates to its subject matter - the age-old dilemma for people of faith: Why do the righteous suffer? In stark contrast to the folks who occupied the pre-flood world, the people who built the tower of Babel, the Sodomites, and the children of Israel, Job isn't subjected to pain and suffering because of his sins or misconduct - he suffers as a consequence of Satan's interest in him, and the subsequent challenge which he (Satan) offered to God regarding him. In other words, the familiar sin followed by punishment formula (which is so prominent in the rest of the Old Testament) is conspicuously absent from this book! This is obviously an important feature in distinguishing this book from its companions, but it is also significant in terms of its impact on our theology more generally speaking. In short, this other perspective on suffering serves as an important counterbalance to the "sin causes suffering" narrative. More to the point, it is the book of Job which prevents us from attributing all human suffering to sin/wrongdoing and forces us all to be more empathetic toward each other!

Even so, in light of this understanding, it is perhaps more comprehensible to us that this book has been a source of consternation among some Jewish scholars and Christian legalists. In the Torah.org article on the book, we read: "Job is a book that ranks as one of the most difficult books in the Tanach (Bible), for two reasons: 1) Its incredibly complex and obscure Hebrew – allowing for multiple translations and meanings. 2) The complex and delicate nature of the subject matter." Likewise, the My Jewish Learning article on the book notes that "The book of Job challenges the simple equation of suffering with punishment." Also, one has to imagine that the absence of any reference to the patriarchs, Israel, and God's covenants with them has to be a source of some consternation among God's people, and probably accounts for its assignment to the Ketuvim (Writings) - which are largely concerned with wisdom and worship. Interestingly, in both of the articles just referenced, the respective authors divide the book into a number of distinct sections in their attempts to explain the Jewish perspective on it. Roughly speaking, they note that there is a prologue (Satan's conversation with God about Job), "friendly" advice and Job's responses to that advice, and an epilogue (God's answer to Job, Job's reaction, and God's restoration of Job).

In his book The Bible: A Historical and Literary Introduction, Bart Ehrman expresses his opinion that the prologue and epilogue belong to one author, and the "friendly advice" and Job's responses to that advice belong to another author. Ehrman believes that the works of these two authors were later spliced together, and that this accounts for some of the book's complexity. In his view, the two authors had very different perspectives on "how to deal with the problem of suffering." (pg. 212) Personally, I think that the book reflects a number of very different ways that the faithful deal with the "problem of suffering," and that the overarching message of the book is that ALL of our human perspectives on this issue are flawed - that we simply cannot see the ends of all things or truly appreciate the extent of God's mind or his plans and purposes for humankind. Similarly, I also see the book of Job as an object lesson in the WRONG way for people of faith to comfort each other in times of loss and distress!

In broader terms, for Christians generally, the book of Job demonstrates that there is a Godly righteousness that exists apart from the Law, or any covenants associated with it. The non-Israelite Job was clearly considered righteous by God. There is no indication that Job was circumcised, kept the Sabbath, had access to ANY Scriptures, or required the services or mediation of ANY priesthood! And, before we move on to the oldest book in the New Testament, it should be noted that Job is very unlike the Torah in terms of its presentation of the Devil. Outside of a highly symbolic representation of a Serpent in the Garden of Eden, Satan is simply ignored by the Torah. In another stark contrast which has great significance for Christians, Satan is front and center in the story of Job! This portrayal of Satan as "Adversary," "Accuser," and "Afflicter" is central to the theology of the New Testament.

Just as most casual students of the Bible are drawn to the book of Genesis as the "oldest" book in the Hebrew canon, many Christians would probably point to on one of the Gospels as the earliest New Testament text (the more serious ones would probably mention Mark in this connection). The reasons, of course, are obvious. After all, the gospels tell the story of the founder of the religion, Jesus Christ. Once again, however, the majority of Biblical scholars point us in an entirely different direction.

In the preface to his book The Earliest Christian Text, Gerd Ludemann wrote: "This book deals with I Thessalonians, a document that most scholars consider to be the earliest extant Christian writing, a judgment I believe to be well founded." Likewise, in Bart Ehrman's The Bible, we read: "I Thessalonians is usually dated to around 49 C.E., about sixteen or seventeen years after Paul's conversion and about twenty years after the death of Jesus." (Page 328) And, when we compare these statements with what most scholars believe about the timing of the writing of the gospels (most scholars believe that the Gospels were penned between 60-100 C.E. - with Mark generally being acknowledged as the first of these accounts*), we can be fairly certain that the majority of Paul's letters were composed well before the Gospels were written. What's more, there exists a rare and high degree of agreement among scholars regarding the timeline of Paul's writings, and the book of I Thessalonians is almost universally regarded as his earliest surviving "genuine" epistle.

*See Bart Ehrman's The Bible: A Historical and Literary Introduction, Oxford University Press, 2018. Also, please see:  When Were The Four Gospels Written?)

Why is all of this important? Once again, because it gives us a glimpse into the origins of Christianity - what the religion was like before everything got nailed down! It also gives us some insight into what Paul and Gentile Christians knew and/or believed about the historical Jesus and his teachings. Likewise, obviously, it informs our understanding of what Paul was preaching during the middle portion of his own ministry, and what kind of organization/structure existed within the congregations of this period.

Although many modern scholars have focused on how Paul's conception of Jesus and his teachings were significantly different from Jesus and the earliest Jewish Christians*, I have always been more interested in the similarities between them. After all, there is little to no evidence that there ever was an open breach between the Judean and Gentile branches of the Early Church (James, Peter and Paul never publicly excommunicated each other), and this earliest of Christian writings certainly demonstrates a high degree of harmony with regard to the beliefs of the earliest Christians.

* See James Tabor's Paul and Jesus: How the Apostle Transformed Christianity, Simon and Schuster, 2012

Indeed, when we take a closer look at the book, we see that the basic outlines of the Christian story were already well-established within twenty years of Christ's death! For instance, in the very first chapter of this epistle, Paul informed his audience that Christ" had suffered on their behalf, had rescued them from the coming judgment, had been resurrected from death by God, was currently in heaven, and would eventually return to this earth. In the same chapter, Paul also mentioned the Holy Spirit, gospel (or "good news"), evangelism, the fact that God had chosen the Thessalonians to be his, and that they should regard him as their "Father." I don't know about you, but that sounds like a fairly comprehensive list for the first chapter of a short epistle to me!

Likewise, in the second chapter of this epistle, Paul wrote about great opposition to the Christian message and persecution. He also mentioned the apostles of Christ, and that God had called them to share in his Kingdom and glory! Paul went on to note that his audience already regarded his message as the word of God. He then reiterated that both Jewish and Gentile Christians had experienced persecution, and that Satan himself had prevented him from visiting with them.

In the third chapter of his letter, Paul wrote "may the Lord make your love for one another and for all people grow and overflow" (which corresponds nicely to Christ's "new commandment" in the Gospel of John). He also reveals in this chapter that the Lord will one day return "with all his holy people." Continuing into the fourth chapter, Paul went on to state that Christians should be living their lives in a manner that is pleasing to God. He wrote that it was God's will for them to be holy, and that they should consequently stay away from all sexual sins. He went on to reveal that God had given them his Holy Spirit and reiterated the importance of them loving each other, "for God himself has taught you to love one another." Then, once again, Paul reiterated that "we believe that Jesus died and was raised to life again."

Next, Paul's theme returned to Christ's second coming to this earth. In what would eventually become one of the most famous passages of the New Testament, Paul wrote: "the Lord himself will come down from heaven with a commanding shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trumpet call of God. First, the believers who have died will rise from their graves. Then, together with them, we who are still alive and remain on the earth will be caught up in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. Then we will be with the Lord forever." This same theme continues into the next chapter where Paul echoes Christ's prediction that "the day of the Lord’s return will come unexpectedly, like a thief in the night."

And, if all of that wasn't enough to convince you that the basic message of the Christian Church wasn't already set within twenty years of Christ's death and resurrection, Paul's concluding remarks in this epistle serve to nicely summarize the core of the Christian message. He wrote that Christians should avoid the darkness and live in the light. He went on to say "For God chose to save us through our Lord Jesus Christ, not to pour out his anger on us. Christ died for us so that, whether we are dead or alive when he returns, we can live with him forever." Then he went on to encourage them to respect their leaders (so, the church did have some kind of structure/organization), to always be joyful, never stop praying, avoid quenching the Holy Spirit, and to remain blameless "until our Lord Jesus Christ comes again." Finally, Paul concluded his letter by expressing his desire that "the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ" would remain with them.

I don't know about you, but that reads like a super Reader's Digest condensed version of the New Testament to me! Of course, we must remember that the focus of all of the epistles is fairly narrow and parochial - they were, after all, originally meant to address circumstances/problems within specific Christian communities of the First Century. Even so, the narrow window that this epistle provides into an early ekklesia is extremely revealing and reassuring to the thinking faithful of today.

Indeed, the oldest writings of both the Old and New Testaments force us to think of Scripture in new and vibrant ways. These documents force us to "think outside of the box" - to imagine the traditionally arranged narrative of the canon in new and different ways. In fact, when we understand and fully appreciate that they came first, our ability to differentiate between what is important and what is superfluous has to be enhanced. Of course, this post is NOT intended to denigrate or downplay the importance of the book of Genesis, the Torah, or the Gospels. On the contrary, I believe this understanding can enhance our understanding and appreciation of those other writings if we rightly divide the word of truth! What do you think?