Should We Challenge the Values, Ethics, or Portrayals of God in Scripture

A professor at Messiah College recently said:

"When the Church grandly proclaims the Bible to be the Word of God, it gives the impression that the words of Scripture are above critique and beyond reproach. We are taught to read, revere, and embrace the Bible. We are not taught to challenge its values, ethics, or portrayals of God."

I discovered this quote here: http://www.patheos.com/blogs/thoughtlife/2013/02/can-a-messiah-college-ot-professor-really-teach-the-bibles-immoral/ An excellent initial rebuttal by Dr. Owen Strachan, Professor SBTS and Christian rapper.

And the original blog is here: http://www.patheos.com/blogs/peterenns/2013/02/when-the-good-book-is-bad-challenging-the-bibles-violent-portrayals-of-god/

Here’s something about the author of the quote above: Dr. Eric Seibert, Professor of Old Testament, Messiah College. Much of Seibert’s work is centered on addressing the problematic portrayals of God in the Old Testament, especially his violence. He is the author of Disturbing Divine Behavior: Troubling Old Testament Images of God (Fortress 2009) and The Violence of Scripture: Overcoming the Old Testament’s Troubling Legacy (Fortress 2012). Seibert is also a licensed minister in the Brethren in Christ Church and the Director of the Peace and Conflict Studies Initiative at Messiah College. He is currently working on his third book, Disarming the Church: Why Christians Must Forsake Violence to Follow Jesus (Cascade).

And one more link by another reviewer: http://questiontradition.wordpress.com/2013/02/03/the-good-book-is-good/

OK, here’s the deal. As the reviewer in the link at wordpress (just above) points out, there’s a difference between a friendly discussion at Starbucks and keeping a wolf out of your sheep. Dr. Seibert obviously has a problem with God Almighty and has taken it upon himself to de-violence God, and perhaps even to emasculate Him; and, to do so in addressing the church. In other words he is a wolf among the sheep.

But let me talk to you as if across the coffee table. (Laying down the gun I would use on the wolf, and I’m sure Dr. Seibert would not approve of that imagery.) Does the Bible have Sin in it? Certainly! Is God ever the author of sin, as in its originator? No. Does God act Sovereignly to affect people in such a way that their sin becomes greater? Yes. Take Pharaoh for example, God hardened His heart. But that is a far cry from what Dr. Seibert is saying. And I point this out because he is not alone!

Dr, Seibert said, “the Church … gives the impression that the words of Scripture are above critique and beyond reproach.” Well, yes, and it should. The words are above reproach. That doesn't mean we are to emulate everyone in scripture. We should not brag like Joseph, lust like David, or deny Christ like Peter. We are not to use violence to advance our own ends. But then we are not the nation of Israel, executing God's judgment on groups of people who had taken the land that God promised Abraham. The USA is not Israel. I’m not even positive that modern day Israel is the same Israel of the Bible. (But I would err on the side of caution and not stand against modern day Israel either.)

But that’s not what Dr. Seibert said; he said we are too use human judgment to critique the Word of God, and that we should bring reproach upon it. That’s something else altogether!

He also says, “We are not taught to challenge its values, ethics, or portrayals of God." Implying, I believe, that we should do so!

I believe we are called to study and understand it’s portrayals of God. Sometimes those portrayals are conditioned toward human understanding and attribute to God certain emotions that in humans would be borderline, if not fully, sinful or at least human-centered. Emotions like jealousy, anger, shock, and revenge come to mind. But to understand God is to see these played out in a divine and holy way. No one else has the right to be jealous except God the creator and deliverer. God is wrathful God and He has the right to be because He is also the God of perfect love. Not knowing Love like He does keeps me from fully understanding His wrath and anger.

I also want to say there is room in the Christian life for a discussion on the role of violence and whether Christian passivity in the face of violence is always right. While I believe in the concept of a “just war” I’m not sure I’ve seen one in my life time. Maybe so, maybe not. But I do not believe the OT passages that Seibert has trouble with teach me to go to war, or use violence, especially at the drop of a hat. What we need is responsible teaching and understanding of scripture not his way of dealing with it.

There are difficult to understand passages in the Bible. I do not find the bloody wars of Israel to be joyful portrayals except to note when the shackles of oppression are thrown off. I do not rejoice in the doctrine of Hell. Which is more fully developed by Christ Himself that any OT prophet. But I know this. His ways are higher than mine. His thoughts are higher than mine. His love and holiness and vengeance and wrath are greater than mine and I trust Him.

Don't Think I Can't Communicate With You

Having been through the exciting yet often subjective world of Charismatic churches, I've grown leery (and weary) of people who have frequent leadings from God; especially when they appear contrary to scripture or just plain "out of someone's creative imagination."

However, I never want to sell God short on what He can do to impress Himself on mere humans. Even Charles Spurgeon once said that all the teachings or ordinances of the church can't replace the presence of God. They become like a sundial on a cloudy day. In other words, useless. Pretty strong speech for a strong reformed Baptist like C H Spurgeon. 

So with this mind-set I set myself up for God to move in my world and rock my consciousness!
And He did.

It was last night. At a Lord's Supper service out in the country in a camp setting. I and many other ministers and pastors worshiped together and then someone besides us administered the Supper.
It was a warm, blessed atmosphere, and I was pleasantly surprised how blessed I was to be a part of it.
I went forward picked a piece of motzah and a small cup of juice and headed back to my seat.

I ate the bread while climbing a couple rows up in this outdoor rock amphitheater, where people were spread out and few were sitting very close to another. As I sat I raised the cup to drink and  stopped short as a strangled cry rose up though my throat. I got a grip, got in control, telling myself that this service was more for the three young men who had joined our ranks in this learning group we were all part of. I was afraid if I made any noise I would become the center of attention, drawing focus away from Christ and these new inductees.

As I started to drink it happened again only this time it turned into a sob. It lingered and my shoulders and whole body seemed to be weeping.
I didn't know why.
Then I remember a story of Luther, when he was a young Catholic minister, saying his very first Mass. When he got to the words "This is my body", where the wine, that he held up in a chalice, would turn into the actual blood of Christ, he stopped and was immobile for sometime until he mumbled himself through the rest of the the Mass.
Later when asked what happened he said at that moment when the wine would be turned to blood he realised his inadequacy to hold the perfect innocent blood of Christ. That his dirty, sinful hands would hold the cup of God was overwhelming to him.

But there I was holding grape juice, knowing it was only grape juice and weeping because of my unworthiness to hold even that; much less handle God's word everyday. Or, to use my sinful brain to contemplate scripture and to use my sinful lips to proclaim it. I was just sobbing before the Lord.

Then it was as if the Lord was pushing me slowly but firmly down to my knees to worship before Him. I didn't see Jesus, I didn't feel His hand on my shoulder. I was just aware than in my heart I was weeping for mercy and grace had set me free. A burden seemed lifted. A sin removed. An oppression evaporated into thin air.

Then, as I was kneeling in my heart before the Lord, it was as if He said, "So, you don't think I can communicate with you?"
Part of me thought, "I never said tha!." But another part of me just said "Yes Lord, you can."

We don't decide when God will show up. We can plan, but God keeps His own counsel. Man proposes, God disposes.

Blessed Be His Name.

One other note, before the burden lifted off my shoulders, two sweet sisters came and prayed for me. Not to counsel or ask questions, just to pray as God did His business with me. Thanks!

Shelter From the Storm (Lyrics)

Resting in your holiness, the only place it's safe to be,
I find myself so blessed, I find myself so free.
And when I take a stand for you, or go where I am called,
The enemy may rise up against me but I know I won't fall.

I've got a shelter from the storm, I have a place where it is warm,
I have a hiding place in you.
And I'll never fall away because I'm saved by grace, and grace will keep me ever true, 
I have a hiding place in you, I have a hiding place in you.

I don't face the world alone, I face it side by side,
With the One who's on the throne, the One who bled and died
To give this world it's only hope, He wants you to come in.
He wants to give you Holy Life He wants to be your friend.


To be your shelter from the storm, your place where it is warm,I have a hiding place in you.
And I'll never fall away because I'm saved by grace, and grace will keep me ever true, 
I have a hiding place in you, I have a hiding place in you.


And I'm not ashamed to say, I know the only way,
I can reach anyone is to be in touch with you.
For I want them to see, they can be from sin set free,
And just like me they can always run to You.


And find their shelter from the storm, Their place where it is warm,They'll have a hiding place in you.
And they'll never fall away 'cause it's all by grace, and grace will keep them ever true, 
We have a hiding place in you, We have a hiding place in you.


(copyright 1997 Clark Dunlap)

In Everything Give Thanks

My Speech and Homiletics teacher in College (Don Loose) used to tell us, “don’t ever get up in the pulpit and “share”, just Preach the word.” So what I’m about to do today is a little scary for me. It’s a little scary because I’m going to be a little more forth coming than I am comfortable with. I don’t intend to write anything shocking, just more revealing than I like to be.

1Th 5:16  Rejoice always,
1Th 5:17  pray without ceasing,
1Th 5:18  give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.

Ever wondered what God’s will is for your life? It’s right here. This is the will of God for you in Christ Jesus. Ha ha, very funny, right? No seriously, if you are doing these things you’ll be in the will of God. If you rejoice evermore, you’ll have the right attitude to follow God’s will.

You think Paul was good at following God’s will? 

Listen to his testimony in 2 Cor 6:8 We are treated as impostors, and yet are true; 9 as unknown, and yet well known; as dying, and behold, we live; as punished, and yet not killed; 10 as sorrowful, yet always rejoicing; as poor, yet making many rich; as having nothing, yet possessing everything. Paul rejoiced in jail, in prison, in sickness, and with a thorn in his flesh.

One way to Rejoice without ceasing is to Pray Evermore – or continually.

When I was a teenager a book became very popular. The funny thing was the book was 300 years old! It was written by a Bro. Lawrence and called the Practice of the Presence of God. In it Bro. Lawrence, who lived and worked in a monastery, shared about his life and his learning and how to continually live in and enjoy God’s presence. Some people think they have to bow their heads and close their eyes when they pray. First time I saw someone lift their heads and pray with their eyes open I was surprised; “Can you do that? Is it allowed?” But this is a life that leads to joy. Yes even in suffering and sorrow.

And when you learn to rejoice evermore and pray continually, THEN you can begin to give thanks in everything. The importance to giving thanks is all over the Bible. Especially in Romans 1 you see how when we cease to give thanks to God we take the first step to idolatry and rebellion.*

But Give Thanks IN EVERYTHING?

Now I know you’ve heard sermons on this before. I know this isn’t new. And you may have heard different explanations of How you can Thank God in everything. Some say you don’t thank God “FOR” everything, but IN every circumstance. Well, OK whatever.

A Dangerous Road

I’m going to take the dangerous route. Ever want to take the safe route to get someplace? Well if you have other people in your car the safe route is probably wise. But in your own mind and heart the safe route Rarely has any reward! You want adventure? Excitement? Don’t take the safe route! You wanna see wild animals up close and walk through tornadoes? Take the dangerous route! The wildest thing you see on the safe route is roadkill!

Here’s my dangerous route today. I wanna thank God For EveryThing! Everything!

So, I want you to find a pen and paper. I don’t want you to write down anything I say. I want you to write down things YOU are thankful for AND things that you have a very hard time being Thankful for. Go ahead admit it. Tell God, "I don’t know how to thank you for this help me."

Ready? Here goes. I’ll start with the obvious.

I thank God for God! I am so glad that God loved me enough to send His Son the Lord Jesus Christ to Secure my salvation on the cross! I’m glad Jesus loved His Father and me enough to do that. I’m glad the Holy Spirit shines the spotlight on my sin that needs to be confessed and forgiven. And I’m glad he comforts me in distress and gives me gladness when I’m stressed. Thank you God Almighty for loving me!

Another easy one? I thank God for my wife Marney. I sometimes think she rescued me from a life lived at the impulse of my Attention Deficit Disorder. She brought order and love and baby girls into my life. And I am eternally grateful.

Donna, Marney, Clark, Ruth, Paul where's John?

Dad-Paul O Dunlap

Mom-Eunice McCord Dunlap

And yes I thank God for my three girls and for my siblings and my mom and dad. I could tell you stories! But I’ll spare you most of them. My dad modeled rock solid faithfulness. My mom, heartfelt devotion to Jesus. My brothers and sister modeled how to wrestle with life and with God and come out still trusting and loving him on the other side. My three girls taught me so much about myself that they made me a better version of myself. And I love them all dearly!

HAVE YOU WRITTEN ANYTHING DOWN YET?

How about a hard one. I thank God I am deaf in one ear. It ended my music studies in college, but led me to a strong Christian young man named Dewey, who took me under his arm and loved me and challenged me back to health and to learn to walk with God. And that led me to follow God’s call to ministry in my life which is where I needed to be. It’s not fun being so deaf as many of you also know. And it caused me to worry about going completely deaf. But I learned to thank God for it.

Dr. Dewey

HOW ABOUT YOU? Anything go wrong in your life for which you are now thankful? Write it down!

Lets Go back to an easy one. I am thankful to live in such a great country. It is the absolutely greatest country ever in the history of the world! Our constitution and bill of rights are the greatest man-made documents ever written. I know there are many great things about other places in the world and I love to visit them. But for the best collection of freedoms and creativity and God-fearing people all in one place? The USA is greatness.

But now I have to go back to a hard one.

Let me preface this by saying that Tuesday night I saw something on Channel 5 news that blessed me. They did a

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short piece on pastor Matt Chandler of the Village Church in Highland Village Texas. Matt is a Baptist pastor of a church of 6000. He’s a Hardin Simmons graduate who God has used in mighty ways. And since last Thanksgiving day he has been battling brain cancer. He has been written up in USA Today, NY Times, several Christian magazines and now on the local news. I can truly say, Thank God for Matt’s cancer because it has given him a great platform for the gospel of Jesus Christ! And because his story has helped me learn to say, …Thank God for Cyndi Steven’s cancer. Cyndi is our Church secretary, Jack's wife, mother of Caleb and Dustin, friend of many, helper of anyone, and probably one of the sweetest ladies I know. Even in the midst of chemo and radiation she often cares more for others than herself.

It is REALLY hard to say, "Thank God for Cyndi's Cancer!" I hate her cancer every bit as much as I hated it when Marney had cancer. And I don’t have a lot of reasons to thank God for it but here goes.

I thank God for it because I have seen the heart of Job in Cyndi. Job said, “Though he slay me, yet will I serve him.” That is how strong Cyndi is-by the grace of God. She is Semper Fidelis - always faithful!

 I thank God for Cyndi’s cancer because I have seen in her the sweetness of one who is trusting in Jesus for every day of her existence; joyfully, sweetly, and with great patience.

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I Thank God for Cyndi’s cancer because even though I don’t know what the Providential Hand of God is doing or why He is doing it, I know, when I look in Cyndi’s eyes that she trusts Him no matter what - and so can I!

I don’t know what God is doing. I don’t understand it. And He knows I don’t like it- I cannot hide that from Him. But I know I can trust in Him no matter what.

Are you trusting in God no matter what today? 

Is there a mountain in your life that you cannot see around? God can. 

Is there a pain that God doesn’t already know? 

Is there a sin he cannot forgive? 

Is there a life he cannot reach? NO. Trust him today. Trust Him forever. 

Turn your back on your sins and on your way of doing things and trust in Him today. And be thankful. Thank Him that you can trust His Providence. Trust Him when you receive good things from His hand and things you think are bad; just-trust-Jesus.

Oh ...Here's John

*Rom 1:21  For although they knew God, they did not honor him as God or give thanks to him, but they became futile in their thinking, and their foolish hearts were darkened. 22  Claiming to be wise, they became fools, 23  and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images resembling mortal man and birds and animals and creeping things. 24  Therefore God gave them up in the lusts of their hearts to impurity, to the dishonoring of their bodies among themselves, 25  because they exchanged the truth about God for a lie and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever! Amen.