Inerrancy, deity, and resurrection, oh my!

I heard this from a caller on STR’s radio broadcast (April 15, 2007): Since Jesus thought the OT was inerrant, and since we know it has factual and moral errors, He cannot be God – and thus probably didn’t rise from the dead.

1) I’m not sure this argument holds up at all. Is the resurrection necessarily a vindication of every word that came out of Jesus’ mouth, or is it a vindication of His mission and teaching in that regard? It’s something to think about.

2) But let’s say it’s a valid argument. We want to start from our strongest position: The evidence that Jesus rose from the dead is too good (I’ll blog about this in detail next week) to set aside based on one objection, so let’s consider this objection from the assumption that Jesus did, indeed, rise from the grave. Assuming again that the NT is reliable, Jesus taught that His resurrection would be the vindication of His teaching and mission – including His claims to deity.

If Jesus did rise from the dead and is God, then, given the caller’s statements, either Jesus didn’t claim the OT was inerrant or the caller is wrong about the OT having errors. I’m not convinced Jesus taught the OT was inerrant, but I’m in a minority position among evangelicals, so let’s say that he did.

It is now up to us to prove errors in the OT.

3) Regarding factual errors in the OT, whole books have been written on the question, and so there’s little I can do but scratch the surface here. Let me just say this: From Genesis 1 to the walls of Jericho to pi, there is no “error” that cannot be explained to someone who’s willing to listen. To those who are determined to find errors, no explanation will ever be rational enough because they want there to be errors.

4) It is interesting that the caller spoke of the OT’s factual and moral errors. This is an all too common accusation, and it boils down to this:

There are things in the OT that we don’t like, therefore the OT is wrong.

The truth is, we often don’t like things in the OT because we don’t like seeing sin as sin. When the Bible records God ordering the destruction of the Amalekites or striking down Uzzah, we don’t understand, and we don’t like it, so it must be wrong. (The pride is so thick you couldn’t stir it with a blender.) The truth is, a holy God is occasionally going to decide it is time to smite some sinners. This is something modern Americans (including many modern Christians) and the “nice” god they worship need to hear.

(Incidentally, after this writing, the conversation continued on the radio, June 10th, and recently on their blog.)

Three maxims from the Constructive Curmudgeon

Douglas Groothuis gives us three powerful maxims:

1. Follow the argument, wherever it leads.

2. Accept the truth, whatever it is.

3. Defend the truth, whatever the cost.

Some great truths. And I can find something there to offend just about everyone I know.

1) I know too many who think "argument" means being argumentative and that arguing is un-Christian. Unfortunately I know even more who couldn't follow an argument to the end of their driveway.

2) Is there anyone out there who doesn't know about postmodernism? I don't think I need to touch this one.

3) Too many Christians (and non-Christians, for that matter) don't want to defend the truth. Even if they believe there is truth and that they have it, they don't want to offend someone by defending it. They'll toss out sin and the cross and the fatherhood of God, not because they don't believe it, but because they think it will bring more people to Christ. Well, it won't bring anyone to a Christ worth having.

Say what you're thinking!

Do you ever get into a conversation with someone and they’re pontificating on something of immense import (to them), and you find yourself wondering, “What’s the point?”

Many times after being in a discussion with someone that went nowhere, I realized the best thing I could have said was exactly what was going through my mind at the time: What's the point? What does this have to do with what we’re discussing? This can make them either stop and spell out their argument or face up to the fact that they don't really have one (instead they have anecdotes, emotions, or assertions).

There are a lot of times when I think we need to just go with our gut response. When someone’s babbling, and you want to beat your head against the wall wondering why they aren’t listening to you, it’s best to stop them and ask that very question. If someone’s belaboring a point that isn’t relevant to the argument, point it out. If someone’s argument wouldn’t even seem logical to a four-year-old, point it out. Nicely.

That last part is the hardest part for me. I’ve worked hard to learn to stop keeping this stuff in. Now I need to find that filter that looks for a good way to phrase it. But that doesn’t change the situation: sometimes you just need to say what you’re thinking.

Celebrate your freedom!

'Tis the season to talk about freedom, so let’s.

As the US celebrates its Independence Day, it is a good time for all free people to pause to appreciate their freedom and to pray for those who lack it. This is true with both political freedom and spiritual freedom.

It is a great gift to live in a land where you can actually influence your government, where you can have a say in what it does and can say your peace when you think it’s wrong. It’s a greater gift to live in a land where you can serve your Lord without fear. And while the two do not necessarily exist together, they usually do. We must remember to guard our freedom carefully, because when one goes, the other usually follows. And where we can spread these freedoms we will more easily be able to spread the gospel.

But as we reflect on the value of our earthly freedoms, we have to remember that there is a greater freedom that is far more valuable, and those who lack it are far more pitiable. We have been freed from the law of sin and death! We have been freed from the penalty of our sins, we are being freed from the power of sin even now, and we will one day be freed from even the presence of sin! We were purchased like slaves, and yet we’ve been invited to live as part of the Master’s family as free sons and daughters!

"It is for freedom that Christ has set us free," so dwell in that freedom, delight in that freedom, and, most importantly, share that freedom.

Be careful what you wish for

This is Virginia and Hannah – the most precious jewels in all creation, in case you were wondering. Virginia’s the older one.

When she was younger I often wished Virginia could tell us what she wanted to eat. What I didn't expect was that, once she reached that age, what she would always say is “corndog.” “But they don't have corndogs here.” “CORNDOG!!”(Who knew you could whine that loud?)

Sometimes we don't really want what we think we want. Thankfully, God has no problem telling us no. We mustn't misunderstand Jesus' words – faith is necessary, but it isn't all-sufficient. God is not a genie, and His wisdom and sovereign plan are supreme. Which is a good thing; as the theologian Garth Brooks sang, “Sometimes I thank God for unanswered prayers.”

(And I’m trying to enjoy Hannah’s inability to talk back at this stage.)