Bible Studies

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DID GOD REALLY SAY?


“Did God really say, ‘You must not eat from any tree in the garden’?” the crafty serpent impugned (Gen. 3:1). As if to disregard conditional considerations, no matter how compelling they might appear.
“We may eat fruit from the trees in the garden,” Eve replied, with the exception of that which pertained to the knowledge of good and evil. Otherwise, they would die. This appears to be a comprehensive idiom, similar to the illusion “from the east to the west.” If so, partaking would involve human autonomy. Or, as graphically expressed some years ago, with the death of God.
But when Eve saw that the fruit of the tree was good for eating and pleasing to the eye, she ate of it and gave some to her husband. As a result, they were banished from paradise, and lost access to the tree of life. So that in a manner of speaking, their descendants live between paradise lost and regained. As we are reminded when the tree of life again appears as available in the celestial city (cf. Rev. 22:3).
We are thus alerted to the current controversy concerning the role of Scripture in ethical discourse. Initially, it is said that about 90% of cultural features are essentially morally neutral. So that while any culture can serve as a medium through which the gospel is proclaimed, no culture is without serious defects.
Moreover, our perception is seriously curtailed by limited vision. Such as when we fail to learn from the past, being obsessed with the present. This incited C. S. Lewis to advise that we read one classical text from for every current alternative.
This is not to suggest that we should ignore the present, since errors commonly appear as pairs of opposites. So that when focusing on the one, we fall prey to the other. Then still with the need to factor in the future. Since we are less driven by the past than drawn by our perception of the future.
Did God really say this or that? In other words, is what he said authoritative or conditional? If the former, to be rigorously observed. If the latter, then open to endless innovations to accommodate cultural preference.
The current recourse to abortion serves as a prime case in point. Not only is it permitted, but encouraged by public funding. In spite of the fact that former president Bill Clinton observed that most would prefer that abortion be legal, safe, and seldom. As a result, it is said that more lives have been lost to abortion than in the international warfare in which our country has been engaged during the same interim.
In brief, the rationale for abortion draws heavily on conditional considerations. The health of the mother serves as a prime case in point. Although this is interpreted so broadly as to embrace any feeling of inconvenience. While guilt feelings associated with abortion are characteristically ignored as a health deterrent.
In a more selective regard, abortion advocates single out cases of rape or misunderstood compliance. Although these are relatively few in number, and the exceptions should not be the rule. In any case, the alternative of adoption should be given prime consideration.
In more subtle fashion, those concerned for population control often advocate abortion. As when students are asked to consider an over-crowded life boat, wherein not all can survive. An elderly man is first singled out for casting overboard, since he has lived a full life. However, when it is learned that he has expertise in science, his life is spared—since he might serve the welfare of others. And so on, until the number is sufficiently reduced.
In contrast, there is the authoritative approach. This assumes that Scripture is normative for living in God’s world, and by his grace. Without which, life becomes chaotic.
In this regard, “All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work” (2 Tim. 3:16). All Scripture, rather than only select instances. As God’s word, through human means. Consequently, useful both for teaching and caution. So that the man of God will be thoroughly prepared for every good work. Accordingly, we are asked to decide, “Did God really say?”

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