Judging the Patriarchs II
How should we judge the actions of Biblical Characters? The obvious answer is to judge them according to God’s law and teaching elsewhere in Scripture. But there is a danger here. What if we say of a man known to be Godly that they sinned for doing action X which was in violation of law Y… because of our own interpretation of action X and law Y? How do we know it is not our interpretation of law Y which is at fault, making their action X blameless or even praiseworthy?
You see, we live in an age, like all ages, where certain sins are preached as virtues, and certain virtues condemned as sins. Or, when we do see something as a sin, perhaps we have shifted the sin away from what Scripture condemns and focus it on another area entirely… or mostly… or partially.
I wish to propose a partial list of things we need to look at when we evaluate the actions of Biblical characters of all stripes. From Eve to Jezebel, from Adam to Eutychus. I suggest that we honestly go down this checklist, filling in every question, and then re-evaluate our own doctrine.
1) Did God directly condemn them for this specific action? (Note: This cannot be ‘It says he did the action’ (which I condemn). This needs to be ‘He says of the action that He condemns it.’)
1b) Or Praise them? (See note (1))
2) Did God directly reward them for this specific action? (See note (1))
2b) Or punish them? (See note (1))
3) If God did not mention the action specifically, did He punish them immediately afterwards?
3b) Or reward them?
3c) Praise?
3d) Or condemn?
3e) Look at these again for God’s actions later but which depend on this action.
4) If there was an opponent in the story, perhaps one that condemns the man concerned, is he praised?
4b) Or condemned?
4c) Rewarded?
4d) Or punished
5) Was the man who did this action one who, generally, Scripture praises?
5b) Or condemns?
5c) Punished?
5d) Or rewarded?
6) Did other men perform the same or similar actions? Were they listed as righteous men?
6b) Or unrighteous?
6c) Mixed?
7) Are there any other laws or teachings that are implicated in this action? Do they agree with the action?
7b) Or disagree with it?
8) Do you find yourself having to change the Scriptural language in order to fit your interpretation in?
8b) Or can you quote the direct words of Scripture?
9) If someone were to hear your sermon on this OT character and then were to read what the NT says about him, would they line up?
9b) Or would he be seriously confused?
If these line up consistently or even largely against our interpretation of the law/teaching and thus the action… perhaps it is our interpretation that is at fault? If we find ourself praising a man whom God consistently condemns because he acts in a way that is accord with our interpretations… then perhaps we need to change our interpretations? Or, more likely, if we find ourselves preaching an entire sermon railing against the sinful actions of a man that God consistently praises… perhaps we have invented a new sin? Or misapplied an old one?
Or perhaps we have invented an entire new law? An entire new teaching?
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Thanks again, God Bless, Soli Deo gloria,
Von