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Three Things People Hate About the Bible

 

Thomas Jefferson perhaps best represents those who despise any reference to the supernatural. He went so far as to edit the bible to remove any mention of the supernatural including the resurrection. Others often assert that the bible is simply wrong about descriptions of events of acts that go beyond the natural world. This captures the secular view that man is the measure of all things. While Jefferson saw some value in retaining what he saw as the the moral teachings of the bible, most others secularists today have no problem rejecting the bible entirely.

Another problem many people have with the bible is prophecy. While many claim to predict the future, the bible is the only record we have of prophecies that have been fulfilled. For this reason many attempt to alter the dating of various prophecies to attempt to dismiss them as happening after the events predicted. Alternatively, some try to explain future prophecies as already having been fulfilled such as with Preterism (that the events prophesied in Revelation all happened before 70AD). Rather than the scissors that Jefferson used, these make use of allegory, metaphor, and symbology to discount and explain away what is written.

A third problem many people may have regarding the bible is a little more difficult to understand. This has to do to the difference between free will and God’s sovereignty. For example Israel was promised an earthly kingdom. Jesus came to offer that kingdom. The nation was not willing to receive the kingdom. However, there was a possibility that they could have received the kingdom. Between the announcement of the angles at the birth of Jesus until the destruction of the temple 70 years later, the nation of Israel could have accepted the offered kingdom. Many who hold a “God is sovereign over all” view often see every historical act and individual decision as determined by God. This view cannot tolerate the indeterminate condition of free will with the potential to act one way or another by an individual or nation. When the bible speaks to individual or national choice, it is often explained away as God specifically choosing not to intervene and thus his “sovereignty” is demonstrated in every act good or bad.

That God is not fazed by potentiality might be seen when angry with Israel God stated that he would kill off the nation and make a new one from Moses. When an exasperated Elijah stated that he was the last one left and they were trying to kill him, God said that he had 7,000 people left he could use. The bible even declares that God can raise up children for Abraham out of the rocks.

Those who hate God and the bible do not have any problem asserting that it is wrong. However, many who claim Christ also try to mutilate the plain meaning of a literal interpretation of the bible so that it fits with their view. This is not that much different than what Jefferson did. To assert that God is responsible for every evil act of man is blasphemy.

God is sovereign. However, he has extended a time of grace to humans so we are free to receive his grace or ignore him. It would be expected that as a fallen race we would revert to the same selfish inclinations that resulted in the flood. however, because of grace, some of us have been saved. However, this time of grace will not last forever.

I tell you that he will avenge them speedily. Nevertheless when the Son of man cometh, shall he find faith on the earth?  -  Luke 18:8




  


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