Welcome to Volume VI of our special series, Order in the Court of the King! If this is the first time you’ve read this series, please read the first five volumes to acquaint yourself with our views on God’s Eternal Kingdom.
Introduction to Volume VI
Volume VI is where I’m going to share some of the ‘divisive’ issues that arose during the first few years of my life as a Christian. By ‘divisive’ I mean these are beliefs within churches that often ‘divide’ Christians from each other.
I came into Christianity from atheism, so I didn’t have any particular ‘side’ to defend other than what I found to be true through studying God’s Word. I learned that Christians viewed particular verses or subjects in the Bible differently for various reasons. Some of them came at the Bible from a particular ‘denominational’ position. They were defending the beliefs of their particular denomination. Others came at the Bible from a particular ‘doctrinal’ position. What I mean by that is they viewed portions of Scripture based on what doctrines they had learned through teachings they had heard from others. Those teachings might come from TV preachers, radio preachers, speakers at conferences, or favorite authors – to name a few.
I hadn’t been a Christian long enough to have any particular ‘denominational’ or ‘doctrinal’ view. I just believed what I read in the Bible. I really saw it as ‘God’s Word.’ Like Jesus to the devil – “Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word of God.” Believing that Jesus was who said He was, God in flesh, I took Him at His word and read everything God had said and believed it.
I soon learned that many Christians didn’t see that as an adequate view of what it meant to be a ‘Christian.’ That’s when I began hearing a lot of different views (interpretations) of the same Bible verses and subjects from a wide variety of people who said they believed the Bible was the Word of God. My thought as a new Christian was that God’s Word was true. I believed that what He said was true. So, how could God’s Word be true if so many of His people disagreed with each other about what God said and meant?
I’ve already addressed the issue of divisions in the Church caused by ‘heretical’ teaching, so that’s not where I’m going with this volume. I want to share about things I learned early in my Christian life that were more along the line of ‘non-heretical’ teaching. While not a direct heresy you could point to in the Bible and yell out loud – HERETIC IN THE CHURCH – they did cause divisions among God’s people.
You may read some of the things I’ll address in this volume and believe that they are heresy. I understand that. If you believe that, then by all means respond in the way that’s appropriate. If you think some of the things I’ll address are not heresy but are problematic, then please respond in the way that’s appropriate. If you don’t think any of the things I’ll address are a problem, then keep doing what you’re doing unless and until God shows you differently.
I hope that’s a fair way of putting it. I love and respect my brothers and sisters in Christ. We don’t have to agree on every little point to love each other. It’s like what the Apostle Paul wrote in 1 Corinthians 13 – “And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing.” You’ll know from the context of other things Paul wrote that he’s not saying we should put up with heretics in the Church because of ‘love.’ Not at all. What he is saying, within the context of divisions within the Corinthian church, is that we need to deal with our differences in a spirit of love.
I have had many close and dear friends through the years who believed differently than me on many things in the Bible. The key to me is that we love each other enough to sit down and discuss our different perspectives as brothers and sisters in Christ. We’re going to spend eternity together in Heaven, so why not treat each other as part of a great eternal family?
Again, Paul to the Corinthians – “For as the body is one and has many members, but all the members of that one body, being many, are one body, so also is Christ. For by one Spirit we were all baptized into one body—whether Jews or Greeks, whether slaves or free—and have all been made to drink into one Spirit. For in fact the body is not one member but many” (1 Corinthians 12:12-14). Also to the Ephesians – “I, therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you to walk worthy of the calling with which you were called, with all lowliness and gentleness, with longsuffering, bearing with one another in love, endeavoring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called in one hope of your calling; one Lord, one faith, one baptism; one God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all” (Ephesians 4:1-6).
Lots of ‘oneness’ in those verses. Can you feel the love? I hope so because what I’m about to share with you may come across as less than loving if we don’t agree on something that’s important to both of us. That doesn’t mean I don’t love you, and I hope that doesn’t mean you don’t love me. Love and respect. I hope we find ways to get there because that’s what we’re to experience throughout eternity – love and respect.
Surprise!
When I was an atheist journalist investigating Christianity, I wanted answers to three basic questions –
- Does God Exist?
- Is the Bible Historically accurate?
- Did Jesus Christ really live, die, and rise from the dead?
It any of those were not true, then Christianity couldn’t true. After several months of investigating the truth claims, I came to the conclusion that Christianity was true. I became a Christian. I used several tried and true investigative techniques, including the PPT System – People, Places, Things. Did the people exist? Did the places exist? Did the things exist? I found the Bible to be an historically accurate ancient document.
So, imagine my surprise when I met Christians who said parts of the Bible were not historically accurate? I wondered if they had done the same kind of research I had, but I listened to what they had to say. I also read books and articles they said proved that Genesis chapters 1 – 11 were allegory rather than history.
I retraced my investigative steps to make sure I hadn’t missed something. I would have agreed with these people months earlier. In fact, I would have said that the entire Bible was historically inaccurate, full of myths and legends, including the existence of Jesus of Nazareth. However, after painstakingly checking Bible information with non-biblical sources, and seeing that Jesus and His apostles also supported the historical data of the Hebrew Bible (Old Testament), I came to a different conclusion than some of my brothers and sisters in Christ.
Who Wrote Genesis?
I wondered why some Christians would think Genesis 1 – 11 was ‘allegory,’ yet view most of the rest of the Bible as history? I say ‘most of the rest of the Bible” because many of those same Christians also viewed the Book of Revelation as allegory and Job as an ‘invented’ story. That’s a topic for another day, so I’ll stick to Genesis for now.
Why stop at chapter 11 of Genesis? Why not just say that the entire Book of Genesis was allegory? Or, why not say Genesis 1 – 5 was allegory, but Genesis 6 and following was history? Why specifically pick out Genesis chapters 1 – 11? What was it about those chapters in particular?
I had learned from my previous investigation that Moses had written Genesis and four other Books of the Bible (Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, Deuteronomy). Yes, I know there is some debate about Moses being the human author of Genesis. How could Moses possibly have known about events that occurred centuries before he was born?
The most obvious answer is that God told Moses about the events included in the Book of Genesis. It’s important to remember that God first ‘spoke’ to Moses from a burning bush that wasn’t destroyed by the fire. It was a ‘holy’ place. It’s also helpful to remember that God met with Moses personally on top of a mountain and in many other places during a period of 40 years –
So the Lord spoke to Moses face to face, as a man speaks to his friend. Exodus 33:11
Do you think 40 years was enough time for God to reveal all of the details we read in the Book of Genesis – including chapters 1 – 11? I think so, too.
Read Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, and Deuteronomy, and you’ll see many of the things that God revealed to Moses. Moses wrote the things that God told him and passed them along to leaders of Israel – including Joshua, and the priests and elders of Israel.
When Jesus and His apostles spoke of ‘Scripture’ they meant the Hebrew Bible. Christians call that the ‘Old Testament.’ The Apostle Paul wrote, “All Scripture is given by inspiration of God” (2 Timothy 3:16). The Apostle Peter wrote, “no prophecy of Scripture is of any private interpretation, for prophecy never came by the will of man, but holy men of God spoke as they were moved by the Holy Spirit” (2 Peter 1:20-21). For those Christians who might say that Moses was not a prophet, let’s read a couple of verses from the ‘inspired’ Word of God –
The Lord your God will raise up for you a Prophet like me from your midst, from your brethren. Him you shall hear. Deuteronomy 18:15
But since then there has not arisen in Israel a prophet like Moses, whom the Lord knew face to face. Deuteronomy 34:10
Jesus Christ believed Moses existed and often quoted from His writings, including from Genesis chapters 1 – 11. Moses and Elijah spoke with Jesus at what Christians call the ‘Mount of Transfiguration’ (Matthew 17).
Quotes From Jesus/Gospels
Jesus Christ the Lord quoted from Genesis 1 – 11 in the ‘historical’ genre, not allegory or myth –
But as the days of Noah were, so also will the coming of the Son of Man be. For as in the days before the flood, they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noah entered the ark, and did not know until the flood came and took them all away, so also will the coming of the Son of Man be. Matthew 24:37-39
And as it was in the days of Noah, so it will be also in the days of the Son of Man: They ate, they drank, they married wives, they were given in marriage, until the day that Noah entered the ark, and the flood came and destroyed them all. Luke 17:26-27
Did Jesus mean for His disciples to understand Noah and the Flood as allegory or history? If Noah and the Flood were allegory, might it be that Jesus was saying His return to earth was also allegorical? I know that some ‘church’ people do believe Christ’s return to earth is allegorical, so I think they would answer in the affirmative. Believing that Jesus is not going to return to earth when there are so many biblical claims that He will, doesn’t that sound ‘heretical?’ What do you believe Jesus meant?
Here’s another –
The Pharisees also came to Him, testing Him, and saying to Him, “Is it lawful for a man to divorce his wife for just any reason?” And He answered and said to them, “Have you not read that He who made them at the beginning ‘made them male and female,’ and said, ‘For this reason a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh’? So then, they are no longer two but one flesh. Therefore what God has joined together, let not man separate. Matthew 19:4-6
Jesus quoted from Genesis 2:24. Did He just answer the Pharisees question about the Mosaic Law by using an allegory? Jesus did use parables in answering His opponents as well as His followers. However, Christ’s parables were usually stories without direct quotes from Scripture. Why would Jesus answer the Pharisees with Scripture if it was just a story, an allegory? If the Pharisees believed Genesis 2:24 was allegorical, how would that answer their question with any authority?
Here’s another –
Therefore, indeed, I send you prophets, wise men, and scribes: some of them you will kill and crucify, and some of them you will scourge in your synagogues and persecute from city to city, that on you may come all the righteous blood shed on the earth, from the blood of righteous Abel to the blood of Zechariah, son of Berechiah, whom you murdered between the temple and the altar. Assuredly, I say to you, all these things will come upon this generation. Matthew 23:34-36
Why would Jesus include the ‘allegorical’ murder of Abel along with the ‘historical’ murder of Zechariah, son of Berechiah? Jesus was pronouncing ‘woes’ on the leaders of Israel. Why would He mix myth with fact?
When Luke listed the genealogy of Jesus, he listed people in in the order of ‘the son of, the son of, the son of,’ etc. Notice the people on the list who are from Genesis 1 – 11:
… the son of Abraham, the son of Terah, the son of Nahor, the son of Serug, the son of Reu, the son of Peleg, the son of Eber, the son of Shelah, the son of Cainan, the son of Arphaxad, the son of Shem, the son of Noah, the son of Lamech, the son of Methuselah, the son of Enoch, the son of Jared, the son of Mahalalel, the son of Cainan, the son of Enosh, the son of Seth, the son of Adam, the son of God. Luke 3:34-48
Was Luke repeating ‘allegory’ or ‘history?’ If allegory, why present it along with historical individuals like Isaac, Jacob, Judah, Perez, Hezron, Ram, and Amminadab? Luke told Theophilus that his purpose for writing him was ‘to set in order a narrative of those things which have been fulfilled among us.’ Luke wrote that his letter (Gospel) was ‘an orderly account’ so that Theophilus would ‘know the certainty of those things in which you were instructed.’ If that was truly Luke’s purpose, why would Luke mix historically inaccurate information about Jesus’ lineage with accurate information? Why mix allegory with history and present it all as ‘historical?’ Does that make sense to you? Me neither.
Quotes From The Apostles
The Lord’s apostles, under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, also quoted from Genesis 1 – 11 in the ‘historical’ genre, not allegorical or mythical –
Nevertheless death reigned from Adam to Moses, even over those who had not sinned according to the likeness of the transgression of Adam, who is a type of Him who was to come. Romans 5:14
For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ all shall be made alive. 1 Corinthians 15:22
For Adam was formed first, then Eve. 1 Timothy 2:13
By faith Abel offered to God a more excellent sacrifice than Cain, through which he obtained witness that he was righteous, God testifying of his gifts; and through it he being dead still speaks. Hebrews 11:4
By faith Noah, being divinely warned of things not yet seen, moved with godly fear, prepared an ark for the saving of his household, by which he condemned the world and became heir of the righteousness which is according to faith. Hebrews 11:7
For Christ also suffered once for sins, the just for the unjust, that He might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh but made alive by the Spirit, by whom also He went and preached to the spirits in prison, who formerly were disobedient, when once the Divine longsuffering waited in the days of Noah, while the ark was being prepared, in which a few, that is, eight souls, were saved through water. 1 Peter 3:18-20
For if God did not spare the angels who sinned, but cast them down to hell and delivered them into chains of darkness, to be reserved for judgment; and did not spare the ancient world, but saved Noah, one ofeight people, a preacher of righteousness, bringing in the flood on the world of the ungodly. 2 Peter 2:4-5
For this they willfully forget: that by the word of God the heavens were of old, and the earth standing out of water and in the water, by which the world that then existed perished, being flooded with water. 2 Peter 3:5-6
Now Enoch, the seventh from Adam, prophesied about these men also, saying, “Behold, the Lord comes with ten thousands of His saints. Jude 1:14
For this is the message that you heard from the beginning, that we should love one another, not as Cain who was of the wicked one and murdered his brother. And why did he murder him? Because his works were evil and his brother’s righteous. 1 John 3:11-12
Woe to them! For they have gone in the way of Cain, have run greedily in the error of Balaam for profit, and perished in the rebellion of Korah. Jude 1:11
But you have come to Mount Zion and to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, to an innumerable company of angels, to the general assembly and church of the firstborn who are registered in heaven, to God the Judge of all, to the spirits of just men made perfect, to Jesus the Mediator of the new covenant, and to the blood of sprinkling that speaks better things than that of Abel. Hebrews 12:22-24
Given so much Scriptural evidence to the contrary, why do so many Christians believe that Genesis 1 – 11 is allegorical rather than historical? Excellent question!
Genesis and Science
The way many Christians answered my question as a young Christian was to say that Genesis 1 – 11 did not agree with ‘science.’ I found that very interesting since it was ‘science’ that started me on my investigation as an atheist in the first place. Why would an atheist journalist eventually discover that science and the Bible were compatible, but some Christians didn’t? They seemed more comfortable believing that Genesis 1 – 11 had to be allegorical because it didn’t agree with millions of years of evolution (rather than God’s direct creation) and a regional flood (rather than a world-wide flood). What kind of ‘science’ were they believing?
Science is simply ‘knowledge’ gained through investigation and experimentation. I’ve watched the development of ‘science’ in many different fields for several decades and can point to continual changes in ‘scientific’ information. Why? Because people continue to learn new things. They continue to investigate and experiment. ‘Science’ continues to expand and change through that process of ‘learning.’
The Bible is different. It’s complete. God has spoken and He does not change –
For I am the Lord, I do not change. Malachi 3:6
God, who at various times and in various ways spoke in time past to the fathers by the prophets, has in these last days spoken to us by His Son, whom He has appointed heir of all things, through whom also He made the worlds; who being the brightness of His glory and the express image of His person, and upholding all things by the word of His power, when He had by Himself purged our sins, sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high, having become so much better than the angels, as He has by inheritance obtained a more excellent name than they. Hebrews 1:1-4
Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever. Hebrews 13:8
Science (knowledge) changes. God does not change. Jesus, the Son of God, is always the same. That we know for sure because – ‘the Bible tells us so.’
I’m interested in what scientists continue to learn. I’ve covered scientific news for almost 60 years as a journalist and know it will continue to change. Journalists who cover science always have something new to report because ‘science’ keeps changing. I’ve even seen scientists change their minds to the point that they strongly disagreed with their own ‘scientific findings’ from earlier. They do a ‘science 180.’ Why would Christians put their ‘faith’ in a changing science when they can put their faith into something far more reliable and steadfast.
I’m more interested in what God says, because it’s unchangeable. God is perfect, therefore His knowledge is perfect. Jesus Christ is Truth, therefore what He says is true. Jesus said that the Holy Spirit of God would ‘guide’ the apostles into all truth (John 16), therefore what the apostles said and wrote is true. If they quote from Genesis 1 – 11 as truthful information, I believe them. If science doesn’t agree, wait for ‘scientists’ to catch up with what God knows. Isn’t that real science? Discovering what God has known from the beginning?
As I wrote earlier, Christians denying that parts of God’s Word that are clearly written as historical are really nothing more than allegorical surprised me as a young Christian. The longer I studied the subjects involved, my surprise changed to concern – concern for my fellow believers.
Slippery Slope
Believing that portions of God’s Word have to be submissive to ‘science’ is a dangerous and slippery slope. Once you begin that process of calling Scripture ‘allegory’ when it is obviously written as ‘history,’ you are about to fall off the edge of a cliff. Some people would call that a ‘slippery slope’ –
A tricky precarious situation, especially one that leads gradually but inexorably to disaster. The American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition
I hate to see Christians slip and ‘drift away‘ from the Truth of God’s Word. They are slipping away from that special place God has for all of His children – under His protection. It reminds me of the words of David when God protected him from King Saul –
For You are my lamp, O Lord; The Lord shall enlighten my darkness. For by You I can run against a troop; By my God I can leap over a wall. As for God, His way is perfect; The word of the Lord is proven; He is a shield to all who trust in Him. “For who is God, except the Lord? And who is a rock, except our God? God is my strength and power, And He makes my way perfect. He makes my feet like the feet of deer, And sets me on my high places. He teaches my hands to make war, So that my arms can bend a bow of bronze. “You have also given me the shield of Your salvation; Your gentleness has made me great. You enlarged my path under me; So my feet did not slip. 2 Samuel 22:29-37
I know from personal experience that this question of whether Genesis 1 – 11 is history or allegory can be very divisive in a local church. I found that many people who believe Genesis 1 -11 is allegory also believe many other portions of Scripture are also allegory (e.g. Revelation, Job).
How do we address division in a church? Ask questions of people who believe it. Find out why they believe what they believe. Listen closely to how they respond, ask more questions if necessary, pray for God’s wisdom, then share your thoughts based on your careful study of God’s Word. If you find that discussing it further will only make things worse, take the matter to your elder/overseers. See what wisdom they have on the matter. Are they aware of the problem in the church? Are they already addressing it? If not, will they? If not, why not? If elders of a church are unwilling to address the issue, you will have to make your decision about how to proceed.
Will you remain in a church where portions of God’s Word are allowed to be discussed or even taught as being allegorical when they are clearly historical? Keep in mind that our primary objective as Christians is two-fold: bring glory to God and finish the work He has given us to do. Where does God want you to do that? Ask Him and He will give you direction and peace.
When a Christian begins to fall away from beliefs they once held to strongly, or from beliefs that are central to the beliefs of a particular church, there is a good chance they will continue to slip into other errors. The best advice that comes to mind at this moment is what the Apostle Paul wrote the Galatians. It’s not exactly the same context we’re looking at now, but it demonstrates the ‘attitude’ Christians should have toward each other when they see someone slip or drift toward error –
Brethren, if a man is overtaken in any trespass, you who are spiritual restore such a one in a spirit of gentleness, considering yourself lest you also be tempted. Bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ. For if anyone thinks himself to be something, when he is nothing, he deceives himself. But let each one examine his own work, and then he will have rejoicing in himself alone, and not in another. For each one shall bear his own load. Galatians 6:1-5
James 5 is another example – again not the exact context – but a demonstration of both ‘attitude and action’ to help a brother or sister who drift into error –
Brethren, if anyone among you wanders from the truth, and someone turns him back, let him know that he who turns a sinner from the error of his way will save a soul from death and cover a multitude of sins. James 5:19-20
Christian, who do you trust with your life? God or science? Trust God. He is Perfect in all His ways. He does not change. Science is often imperfect in its ways and can change over time. I chose God almost 55 years ago (or should I say He chose me). Best decision I ever made.
Next Time
Creation or evolution? It is a divisive subject among many Christians. How do we address it in a way that glorifies God and helps us finish the work He has given us to do? That’s next time as we continue our special series, Order in the Court of the King!
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
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