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Nobody’s perfect so don’t criticize (a self-defeating argument)

Talk-to-the-HandSeveral years ago I did a post entitled “Judge not, lest ye be judged” that covered what Christ really meant when he spoke those popular words often quoted by those who hate even the most constructive of criticisms. Tied to those words of Christ that are quoted out of context is the notion that since nobody’s perfect, we should just shut up, live and let live, and stop criticizing other people. Is that argument valid?

Criticism is the act of pointing out what’s wrong or bad or faulty about someone or something. When we take an honest look at society, whether the society is advanced or developing, criticism is everywhere. I especially get a kick out of Christians who use such bad logic with the ”nobody’s perfect” argument since Christianity itself is based on the criticism of human misdeeds so we can recognize the remedy for those misdeeds.

Let’s take Paul, for instance. He was formerly Saul, a persecutor of Christians who was responsible for the deaths of some of them. Then he was confronted by Jesus and got saved. Even after he got saved, he still had struggles. He was unforgiving toward John Mark, who abandoned him on a missionary journey. When John Mark’s cousin Barnabas wanted to take John Mark on another missionary trip with him and Paul, Paul and Barnabas had a heated argument about it and went their separate ways.

Paul admitted in Romans 7 that he had two natures struggling for dominance within him. In Philippians 3, he said he had not attained or apprehended his ultimate spiritual goal of sinless perfection that only comes by resurrection. He was still pressing toward the mark. Nevertheless, God by his higher authority entrusted his perfect words to Paul for Paul to spread them around.

The same thing can be said of Peter who had many faults also. Peter was so bad that one time imperfect Paul had to confront imperfect Peter about how he was acting when he snubbed Gentiles to impress some Jews who were visiting a congregation (Galatians 2:11-14) since Peter’s hypocrisy would have weakened the church at Antioch. Still, God used Peter to write down his perfect words in 1 & 2 Peter.

These men were far from perfect, but God gave them license to criticize just as he does for us after we humbly show ourselves ready and willing to do his will.

Societies that will not accept criticism devolve into chaos. The biggest collection of criticisms any nation has is the system of laws and regulations they set up to govern the nation. Laws are set up by imperfect men to criticize certain behavior. When the citizens of a nation are caught committing behaviors the laws call faulty, then the person is brought before an imperfect judge and/or an imperfect jury to be criticized by an imperfect prosecutor whose case is criticized by the imperfect defender of that imperfect defendant.

As I mentioned in a recent post about the 10 commandments, we all have a sense of right and wrong built into us by a Higher Authority based on his laws so that most countries have laws or morals set up that agree with at least some of the commandments, and those commandments are essentially criticisms. When we set up laws that reject the Higher Authority’s criticisms, then chaos will result (e.g. the Bolshevik revolution or Hitler’s Germany).

Now if we apply the “nobody’s perfect so don’t criticize” argument to how we govern, we would have to get rid of the Executive, Legislative, and Judicial branches at the local, state, and federal levels since they all criticize with their policies and procedures.

Our workplaces would also have to be shut down since managers wouldn’t be allowed to criticize employees and procedural manuals or professional associations or regulations wouldn’t be allowed to criticize businesses to ensure they run properly.

Essentially, the “nobody’s perfect so don’t criticize” argument is unsustainable and impossible to carry out since criticism is vital to all aspects of life, whether material or spiritual. And the statement is itself contradictory, making it null and void based on the Law of Non-contradiction since the moment a person makes the statement, they have just criticized.

Harry A. Gaylord

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by Harry A. Gaylord on April 16, 2013  •  Permalink
Posted in Christianity, government, humanity, life, philosophy, religion
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A laziness gene? Really?

ReclinerIs laziness a sin or a genetic defect? According to a team of scientists at the University of Missouri College of Veterinary Medicine, it’s probably a genetic predisposition for certain people to be lazy. How did they find this out? They used selective breeding to mate more active lab rats with other active lab rats and mated less active lab rats with other lab rats that were less active. Ten generations later they found that each group displayed the more active or less active traits of the earlier generations.

They examined each group at the genetic level and found that there may be about 36 genes that possibly play a role in determining if rats will be very active or lazy. This led the scientists to conclude that this must be true for humans as well. Now that they have isolated this possibility, they are encouraged to do more research on those specific genes. In other words, now that they made this brilliant discovery, they can go to their benefactors and ask for more money to do more research to see if there are humans who have the gene for being lazy.

These scientists reflect a mentality that is prevalent in Western thinking in our postmodern era. Every bad habit of humans has to have some scientific explanation for why people are the way they are. It’s basically just their continued attempts to get around the fact God exists, that he created us, and that he as our Creator has given us a manual that reveals what makes mankind tick, for better or worse–a manual called the Bible. Their obsession with scientism (all assumptions and methods for research for every field or subject must begin with science) has given us the ideas that adultery, violent behavior, drunkenness, and other evil practices are simply a genetic code and people who do such things can’t help themselves.

Such people who hold to these ideas tend to forget there are moral and ethical factors that are part of this life we live. We as humans make choices regarding the right thing to do or the wrong thing to do and we must take responsibility for those choices, not blame them on genes. That is why we have law enforcers and court systems.

Essentially, trying to discover lazy genes is a waste of time and money. Laziness is a choice stemming from man’s sinful nature from our spiritual side as attested to in these scriptures:

30 I went by the field of the slothful, and by the vineyard of the man void of understanding; 31 And, lo, it was all grown over with thorns, and nettles had covered the face thereof, and the stone wall thereof was broken down. 32 Then I saw, and considered it well: I looked upon it, and received instruction. 33 Yet a little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to sleep: 34 So shall thy poverty come as one that traveleth; and thy want [lack] as an armed man. Proverbs 24

14 As the door turneth upon his hinges, so doth the slothful upon his bed. Proverbs 26

10 Be kindly affectioned one to another with brotherly love; in honour preferring one another; 11 Not slothful in business; fervent in spirit; serving the Lord… Romans 12

 

 

Source: Couch Potatoes May Be Genetically Predisposed to Being Lazy, Rat Study Suggests. Science Daily. Sciencedaily.com. April 8, 2013.

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by Harry A. Gaylord on April 9, 2013  •  Permalink
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The eternal truths symbolized in the cross of Christ

Cross-on-a-HillAs we enter the week commemorating the sacrifice the Lord Jesus made for us, Pastor Mark Creech has shared some wise words online that can help remind us of the significance of what Christ showed us by willingly enduring the shame and suffering on the cross 2,000 years ago. Here is a summary of Mark Creech’s “Seven ways the cross speaks”:

  1. The cross points to our sinful condition.
  2. The cross speaks of God’s incredible love and amazing grace.
  3. The cross shows how much God hates sin.
  4. The cross speaks of the putting away of guilt.
  5. The cross indicts the wisdom of men.
  6. The cross speaks of the way we should live.
  7. The cross promises tragedy can be turned to triumph.

For each of his seven points, Creech gives a brief synopsis that I found to be a blessing, so if you have time, I think reading it at this link will provide some inspiration and encouragement.

For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God. 1 Corinthians 1:18

Harry A. Gaylord

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by Harry A. Gaylord on March 24, 2013  •  Permalink
Posted in Bible, Christianity, encouragement, faith, Jesus Christ, life, religion

Posted by Harry A. Gaylord on March 24, 2013

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Aborted baby body parts illegally used cosmetically in Hungary

When people devalue human life in the womb, fearfully and wonderfully formed by the Creator, there are practically no lows they won’t sink to. Earlier this week in Budapest, Hungary, a court case was heard where the accused, operators of several plastic surgery clinics, were using aborted baby body parts in solutions that were injected into the veins of their wealthy clients with claims that the solutions would enhance their looks. Unborn baby

The perpetrators were Hungarian and Ukrainian. They were arrested in 2009 for illegally using embryonic stem cells and aborted babies in an unapproved manner for commercial gain. Their reckless, criminal, sinful behavior not only jeopardized the lives of the unborn, it also jeopardized the lives of their clients.

The Alliance Defending Freedom (ADF) submitted an amicus brief (U.S. term for “friend of the court brief”) to the Hungarian court to highlight why such practices are criminal and objectionable. “A baby is precious – not a precious commodity. This horrific and inhuman use of a child’s cells and tissues has no place in a civilized society… [This behavior] generates a hideous demand for babies’ bodies for use in unapproved, elective cosmetic procedures,” says Daniel Lipsic, senior legal counsel at ADF.

See more about this case at: http://www.onenewsnow.com/latest-headlines-from-american-family-news/2013/03/15/stem-cells-from-unborn-babies-used-illegally-in-cosmetic-surgery#sthash.MLir9erP.dpuf

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by Harry A. Gaylord on March 16, 2013  •  Permalink
Posted in abortion, children, Christianity, crime, End times, family, greed, law, life, religion
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None of us can be good without God

I came to realize this years ago after getting an understanding of what being good really means. God has created all of us with a sense of right and wrong, including those who claim to be atheist or who live in pagan cultures. That sense of right and wrong has its foundation in the 10 commandments. If you study any culture in the world, you will see that even if they don’t accept all of these commandments as true, they have accepted some of them as true. So let’s take a quick look at them paraphrased from Exodus 20:

10-commandments1st Commandment: Thou shalt have no other gods before me.

2nd Commandment: Thou shalt not make any graven image or likeness of any created thing to worship or serve it.

Most of the world is into paganism or a false belief system of some kind and there is no excuse for it, according to the scripture. Deep down inside, they all know they’re wrong. Romans 1 says “18 For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who hold the truth in unrighteousness; 19 Because that which may be known of God is manifest in them; for God hath shewed it unto them. 20 For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse: 21 Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened.“

Even in their unrighteousness, they hold the truth that Jehovah (Father, Son, Holy Ghost) is the only God to worship. He has created that inherent knowledge in all of us and provided the indisputable evidence of himself in the physical world all around us, so none of us has any excuse for disobeying these first two commandments. But most of us do because our vain imaginations and foolish hearts become our god. Since most of the world doesn’t believe in the true God of the true Bible, we know at this point being good is rare.

3rd Commandment: Don’t take the name of the Lord in vain.

Using God’s name without reverence or using his name to curse is something that most if not all of us have been guilty of at some point, no matter what language we speak. So once again we can admit that if this is a measure of being good, then being good must be rare.

4th Commandment: Remember the sabbath & keep it holy.

This commandment was established as a principle for man to take time out to rest from his labor and give God glory for his blessings. God has built this principle even into our physical bodies because when we fail to give our bodies enough rest during a week and overwork ourselves, stress and sickness result. Practically anywhere in the world, if workers aren’t given a day off, it is considered wrong. Why? Because the need for time to rest and enjoy the fruits of labor is a universal principle with its origins in God’s sabbath even in pagan and atheistic cultures.

5th Commandment: Honor thy father and mother.

Even cultures which have instituted euthanasia of the elderly, and China, which is a huge violator of human rights, have some reservations about how parents, especially the elderly, are being treated. We inherently know parents should be honored. That’s why when someone talks about a person’s parents, most people will defend their parents even if their parents are less than honorable.

6th Commandment: Thou shalt not kill.

From the context of scripture, we know this commandment speaks of killing unjustly since God’s law allowed self-defense and capital punishment.

7th Commandment: Thou shalt not commit adultery.

8th Commandment: Thou shalt not steal.

9th Commandment: Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbor.

10th Commandment: Thou shalt not covet anything that is thy neighbor’s.

——————–

These commandments establish universal principles of right and wrong everyone all over the world inherently knows. If we were naturally good, we would fulfill all of these commandments at all times. But none of us has. For example, even as children, we have a tendency to covet others’ stuff. Isn’t that why toddlers grab nice toys from nearby playmates and try to take off with them?

None of us wants our things stolen or our spouses taken away from us by someone else or people to lie about us or for someone to try to take our lives. We automatically know these things are wrong. However, when we’re the ones cussing someone out or saying false things about someone else or coveting what others around us have, we somehow justify it. We’ve all broken a law or two of God’s laws, meaning we’ve violated the whole law. That alone tells us we’re really not as good as we think we are.

People claiming we can be good without God, use the wrong measuring stick for their goodness. They believe if their good deeds outweigh their bad deeds, or if they aren’t doing what that bad person over there is doing, then they’re fine. Since we inherently know there are universal, objective principles of good vs. bad, then the person who established those principles is the one who tells us what being good really means.

He tells us in his word “there is none that doeth good, no not one,” [Romans 3:12] and goes on to tell us through his servant Paul that the whole world is “guilty before God,” [Romans 3:19]. Only faith in Jesus will cleanse us from all unrighteousness since he was sinless and paid the penalty for our sins on our behalf. Being forgiven for our sins through Jesus Christ is the only thing that can make anyone good in God’s eyes. We can do good without God, but that doesn’t mean we are naturally good.

Harry A. Gaylord

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by Harry A. Gaylord on March 12, 2013  •  Permalink
Posted in Bible, Christianity, God, life, religion

Posted by Harry A. Gaylord on March 12, 2013

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Former adult film actress to speak at Ohio church

Pastor John Hohe, who pastors a church in Ohio, is quick to point out that during Jesus Christ’s ministry on earth, he covered some uncomfortable topics in his parables. Jesus was also known to hang out with people who were considered the dregs of Israelite society. By doing so, many of them got saved and changed their wicked ways.

In keeping with that spirit, Hohe has asked a former porn actress to speak at his church in Powell, Ohio on Sunday night. Children under 12 won’t be allowed. The pastor says he is not afraid to cover tough topics like pornography because covering such topics is in line with what the gospel is all about. It gives people hope that no matter how far they are from God, there is forgiveness, mercy, grace, and love through Jesus Christ.

Crissy Moran was in the porn industry for six years, collecting a paycheck of $15,000 a month. However, all that money and the things that went with the industry did not bring her the satisfaction in life she thought it would. She gave her life to Christ and walked away from the industry in 2006 and now travels the country to share how the Lord changed her life and her way of thinking.

Given the problems churches have with large numbers of churchgoers into pornography, I think it’s great that a pastor is willing to tackle the topic with his congregation. And he’s doing it with the blessings of his wife and congregation. After all, even the apostles followed in Christ’s footsteps by reaching people involved in sins of every kind (having, of course, been forgiven of sin themselves), noting in their writings how God brought the saved out of sinful lifestyles:

9 Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind,

10 Nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God.

11 And such were some of you: but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God. 1 Corinthians 6 [emphasis mine]

I thank God for pastors & other believers like him who can discuss tough real life situations genuinely seasoned with the wisdom of God’s Holy Spirit.

Source: Church Brings in Ex-Porn Star To Deliver Message. 10TV. 10TV.com. Friday, March 8, 2013.

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by Harry A. Gaylord on March 9, 2013  •  Permalink
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Does religion make people stupid?

praise teamThe Gallup organization recently released its findings on religion in the U.S. that was conducted throughout 2012 and it found that Mississippi is the most religious state in the nation. This was measured by such things as how often people attended religious services. Mississippi is also now considering a bill that would allow students to pray in school without fear of any kind of retribution.  Additionally, the last abortion clinic in the state is believed to be on its way to closing, which will do away with murdering unborn children in the state. I believe the state is to be commended for these things.

But there is one huge downside to the state that seems to be holding its people back. Its educational system. Mississippi consistently ranks near or at the bottom of all other states when it comes to educating its children which results in a population that is not as knowledgeable as they should be academically. Can we and should we blame religion as the main culprit holding the state back?

Close up of a graduation cap and a certificate with a ribbonI’m sure there are plenty of people who would say religion, and specifically Christianity, is to blame for Mississippi’s academic condition, but I would have to disagree. Why? Well, when one looks at Biblical and secular history, the worship of the God of the Bible and the reading and practicing of his word are what have caused individuals and nations to advance to become prosperous.

We have plenty of examples of this in the Bible. Job served Jehovah with all his being, and was given great knowledge from God. That knowledge helped him become successful and wealthy. Job not only knew how the water cycle worked (Job 26:8), he knew the role bone marrow played in the skeletal system (Job 21:24) and about gravity holding up the earth (Job 26:7).

Then there’s King Solomon. He feared Jehovah and was given great wisdom. God taught him about the sciences, proper government, economics, mining, international trade, and many other things (1 Kings 10) and Solomon’s knowledge and wisdom helped ancient Israel to prosper.

King Uzziah also served the Lord and became king at 16. The knowledge from the Lord during his reign led to the digging of  many wells, a strong military, advances in agriculture, and engineering innovations (2 Chronicles 26: 1-15).

In more modern times, those who know true history can see how serving the Lord strengthened and advanced various European nations under certain monarchs, especially Great Britain. Then America experienced the same thing.

So if that’s the case, then what can we say of Mississippi? If God’s word says his commandments make us wiser than our enemies and more knowledgeable than our instructors (Psalm 119:97-100); if it tells us those with godly wisdom increase learning are strong spiritually and financially and that godly knowledge increases strength (Proverbs 1:5; 24:4-5), then how is it that Mississippi is behind in education and has among the highest poverty rates in the nation? Could it be that they worship the Lord with their mouths, but their hearts are far from him? I’m not saying I know the answer, especially since there are plenty of wealthy and well-educated people around who hate God. All I’m saying is that it makes me wonder.

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by Harry A. Gaylord on February 18, 2013  •  Permalink
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Former lesbian shares testimony of deliverance

She is now married to a pastor in the Reformed Presbyterian Church of North America, but many years ago Rosaria Butterfield was living as a lesbian. She came out at the age of 28 while she was in graduate school and became an English professor. Eventually, she was tenured at Syracuse University.

After she wrote a newspaper article mocking Promise Keepers in a local newspaper, she got a curious response from a local pastor who asked her questions that stuck with her. In the midst of this, she had started research on the rise of the religious right. A colleague at the University urged her to contact the pastor and read the Bible to help her research along.

The pastor and his wife befriended her as she researched their lives and opened their home to Rosaria and they impressed her with their lifestyle. At the same time, she was reading the Bible for her research. Eventually, her reading the Bible for her research started to have an impact she hadn’t intended. It made her think about God and sin and how it all had to do with how she was living.

After awhile, she found she could no longer deny the truth that she needed Jesus Christ as Lord. She turned her back on her lesbian lifestyle and accepted the Lord. Rosaria then learned that the Christian life was about giving up a lot of things for the Lord’s sake and found out through the honesty of people in her church that everyone had struggles to work through, but the struggles and sacrifices were worth it. Her testimony is proof that God’s word is true and genuine and powerful enough to deliver anyone out of any type of sinful lifestyle.

Sources:

Peter Saunders. Lesbian ‘queer theory’ feminist professor finds the Christian faith. LifeSiteNews.com. Thursday, Feb. 14, 2013.

PHCvids. Interview with Rosaria Butterfield; January 11, 2013. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kQ_YI6INTQU

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by Harry A. Gaylord on February 14, 2013  •  Permalink
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Yes. God is jealous. So what? He deserves to be.

lightning over mountains“The God of the Old Testament is arguably the most unpleasant character in all fiction: jealous and proud of it…” Richard Dawkins, The God Delusion

The fact that God calls himself a jealous God in the Bible is one angle from which some unbelievers like to attack the Bible, thinking this somehow justifies their rejection of the one true God. However, this argument is really disingenuous, when considering the context of scripture where he says he is jealous, or that jealousy can be justified or unjustified depending on the situation, and that those who pretend to have disdain over God being jealous turn around to justify the jealousy of colleagues, friends, family, and themselves in certain situations.

Context of God’s jealousy

12 Take heed to thyself, lest thou make a covenant with the inhabitants of the land whither thou goest, lest it be for a snare in the midst of thee: 13 But ye shall destroy their altars, break their images, and cut down their groves: 14 For thou shalt worship no other god: for the Lord, whose name is Jealous, is a jealous God: 15 Lest thou make a covenant with the inhabitants of the land, and they go a whoring after their gods, and do sacrifice unto their gods, and one call thee, and thou eat of his sacrifice; 16 And thou take of their daughters unto thy sons, and their daughters go a whoring after their gods, and make thy sons go a whoring after their gods. Exodus 34

20 But I say, that the things which the Gentiles sacrifice, they sacrifice to devils, and not to God: and I would not that ye should have fellowship with devils. 21 Ye cannot drink the cup of the Lord, and the cup of devils: ye cannot be partakers of the Lord’s table, and of the table of devils. 22 Do we provoke the Lord to jealousy? are we stronger than he? 23 All things are lawful for me, but all things are not expedient: all things are lawful for me, but all things edify not. 1 Corinthians 10

When God is jealous in scripture, it is always in the context of his being jealous against false religion, false doctrines, and false gods. The overall context is that God created the earth for man. He blessed mankind with the ability to live, work, and acquire things to survive as well as to enjoy life, including luxuries. He also blessed mankind with the way out of having to pay eternally for their evil. He does all kinds of good things for mankind’s benefit. So all he expects in return is the praise he deserves for all he does, has done, and will do.

Therefore, when someone goes and gives praise and worship to a god, a concept, a philosophy, or some other thing that can’t even come close to doing all that Jehovah has done, then his jealousy is justified.

Contexts in which we justify human jealousy

Unbelievers really aren’t in a position to disdain God’s jealousy. In fact, we justify human jealousy on a regular basis. For instance, let’s say that on your job you are known for your punctuality, honesty, and helpful contributions to the company you work for. You have a co-worker in your department who hasn’t been there as long as you, has a tendency to goof off, and barely makes any kind of contribution to the company.

When the annual bonus comes, you discover that your co-worker gets a bigger bonus than you and they did half the work you did. So you become jealous and angry. If anyone knows the context of your situation, they would not look down on your jealousy and would probably tell you that you should be jealous because you were treated unfairly. You didn’t receive the praise you deserved for all your accomplishments.

Let’s use another example. Let’s say you are wealthy parents who provided all kinds of good things for your child throughout her childhood years, but didn’t spoil her. You taught her how to manage her generous allowance, gave her responsibilities around the house to teach her good etiquette and independence, helped her land her first job, taught her how to be a good employee, how to save her money for college, how to be a good student and stay on the honor roll, and how to respect authority.

Then during her college and young adult years, she gets a boyfriend and treats her boyfriend’s parents better than you and your spouse. She spends all family holidays with her boyfriend’s parents and praises them while she complains about all the stuff you and your spouse didn’t do for her. How would you feel? Wouldn’t you be hurt and jealous about it? If you told your close friends about your jealousy, they would excuse it because they know the context of all you did for your child. They would see your jealousy as justified.

If we can excuse faulty, imperfect humans for such jealousies, then there is no excuse for anyone to complain about God being jealous when he is without fault and is perfect in all his ways.

Yes, jealousy is wrong when we allow it to churn up hatred for people, when we hate to see others receive the good they deserve, or we let jealousy lead us into doing unjustifiable, self-serving harm to others, but this is not the jealousy God has. When God gets jealous, he deserves to be. So unbelievers should get over it.

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by Harry A. Gaylord on February 12, 2013  •  Permalink
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Save yourself!: how pleasing God is self-preservation

run from fireIt’s beneficial for a society to promote the idea of looking out for your fellow man, but there are also instances, as we all know, where it’s best to look out for ourselves for self-preservation. If you’ve ever flown on an airplane, you know the flight attendants will instruct you that if the cabin pressure is compromised and oxygen is needed, each adult must put on their oxygen mask first before they assist a child with getting oxygen.

When it comes to how God operates, he is pleased when we exercise self-preservation through obeying him. As he told us in Ezekiel 14:

13 Son of man, when the land sinneth against me by trespassing grievously, then will I stretch out mine hand upon it, and will break the staff of the bread thereof, and will send famine upon it, and will cut off man and beast from it:

14 Though these three men, Noah, Daniel, and Job, were in it, they should deliver but their own souls by their righteousness, saith the Lord God.

15 If I cause noisome beasts to pass through the land, and they spoil it, so that it be desolate, that no man may pass through because of the beasts:

16 Though these three men were in it, as I live, saith the Lord God, they shall deliver neither sons nor daughters; they only shall be delivered, but the land shall be desolate.

17 Or if I bring a sword upon that land, and say, Sword, go through the land; so that I cut off man and beast from it:

18 Though these three men were in it, as I live, saith the Lord God, they shall deliver neither sons nor daughters, but they only shall be delivered themselves.

19 Or if I send a pestilence into that land, and pour out my fury upon it in blood, to cut off from it man and beast:

20 Though Noah, Daniel, and Job were in it, as I live, saith the Lord God, they shall deliver neither son nor daughter; they shall but deliver their own souls by their righteousness.

The righteousness the Lord spoke of was the “imputed” righteousness that believers receive from God only through grace by faith in him. The three men he used as examples of this righteousness–Noah, Daniel, and Job–lived in different time periods from each other, had different challenges, and different occupations but had several things in common, such as:

  1. They lived holy lives set apart for God.
  2. They all remained faithful to Jehovah when they were isolated and rejected by their peers.
  3. They were all seriously tested.
  4. They all prevailed over their harsh circumstances in the end by their faithfulness.
  5. They interceded on behalf of the lost and preached to them.

They cared for their fellow man out of love and desired for their peers to be saved, but in the end when God’s judgment was handed down, they had to be concerned with their own actions and lives in order to please God so they could be saved themselves. This theme will ring true until the Lord creates the new heavens and new earth. Just like Jesus cried over Jerusalem, the city was still destroyed a few decades later. Noah preached for 120 years, but the Earth and the majority of its population were still destroyed by water.

This in no way means that intercession and preaching to the lost are a waste of time. It just means that in the midst of interceding and sharing the gospel, especially in these last days, one must realize that ultimately each individual can only be responsible for their own deliverance from God’s judgments that have and will come. One must exercise spiritual self-preservation. The Lord repeats this message in several places in the Bible, including the parable of the 10 virgins where five virgins were wise to prepare enough oil to last them in a crucial time and they did not share with the five who were foolish [Matthew 25].

Harry A. Gaylord

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by Harry A. Gaylord on February 6, 2013  •  Permalink
Posted in Bible, Christianity, deliverance, End times, faith, God, judgment, life, religion

Posted by Harry A. Gaylord on February 6, 2013

http://sunandshield.wordpress.com/2013/02/06/save-yourself-how-pleasing-god-is-self-preservation/

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