God commanded Moses in Exodus 34v1 to make two more tablets of stone on which he (God) would write his law on. The Ten Commandments engraved on the stone tablets give us some helpful insights into the nature of God’s whole revelation to us contained in the Bible.
a. Human mediators are involved
The law came to Israel via Moses, a human being. God did not bypass humans and write the law in the sky with neon lights. So too, the Bible contains God’s words through the words and writings of human authors; nevertheless it is God’s Word.
b. It is complete and sufficient
Exodus 32v15 says that the Ten Commandments were “engraved on both sides, front and back.” In other words, there was no more space to write. The Law was complete and sufficient for life and godliness at that time in world history. Likewise, the Bible also contains all things necessary for salvation and Christian living, and should not be added to or subtracted from.
c. Authoritative
In Exodus 34v1 God said to Moses, “Chisel out two stone tablets like the first ones, and I will write on them the words that were on the first tablets, which you broke.” The Ten Commandments were not Moses’ words but GOD’s words. Similarly, the Bible is not the church’s word or the apostle Paul’s word or your pastor’s word, but God’s. It is because the Bible is God’s words that is has authority and must be obeyed. Our Sunday gatherings must therefore include an exposition of a passage in the Bible, not merely the pastor’s thoughts for the week ahead or the pastor’s “God-experiences” from the previous week.
d. Permanent
The Ten Commandments were engraved into the stone! They were not pencilled in or subject to alteration or change. God didn’t give the Israelites version 2.01 the following year. The Bible too is God’s permanent, unchanging, relevant, non-updatable message to us today. We are called to be faithful to the bible, not change the bible to suit our perceived needs.
e. God’s law comes through words
God wrote words for Moses. God did not do a drama or post a video on YouTube. Of course, drama and video may help to illustrate and explain the words, but can never replace the words. In the same way, the Bible comes to us in words to be read and studied and preached and listened to. We can never move on from the priority of a Word-based model of ministry. Explaining the Bible must take priority over drama, spiritual dancing and video clips. (Although a good video clip may help at times. Not so sure about spiritual dancing!)
After reading your post on planning, I suppose where I'm stuck is on point number one. Should point number one not read "What does God say" and the refer both to the bible and to the details of Gods design. I guess that's my question.
Gerschwin
Sorry Andre. I know, I've hijacked your post on the sufficiency of scripture. I think though, that the question of contraception may prove to be an issue that challenges our use of the bible.
In this comment, I'll clarify my initial argument, address your rebuttal to my design argument and then link my design argument more closely to sex than I did initially.
My argument went as follows: 1. God has designed in this way for a purpose. 2. All these purposes are for good (because he alone is The All-knowing Creator). 3. Some purposes run deeper that what can physically be seen. (This too is part of God's design.)
Part of our design is the ability to eat, I agree. But to get down to what is good or bad when it comes to eating we'd have to look at the purpose of eating. Purposes are important for without them we cannot get to what is good or bad. Without purpose there would be no good or bad uses of a function.
So, what is the function of eating? Nutrition right? Therefore it is good to eat what is nutritious and bad to eat what is not nutritious. It is good to eat enough to satisfy what is nutritiously useful and bad to over indulge. This is how God designed us.
With this in mind lets turn our attention to sex. What is it's purpose? Procreation. Without procreation what would be the point of sex. Bonding is another purpose but the reason we bond during sex has alot to do with procreation and family.
Two more thoughts come to ideas have come to mind in all this thinking on contraception and family planning. These to things, on the face of it proves nothing but for me, its generally an indication that something is wrong.
The first thing is that as far as this topic is concerned we as Christians are agreeing with the culture.
Second is a question: Do you think God intended sex and children to be removed from one another? Or put a little differently, do we think we make sex better by removing the possibility of procreation.
Gerschwin
Hi Gerschwin
I see you've been doing some good thinking on the issue of birth control. I will do some more reading and thinking myself and get back to you. Provisionally, I would say that one needs to ask a few questions (refer to my latest blog on Planning!):
1. What does the Bible say?
Children are definitely God’s intention from before the fall (cf, Genesis 1:28 “be fruitful…). Yet the Bible does not say “Thou shalt have seven children”
2. What does wisdom say?
God has given each of us a brain and he calls us to live wisely in his world. It may be wise for one couple to have more children or less children than another couple.
3. What do other Christians say?
Proverbs 15:22 says “Without counsel purposes are disappointed: but in the multitude of counsellors they are established.”
4. What do I prefer?
In Genesis 2 God told Adam that there were two million trees to eat from, just not that one particular tree. There was a lot of choice for Adam, and he could choose to eat from the banana, apple or pear tree. None of those choices would be sin or wise or foolish, just preference. Once we are sure that our choices do not go against any biblical commands and are not foolish, God gives us freedom to do what we prefer. Of course God does overrule in the end as Proverbs 16:9 reminds us (In his heart a man plans his course, but the LORD determines his steps.)
I’m not sure about the argument of design: I am designed to eat, but some foods may not be wise for me to eat depending on my circumstances and blood pressure. I am reminded of Paul’s principle in 1 Corinthians 6:12 where he argues that just because something is permissible, does not make it beneficial.
You thoughts?
Andre
Ok. That's my understanding of what the scriptures say too. I'm relieved because then I'm not completely off track in my interpretation of what the writers of the bible are saying.
If I could just share with you from my own struggles and why I've had to deal with the question. I'm having a tussle with the questions of contraception and family planning. In seeking Christian opinion, one of the phrases that come up often is that "the bible isn't explicit on the subject".
What struck me most about this is the conclusion that is drawn from this, which is generally: "…. therefore we can do what we please, and use contraception."
As a lay person tackling this question I'm astounded by how many Christians ignore the argument from design. Surely God has made us in this way for a purpose. All these purposes are for good. (Pregnancy and Children aren't a result of the fall, are they?) Some purposes run far deeper than what can be physically seen.
Let's look at the bodily function of respiration as an example. We breath to oxygenate the blood right? (if my public school education still stands me in good stead.) But isn't it interesting how certain ways of breathing reduces stress. Many such examples exist.
Sorry I'm rambling now. Also this debate is for another forum altogether, I know but I share this to highlight what seems to me to be an ignoring of what God is saying through His design. This to me is concerning.
Gerschwin
Hi Gerschwin
I definitely believe the God revealed himself to every human through the created world around us. The universe certainly displays the glory of God. Every human is also created in the image of God, so some aspects of good and virtue and truth still remain and can be perceived by all humans. Any person should see Table Mountain and say, "Wow, God must be great!" Yet (here come the crunch!) we all suppress the true knowledge of God and seek to run our own lives (Romans 1). As a result, we need God's special revelation to point us to Jesus.
Hi Andre,
Just a question. Would it be fair to conclude from your post that you don't subscribe to the idea of "General Revelation"? What I mean by it is things that can be known about God from what we see in the world around us but and not from the bible itself.
Gerschwin
Good right ahead! You must come visit us behind the borewors curtain again!
Well said, Brother! Hope you won't mind if I pass the link on to our Bible study group — it is particularly apt since we're currently doing the 10 Commandments.
Greetings to all old friends at CCT.
Johan