Keith explains how this episode came to be. He found the video on YouTube that presented some challenges to the Christian worldview. Although Nathan can’t join us live in the studio, who sends in his own thoughts for Keith to mash together with his. Since the video is presented by an atheist, we don’t link to it but it should be easy to find by doing a search. Before we get started, Keith spent some extra time to encouraged listeners to offer feedback and share the podcasts.
What are these nine allege it inconvenient verses and teachings in the Bible?
9. Matthew 5:22 Jesus forbids calling anyone a fool. Anyone who says you fool will be in danger of the fire of hell.
Nathan points out that the reading is out of context, and claims that he wouldn’t have a problem preaching it from the pulpit at all.
8. Luke 24:25; Luke 11:40. The claim is that Jesus contradicted himself, or that this may be a case of do as I say not what I do? Does this make Jesus a hypocrite
Nathan points out that this assumption is based on misinterpreting, and not understanding the original Greek language behind the words. There’s also the matter of using metaphor in different situations to prove a point in each situation. Nathan also points out the weakness of human judgment compared to the judgment of Jesus.
Keith also remarks that we didn’t just see Jesus calling people fools. These are two unrelated passages for two separate events. Written by two separate gospel authors. To teach two separate lessons.
7. Matthew 5:44. Love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, pray for those who despitefully use you and persecute you. The challenge is that Christians often don’t demonstrate this kind of love for their enemies.
While Christians can fail as much as anyone else, the purpose of the teaching is what we should be striving towards. Nathan remarks that he again has no trouble with preaching this from the pulpit. Does he actually listen to preachers preach, or just criticize soundbites? Just because Christians misbehave doesn’t mean their behavior is condoned or acceptable even to other Christians.
6 . John 2:15. Jesus has a temper tantrum and attacks people in the temple. He drove sheep and oxen the temple, and overturns table of the moneychangers. He’s violently attacking people in a public place with a homemade whip.
Nathan remarks that it is possible to love your enemies and be concerned with your soul, but there is also a time for self-defense and protection of things that are sacred. Keith reminds the listener that the remarks of this challenge is out of context when comparing love and the violent attack. He points out that this is not blind rage, but focused on those who are doing wrong. It’s far from a temper tantrum.
5. 1 John 3:9. True Christians cannot sin. Whoever has been born a God cannot sin. He cannot sin because he has been born of God.
1 John 3: 6 also claimed that true Christians cannot and do not sin.
Keith once again points out the context error by reading the fuller passage. The passage is it referring to a sin and a moment, but the punishment of eternal sin has been removed. He’s not wrong to say that this is a difficult saying, because it is. Nathan points out the nature of the flesh and bones body, as opposed to our spiritual and eternal self. Also, that when sending is habitually done, the person clearly has not been born again and needs to repent. Once we have the nature of the Holy Spirit in us, it creates conflict. An internal battle that lets us know that sin should not be in our nature.
4. Matthew 15:24. Jesus came only to save the Jews and not the Gentiles.
The atheist in the YouTube video seems shocked by this, but this is exactly correct. Jesus primary mission on earth was to seek and save the lost sheep of Israel, and had almost no ministry regarding Gentiles. It was only after Paul was called as an apostle that salvation was extended to the Gentile nations. Jesus didn’t withhold salvation from Gentiles, but it was not his primary mission. Even the disciples, while Jesus was alive, only minister to those in Judah. Even the Samaritans were not reached until after the crucifixion. Of course, after the crucifixion the disciples were sent out to all the nations. Nathan suggests reading the book of acts, and the great commission.
4. Matthew 21:22. God will give you anything you ask for as long as you believe you will receive it. Is this an empty promise? As long as Christians pray for intangibles like love, faith, or strength will be okay. But don’t need to be answered if you pray for a recovered amputated limb. Does this prove that Jesus is a liar, or misinformed?
Keith remarks that even Jesus never really grew amputated limbs. He healed Withered body parts. There’s nothing wrong with asking for intangibles. The audience in the text is specifically the disciples, not all believers at large. So once again our challenger is taking things out of context. God answers prayers according to his will, not in order to perform parlor tricks, not to act as though he is a wishing fairy. God can even get his will done even working through atheists.
2 . John 14:12. Christians will do greater miracles than Jesus did. Was he just mistaken? Is this just a myth?
Nathan remarks that our snarky atheists guest needs to read the acts or even the dead were raised. Keith agrees that the apostles certainly went on to do some of the great works that Jesus did. In that case the miracles of Jesus were amplified by 12 times. But also, throughout the centuries, millions of small miracles happen daily. It may seem a small matter for a heart to be converted and born into the kingdom of God. But this is a miracle that no one can achieve on their own, or with the help of another person. There have been more souls saved since Christ was crucified until now than any other number of miracles, he did while he was on earth. Is it such a small miracle to raise dead souls to live?
1. Matthew 5:17-18. The Mosaic law is still in effect until the world is destroyed. I have not come to abolish the law but to fulfill them for truly I say to you not one iota 4.will pass from the law. So, do although laws of the Old Testament apply to Christians? Should we start killing animals to cover our sins?
Nathan remarks that Jesus lived the perfect life, accomplishing every iota and not of the law. He lived the sinless life that the law demands. He did this because he knew we could never do it on our own. Keith remarks that despite using two verses, he still manages to yank the whole thing out of context. Keith agrees that all those pesky laws still do apply. Without Jesus perfect sacrifice, all those laws still apply and are there to remind us of what our sin looks like. Under the fulfillment of the law that Jesus has accomplished, we have grace. Under this fulfillment, it still means that God is the final judge. It will be up to God to put to death and condemned those who break the law.
As Paul put it, the law is there to remind us of what our sin is. Even with grace, sin still remains. The difference is that for all those rules that we inevitably break, Christ has already paid for those infractions.
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