Navigating Contradictory Bible Statements with Wisdom
Explore the complexities of seemingly contradictory Bible verses with a focus on Ecclesiastes and Proverbs. Understand the balance between righteousness, wisdom, wickedness, and foolishness while navigating Ping Pong Theology. Embrace the guidance to stay on the right path and avoid extremes, finding wisdom in moderation and careful interpretation.
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A Wisdom SIDEBAR When Bible statements seem contradictory Ecclesiastes 7:16,17
Ecclesiastes 7:16,17 Don t be overlyrighteous, or be overlywise: Don t be overly wicked, or be foolish: Is this possible for a Christian? Can anyone be too righteous? Is a moderate level of wickedness good?
Another Example Prov 26:4 Answer not a fool according to his folly, lest thou also be like unto him. Don t stoop down to a fool s level. Prov 26:5 Answer a fool according to his folly, lest he be wise in his own conceit. Dospeak up if a fool is hearing your silence as agreement or capitulation.
If Bible statements seem contradictory - consider Ping Pong Theology (PPT) PPT wrestles with the fact that: 1 - The Bible is, at times, a hard book to understand/apply. 2 - Those who read the Bible at times have a hard heart.
PPT reflects a repeated Bible phrase: Deut 5:32 You shall be careful to do as the LORD your God has commanded you. You shall not turn aside to the right hand or to the left.
Josh 1:7 Be strong and very courageous, being careful to do according to all the law that Moses my servant commanded you. Do not turn from it to the right hand or to the left, that you may have good success wherever you go.
Prov 4:26 Ponder the path of your feet; then all your ways will be sure. Prov 4:27 Do not swerve to the right or to the left; turn your foot away from evil.
Isa 30:21 Your ears shall hear a word behind you, saying, "This is the way, walk in it," when you turn to the right or when you turn to the left. Luke 6:39 Jesus spoke a parable to them: "Can the blind lead the blind? Will they not both fall into the ditch?
Apparently, there are two extremes (right & left) that displease God. The slippery slope analogy is valid, but there are often two displeasing ditches, not just one down hill , into which we may slide. In some cases, pleasing God requires finding a middle of the road balance.
Biblical wisdom leads us to this balance in - what we believe (Theology) - how we behave (Practice)
Balancing What We BELIEVE eternal security and sinning believers (II Tim 2:19) God s sovereignty (Calvinism) and man s responsibility (Arminianism) (Phil 2:12,13) Christ s deity & humanity (I Tim 3:16) works & faith (Eph 2:8-10)
Balancing How We BEHAVE God s Clear Commands (-) wrong (+) right Humility Repentance Obedience
(command) Dont take Gods name in vain Humility - My careless words or deeds may misrepresent God. Repentance - I don t want to misrepresent God. Obedience - I will stop misrepresenting God and replace carelessness with pleasing words and deeds.
(command) Do not commit adultery Humility - God says intimacy with anyone other than my spouse is sin. Repentance - I do not want to offend God or my spouse with the sin of adultery. Obedience - Today, with God s help, I will stop flirting, and reserve all physical and emotional intimacy for my spouse.
(command) Do not murder Humility - God says taking an innocent life is sin. Repentance - I do not want to offend God or destroy others by the sin of murder. Obedience - Today, with God s help, I will please Him by not committing murder.
Gods Clear COMMANDS (-) wrong (+) right
Gods Guiding PRINCIPLES (-) good (+) better, best Wisdom Discernment Obedience
(principle) Do not commit adultery Wisdom - God says lustful looks reveal an adulterous heart. Discernment - No adultery is good. No lustful looking is best. Obedience - Today, with God s help, I will please Him and guard my heart by re-directing my eyes.
(principle) Do not murder Wisdom - God says unrighteous anger reveals a murderous heart. Discernment - No murder is good. No unrighteous anger is best. Obedience - Today, with God s help, I will please Him and guard my heart by being forgiving.
(principle) Do not steal Wisdom - God says stealing is sin, revealing a greedy heart. Discernment - No stealing is good. Sharing what I have earned is best. Obedience - Today, with God s help, I will please Him and bless others by giving generously.
Ping Pong Theology Defined In both beliefs and behaviors God s Word and God s will do not change. But because our understanding and practice of His Word and will can slide to the right or to the left , I contend that ...
God will lovingly and sovereignly slap us (like a ping pong paddle does to a ball) with the very truth we need, at the very time we need it. He aims to bump us away (ping) from the error toward which we are slipping, and toward (pong) the truth we need.
Because God the Spirit always uses His Word (the paddle), it is imperative to regularly, expectantly hear, read, and study the Bible, and to expose ourselves to people who do the same, keeping a tender heart to the probability that we may need our course corrected.
Ping Pong Theology andEccl 7:16,17 Do not be overly righteous, nor be overly wise: Why should you destroy yourself? (ping) Am I a self-righteousness know-it-all? Do not be overly wicked, nor be foolish: Why should you die before your time? (pong) Am I purposely excusing what God says is sin and foolishness?
Can anyone pray too much? (Isa 1:15) - give too much? (Mark 7:11) - fast too much? (Acts 23:12) - share the gospel too much? (Matt 7:6) - serve too much? (I Tim 5:8) Pharisees in fanatical self-righteousness, would strain out a gnat but swallow a camel (Matt 23:24).
Game Set Match Eccl 7:18 It is good that you grasp this, and also not remove your hand from the other; For he who fears God will escape them all. Chasing extremeswill not prolong one s life or provide the satisfaction one desires. Solomon teaches moderation in the fear of God.
Next Time Ecclesiastes 11,12 Before it s too late
