Is God Fair?

There are several ways I could answer this question. If you ask the average person Is God fair, they would say no. Now what do I mean by average? In this PC culture someone may think that I am belittling someone's intelligence by calling someone average but I am not. I am using the word average as a rule or barometer on how most likely people think about God - the God of the Bible; the One and Only True God by the way. Declaring God is not fair is a statement of ignorance on those who know Him very little or not at all. Being ignorant of something does not mean a person is unintelligent, rather it means they lack knowledge about a matter.

But, of all of things to be ignorant about, the absolute worst person to be ignorant about is the nature of God. If one does not understand God's nature, you will NEVER fully understand your own nature; its absolutely impossible. Can we know God's nature? Yes. How? Only through His self revelation, the scriptures.

Now at this point there will be many that will disagree with me and say Jesus appeared to them in a dream or vision and revealed Himself to them. How would they or anyone else know for certain it was Jesus? What did Jesus say to them?  Does this encounter comport with scripture? You see experiences are subjective. No one else can validate what the person claimed they saw and heard is true. Can God communicate to us in a dream? Yes because He is sovereign. We find instances of that in the Bible, but is was never random; it was always for a purpose.  We have the more sure word of prophecy in our laps (2 Peter 1:19). The Canon is closed. Any heavenly or divine experiences we have should be subordinate or bow the knee to objective scripture. I do not see why God would need to reveal Himself in a dream when we have all we need about Him in His word.

I also will not sit and have a debate on whether someone claimed they had a prophetic dream and or vision from the Lord. 

Will a man judge God?

In Malachi 3:8 the question is asked will a man rob God? The answer is that the children of Israel were robbing God of tithes and offerings (italics mine). My point being is that if a man will rob God,  certainly he has no problem judging Him un-righteously.

When a person declares that God is not fair, what they are actually saying is God is not just, or He is not executing justice towards me; He is treating me far less that what I deserve. We have all heard the phrase, "Be careful what you ask for you just might get it!"  The last thing any person should want is for God to be fair or just. Why? Because we being the wretches that we are would be instantly incinerated into hell by the Lord. That is divine justice which most of the world will receive at the end of time. Unregenerate mankind's "goodness" is deplorable to God. Remember what I said earlier, man does not know his own nature - that it's depraved.

The wisdom of Solomon regarding the nature of man

Proverbs 14:12; 16:25 - There is a way that seems right to a man but the end thereof are the ways of death.

Proverbs 15:8 - The sacrifice of the wicked is an abomination to the Lord but the prayer of the upright is His delight

Proverbs 21:27 - The sacrifice of the wicked is an abomination to the Lord, how much more when he brings it with wicked intent

Proverbs 20:6 - Every man will declare his own goodness, but who can find a faithful man?

Solomon's report card on the nature of man is bad, but true.

What do we need from the Lord?

In a word, pity. That involves humbling ourselves which prideful humans do not want to do. They figure it makes them look weak. Guess what? Man's strength is weak compared to Almighty God. He just refuses to accept it. What we need is the Lord's compassion, His everlasting mercy and grace. Without these virtues no one will see the Lord favorably. 

In Micah 7:18-20 we read, Who is a God like you, who pardons sin and forgives the transgression of the remnant of His inheritance? You do not stay angry forever but delight to show mercy. You will again have compassion on us. You will tread our sins underfoot and hurl our iniquities into the depths of the sea. You will be faithful to Jacob, and show love to Abraham as you pledged on oath to our ancestors in the days long ago.

So the prophet Micah reveals to us that God delights to show mercy. It gives Him joy to take away our sins. This is the dominate truth of the scriptures; that God is merciful and is ready to forgive and save sinners. So no God is not fair according to man's definition of fairness. In today's society that is nothing more than DEI and social justice. God is not a socialist - He is the Ultimate Evangelist.

All men are guilty before the Lord and those who are not saved currently have the wrath of God abiding on them (John 3:36). By God not being fair and delivering us from our sins instead, we have eternally avoided His justice- praise God! 

Those who desire justice/fairness from God will ultimately get what they deserve. Those of us who are saved are not getting what we deserve; rather we are receiving mercy and grace and that is because of God's love.

Those who are unsaved are also experiencing God's mercy and grace everyday they live, but because they are ungrateful, they do not thank the Lord for it. Sadly the moment things go wrong in their lives, they are quick to blame God; stating that he is not fair. Remember, everyone in life receives either mercy and grace or fairness/justice. No one EVER receives injustice from God.

           For my thoughts are not your thoughts, nor are your ways my ways says the Lord                                                              As the heavens are higher than the earth,                                                         

so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts

 Isaiah 55:8-9

                        

Are We Supposed To Fight For Biblical Truth?

 Lately I wondered if Christians have been too harsh and critical of other Christians regarding their doctrine. Let me explain what I mean. I follow several YouTube Christian Content Creators that are solid Biblical Expositors. They have no problem pointing out doctrinal error in the pulpit of Pastors when they come across it. I agree them with more than I disagree because I share a kindred spirit with them. They are Biblically astute. Those that filter what they see and hear through a Biblical lens are being led by the Holy Spirit and do not habitually fall into error. Those that are emotive more than doctrinal often fall into serious error. Performance based “Pastors” are only interested in arousing the emotions of their congregations; it’s the blind leading the blind. Seeker sensitive “Pastors” love to “Decree and Declare” things to their congregations; God is going to bless you with a new house this year! There’s a healing with your name on it! I prophesy that you’re not going to be broke anymore, etc. While all this positive confession tickles and tantalizes the senses, they’re lying to their gullible audiences. Those of us who have a reverence and fidelity for Biblical truth find this egregious and heart breaking. God has placed ministry gifts into the Body of Christ for equipping and maturing of the Saints, not for us to be merely entertained and to be ineffective in the kingdom (Ephesians 4:11-15).

Should we just pray for Pastors and parishioners who are in error and not test their doctrine? It is unloving to correct false teaching?

Those that do not want us to question the Pastor always say to just “pray for them!” One of the most famous retorts regarding the Pastor is, “Touch not my anointed and do my prophets no harm!” That verse is almost always taken out of context. For an explanation regarding this verse, read my article here: https://gospelofrepentance.blogspot.com/2024/01/touch-not-my-anointed.html

The Bible does not say we are to just pray for those who teach error. Rather we are to lovingly correct them who contradict the truth (Titus 1:11-14). This is what Paul instructed Titus to do. Those who are able to teach are supposed teach others so that we mature and grow in truth. The apostle John in his second letter wrote to the elect lady and declared that he was happy that some of her children were walking in the Truth (2 John 1:4).              

The Apostle Paul wherever he traveled would enter into the synagogues of that city and preach Christ.

From the Amplified Bible Version

Acts 17:1b-2 – …they came to Thessalonica, and there was a synagogue of the Jews. And Paul entered as he usually did, and for three Sabbaths he reasoned and argued with them from the scriptures.

Acts 17:17 – So he reasoned and argued in the synagogue (in Athens) with the Jews and those who worshiped there, and in the marketplace (where the assemblies are held) day after day with any who chanced to be there

Acts 19:8 – And he went into the synagogue (i.e. Ephesus), and for three months spoke boldly persuading and arguing and pleading about the kingdom of God

 

Why should we be so passionate about God’s word? Simple, it is the Truth! The world has no problem championing their lies. We have to counter their lies with the Truth. If we keep silent, we are in sin and the following will be the result. This is what Paul commanded Timothy to do:

2 Timothy 4:2-5 - preach the word! Be ready in season and out of season. Convince, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and teaching. For the time will come when they will not endure sound (or healthy) doctrine, but according to their own desires, because they have itching ears, they will heap up for themselves teachers; and they will turn their ears from hearing the truth and be turned aside to fables. But you be watchful in all things, endure afflictions, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry.

If you’re a Pastor and you’re not up to the task of doing what Paul commands above, do yourself and your congregation a favor and step down from the pulpit.

Teaching and preaching God’s word is a labor of love and patience. It is also every Christian’s responsibility. This is NOT an option! Paul gave Timothy the command, and by extension us as well. Remember, Paul told Timothy that God has not given us the spirit of fear but of power, love and a sound mind (2 Timothy 1:7).

Jude 3 commands that we are to contend (or fight) for the Faith once for all delivered to the saints.

1 Peter 3:15 says this: Always be ready to give a defense to everyone who asks you a reason for the hope that is in you with meekness and fear.

1 John 4:1 COMMANDS us to test the spirits to see if they are of God; for many false prophets have gone out into the world.  That means we are to evaluate what we hear and make a judgment to determine if what we are hearing is true or false.

1 Thessalonians 5:21 commands us to test all things. Cling to that which is good.

Acts 17:11 commends the Berean Christians stating they were more noble than the Thessalonians because they received the Word of God with all readiness of mind and searched the scriptures daily whether those things were so. The Bereans had the sense to examine what they heard from Paul and Silas and compared what they heard against the scripture to verify if they were hearing the truth.

 2 Timothy 3:16 – All scripture is breathed out buy God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly furnished for every good work.

If we say Amen to everything we hear because its coming from the pulpit, we might as well say the Pastor is infallible which of course is not true.

No man or woman that is continually teaching false doctrine is being led by the Spirit of God. God is never the author of confusion (1 Corinthians 14:33).

Living the Christian life the right way is a Truth War. It’s a good fight (2 Timothy 4:7). Why do we have to fight? Because we have enemies of the truth – the arch enemy being the devil himself. Jesus said that whoever is not for Me is against Me (Matthew 12:30). Whoever is an enemy of Christ is an enemy of mine. Despite that truth, we have to love our enemies and persuade them to come to the knowledge of the truth.

So the solution for those in chronic doctrinal error is not prayer alone, its loving correction with the truth of scripture. Sadly, pragmatism in lieu of the Bible is what pervades many churches. If it’s working, then do it is what these false teachers are promoting. The Bible is an afterthought; meaning they will sprinkle eisegetically Bible verses to convince their unsuspecting parishioners that what they are doing is a move of the Holy Spirit.

Once again, to rebuke these false teachers is good and commanded of scripture when its done with love and truth with meekness and fear. We realize those who warn others of false teachers aren’t better than them but fear the Lord enough to challenge their falsehood and lovingly appeal to them to repent of their heresy because if they don’t, they are going to drag countless souls to hell with them.

 

Are We Supposed to Fight for Biblical Truth? A preview

 Why should we be so passionate about God’s word? Simple, it is the Truth! The world has no problem championing their lies. We have to counter their lies with the Truth. If we keep silent, we are in sin and the following will be the result. This is what Paul commanded Timothy to do:

2 Timothy 4:2-5 - preach the word! Be ready in season and out of season. Convince, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and teaching. For the time will come when they will not endure sound (or healthy) doctrine, but according to their own desires, because they have itching ears, they will heap up for themselves teachers; and they will turn their ears from hearing the truth and be turned aside to fables. But you be watchful in all things, endure afflictions, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry.

If you’re a Pastor and you’re not up to the task of doing what Paul commands above, do yourself and your congregation a favor and step down from the pulpit.

Teaching and preaching God’s word is a labor of love and patience. It is also every Christian’s responsibility. This is NOT an option! Paul gave Timothy the command, and by extension us as well. Remember, Paul told Timothy that God has not given us the spirit of fear but of power, love and a sound mind (2 Timothy 1:7).

Jude 3 commands that we are to contend (or fight) for the Faith once for all delivered to the saints.

1 Peter 3:15 says this: Always be ready to give a defense to everyone who asks you a reason for the hope that is in you with meekness and fear.