The Bible with Nicky and Pippa Gumbel, Classic Version, 2015Mfano

Apparent Contradictions

I have often heard it said that ‘the Bible is full of contradictions’. It is certainly true that there are many apparent contradictions.

When I began reading the Bible, a wise person advised me that there are three things we should do when faced with apparent contradictions in the Bible:

• If possible, seek to harmonise the apparent contradictions within the message of the Bible as a whole.
• Avoid artificial means of harmonisation.
• Be patient – be prepared to wait and live with unresolved questions.

In each of the passages for today we see things that could be regarded as contradictory.

Proverbs 26:3-12

1. To answer or not to answer?

The word fool, foolish or folly occurs 96 times in the book of Proverbs. The fool is the opposite of the wise person commended by the writer of Proverbs.

He says, ‘Do not answer fools according to their folly, or you will be like them yourself. Answer fools according to their folly, or they will be wise in their own eyes’ (vv.4–5). This couldn’t be a clearer apparent contradiction.

If the two verses appeared in different sections of the Bible it would be hailed as an obvious contradiction. However, the fact that they appear right after each other suggests that in the author’s eyes there is no actual contradiction.

Criticism can often be extremely helpful and we can learn from it. However, sometimes criticism comes from ignorance. How do we respond? There is a tension: on the one hand, we do not want to reply because, in a sense, it is descending to the level of the critic (the fool, (v.4)).

On the other hand, we want to reply because otherwise the critic may feel they are right and they ‘will be wise in their own eyes’ (v.5).

Eugene Peterson’s translation resolves it in this way:
‘Don’t respond to the stupidity of a fool;
you’ll only look foolish yourself.
Answer a fool in simple terms
so he doesn’t get a swelled head’ (vv.4–5, MSG ).

It is very tempting to think that the fool is someone else and not oneself. If we think this, then we are ‘wise in our own eyes’. ‘Do you see a person wise in their own eyes? There is more hope for fools than for them’ (v.12)! This is the sting in the tail. After making us smile by showing how silly fools can be, we are reminded that when we think we are wise we are even worse off than a fool!

Lord, preserve us from being wise in our own eyes. Give us wisdom in all our decisions and how we answer our critics.

Titus 2:1-15

2. ‘Boring’ or ‘attractive’?

If Christianity is to be credible and attractive to the world, Christians must live authentic and attractive lives.

Paul writes to Titus that in every way we should ‘make the teaching about God our Saviour attractive’ (v.10). The instructions he gives about teaching women to be reverent, self-controlled, pure, kind and so on, are so that ‘no one will malign the word of God’ (v.5).

Similarly, the instructions he gives to Titus about self-control, integrity and so on, are so that ‘they have nothing bad to say about us’ (v.8).

However, as we read his instructions, they are the very opposite of what our twenty-first century culture would think is attractive. He speaks of ‘sound doctrine’ (v.1), being temperate (v.2), self-controlled (v.2), sound in faith (v.2), reverent (v.3), not addicted to too much wine (v.3), virtuous and pure (v.5, MSG), living disciplined lives (v.5, MSG), showing integrity, seriousness and soundness of speech (vv.7–8), saying ‘No’ to ungodliness and worldly passions, and living self-controlled, upright and godly lives (v.12).

All this sounds very unattractive to modern ears. Yet when we actually see someone living like this – Mother Theresa or Pope Francis, to name but two – it is very attractive. Our culture dislikes the idea of holiness, but when people see a holy life they are captivated by it.

There is something beautiful about lives of ‘dignity and wisdom’, ‘healthy faith’ and ‘love’ (v.2, MSG); women who are ‘models of goodness’ and ‘virtuous and pure’ (vv.3,5, MSG); lives of good character shining through action; ‘God-filled, God-honouring lives’ (v.12, MSG).

Jesus died for you and me ‘to free us from a dark, rebellious life into this good, pure life, making us a people he can be proud of, energetic in goodness’ (v.14, MSG).

Lord, help us by our lives and by our love to make the teaching about you attractive.

Habakkuk 1:1-3:19

3. Faith and doubt?

Are doubts, questioning and fears compatible with faith? Are you facing problems with your marriage (or lack of marriage), your family, your job, your health, your finances or a combination of all of these? Does this make you doubt the existence of God? Should you stop believing?

Many people regard faith as unquestioning. They think faith and doubt are opposites. In fact, faith and doubt are two sides of the same coin. There is no doubt that 2 + 2 = 4. However, it does not take any faith to believe it. On the other hand, to believe that someone loves you is open to an element of doubt. To put your faith in God is similar to loving a person. There is always the possibility of doubt. Without doubt, faith would not be faith.

Likewise, it is not wrong to question God within the context of faith. The book of Habakkuk starts with a man who believes, yet questions. It ends with a towering expression of faith, scarcely equalled anywhere else in the Old Testament.

Habakkuk looked at the world and was perplexed and fearful. He saw ‘violence’ (1:2), ‘injustice’ (v.3a), ‘destruction’ (v.3c), ‘strife’ and ‘conflict’ (v.3d). Yet the Lord did not seem to him to be doing anything about it (vv.2–4). He saw pain and suffering and asked, ‘How long, O Lord … ? Why … ?’ (vv.2–3).

He took the problem to God and asked genuinely heartfelt questions. God replied that he was going to do something amazing, but not what Habakkuk expected (v.5). He was raising up the Babylonians (v.6). Consequently, Israel was to be overwhelmed and would go into exile.

Habakkuk was perplexed. Surely God was in control of history and all-powerful (v.12)? How could a pure God use the cruel and idolatrous Babylonians to punish a godly nation? ‘God, you chose Babylonians for your judgment work? … You can’t be serious. You can’t condone evil!’ (vv.12–13, MSG). Habakkuk didn’t seem to get a direct answer. However, he took his puzzled complaints and problems to God and left them with him as he waited (2:1).

God told him first to write down the vision (v.2). When you sense God speaking to you and giving you a vision, it is good to write it down so that you can refer back to it and hold on to it. Second, God told him that he may have to wait for the answer: ‘Wait for it; it will certainly come and not delay’ (v.3).

God wants you to bring your doubts and questions to him. You may not always get immediate answers to all your questions. While you wait for answers you are called to trust in God, even when you don’t fully understand what he is doing.

Faith involves believing what God has said in spite of the difficulties you face: ‘The righteous will live by their faith’ (v.4). Habakkuk foresaw that judgment was coming on the ungodly Babylonians, he also foresaw that one day the outlaws would be destroyed and ‘the earth will be filled with the knowledge of the glory of the Lord, as the waters cover the sea’ (v.14). He foresaw the ultimate triumph of good over evil.

Until that time, he resolved to stay close to God whatever happened.

He committed himself to praise and not complaint. He resolved to take the long-term view and be patient. He resolved to rejoice whatever the circumstances. He committed himself to faith, even when there was no fruit (3:17–19).

God is concerned, not so much about the harvest as about our hearts. Even if we can find nothing else, we can rejoice over our relationship with the Lord. Habakkuk says, ‘I will rejoice in the Lord, I will be joyful in God my Saviour’ (v.18). God made him sure-footed and light-hearted: ‘The Sovereign Lord is my strength; he makes my feet like the feet of a deer, he enables me to go on the heights’ (v.19).

As Joyce Meyer writes, ‘We need to allow our difficulties to help us develop “hinds’ feet”. When we have hinds’ feet, we will not stand still in terror in the face of our problems. Instead, we will walk and make progress through our trouble, suffering, responsibility, or whatever is trying to hold us back. It is easy to quit in hard times; it takes faith to go through those hard times. Know that God wants to be with you to help you make spiritual progress. He wants to strengthen you and encourage you to “keep on keeping on” through the storms of your life.’

Lord, thank you that you want me to be honest with you and express my doubts and questions to you. Help me to have a faith that trusts completely in you as I bring these questions to you, and to rejoice in you even when I do not see an answer.

Pippa Adds

Habakkuk 3:17–18

‘Though the fig-tree does not bud and there are no grapes on the vines, though the olive crop fails and the fields produce no food, though there are no sheep in the pen and no cattle in the stalls, yet I will rejoice in the Lord, I will be joyful in God my Saviour.’

I remember Andrew White (the Vicar of Baghdad) speaking on this passage after the city and his church was bombed. His faith and work in Iraq is inspirational. I feel deeply challenged by the Christians living in places like Iraq and Syria who persevere despite the terrifying threat of Isis, surrounded by persecution and suffering. It is easy for me to rejoice, but deeply humbling that they can.

Notes:

Joyce Meyer, The Everyday Life Bible, (Faithwords, 2014).

Unless otherwise stated, Scripture quotations taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version Anglicised, Copyright © 1979, 1984, 2011 Biblica, formerly International Bible Society. Used by permission of Hodder & Stoughton Publishers, an Hachette UK company. All rights reserved. ‘NIV’ is a registered trademark of Biblica. UK trademark number 1448790.

Scripture quotations marked (AMP) taken from the Amplified® Bible, Copyright © 1954, 1958, 1962, 1964, 1965, 1987 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. (www.Lockman.org)

Scripture marked (MSG) taken from The Message. Copyright © 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002. Used by permission of NavPress Publishing Group.