Do as I say not as I do!
Mar 21, 2022 9:47:25 GMT -5
Post by Radrook Admin on Mar 21, 2022 9:47:25 GMT -5
Do as I say not as I do!
This is a phrase that was constantly brought to my attention by JWs when I was a member. They always said it in a mocking way in reference to hypocrites who preached one thing but did another. The Bible agrees with that criticism very clearly when it tells us that if we know what is righteous and do not do it, then it is a sin on our part.
James 4:17
If anyone, then, knows the good they ought to do and doesn’t do it, it is sin for them.
But let's simplify things for the sake of discussion, and take biblical principles as the criteria for determining right and wrong conduct. Well, here again we have the same problem since different denominations all claiming to abide by the Bible have different views of what a Christian's duty is under any given circumstance.
For example, some Christians consider purposefully- induced abortion wrong under all circumstances, while some will cite scriptures that seem to call for a merciful termination of life as an expression of compassion for either the mother or the unborn. Also, some condemn violence completely and refuse military service, while others insist that it is a Christian duty to defend the helpless against tyranny and that it is a sin to refrain.
Therefore, for the sake of discussion, we will need to find a common ground of agreement. Let's say we agree that child-abuse under any circumstance is a sin, and that both perpetrators and those choosing to permit it are sinning. Now, most people would agree that if they beheld a child being abused and someone allowing it, even though intervention is possible, that both share equal blame. Naturally, they will perceive the one allowing it an accomplish because of neglecting his duty to intervene. In short, there are definite moral duties that we are all obligated to abide by if we are to avoid the sin of being in cahoots with the a sinful perpetrator.
Now, here is where things get a bit tacky. Why? Simple, because as a believer in an almighty, righteous, sinless entity we are required to believe that he allows child abuse by the thousands, millions of battering's, rapes psychological torments by adults, and yet does absolutely nothing to stop it. Then we are required to not only consider that entity a benefactor, but supremely righteous as well. An entity whom we are told to imitate carefully in order to avoid sinning.
Ephesians 5:1 NIV
Follow God’s example, therefore, as dearly loved children
Matthew 5:48
Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect.
Luke 6:36
Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful.
Is that something that we are willing to do? Of course not. Indeed if we did it, that same entity would say that we are sinning. Why? Because we are supposed to render assistance to those being abused. Why? Simple! Because we must be compassionate and merciful as he is compassionate and merciful.
Proverbs 31:8-9 Open your mouth for the mute, for the rights of all who are destitute. Open your mouth, judge righteously, defend the rights of the poor and needy.
Well gee! Oh really? Am I missing something here? Obviously we are being told to do as he says and not as he does during rapes and other kinds of child abuse. Isn't that hypocrisy? Well in the case of we humans, it definitely is hypocrisy as the scripture clearly demanding our intervention tells us. But strangely, in the case of an almighty entity whom we are supposed to imitate, then inaction while an innocent child or baby is being raped is suddenly supposed to be acceptable?
A crass example of Double standards? You bet! Yet the vast majority of genuine and professed Christians would simply explain it away as being based on the difference between this entity's nature and ours. Infinite incite into perplexingly complex ramifications of future events all connected to this particular abuse demands inaction? Really?
Then that would mean that we are incapable of imitating him because we lack that insight-doesn't it. It would also mean that all the evil that has been permitted towards children in his presence, he always found benefited the future in some mysteriously nebulous manner and so chose not to intervene?
Sorry but try as I might, I have an extremely difficult time justifying this inaction. Just as I find it extremely difficult to justify someone making up garbage about an innocent parent and then telling others to imitate them because they are Christians. This is tantamount to urinating on a person's shoes and telling telling him to classify it as rain.
Leviticus 20:9 ESV
For anyone who curses his father or his mother shall surely be put to death; he has cursed his father or his mother; his blood is upon him.