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Week 14 – 9th Commandment

ehassertt — Mon, 09 Aug 2010 07:24:01 +0000

Ex 20:16 – You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor

Not just you shall not lie

The meaning of the commandment

- Narrow

Context of legal testimony
- Lev 6:1-7
- In formal court hearing or elsewhere where truthfulness is required
Distorting the facts in such a way as to harm one’s neighbor
False witness is a form of theft
- Along with the 8^th and 10^th relates specifically to property in many of the case laws

- Witnesses in other than property crimes dealt with

Legal witnesses hold sway over life and death
- I Kings 21:13
- Matt 26:60-61
- Acts 6:13-14
- In capital cases the witnesses had to cast the first stone
  - Deut 17:7
- In capital cases a false witness receives the same punishment as the accused would have if convicted
  - Deut 19:16019

- Promotes a General concern for truthfulness within the covenant community

Hosea 4:1-
Lying represents the meaning of the 9^th commandment here
Foundation for the general biblical polemic against lying
- Ps 12:2.
- Ps 63:11
- Ps 119:29
- Prov 6:17.
- Prov 13:5e.
- Zech 8:16
- Eph 4:25.
- I John 2:21
- Rev 21:27
Lying is a regular characteristics of non-Christians
- Rom 1:25
- Rom 3:8-18
- 2 Cor 4:2-4
- 2 Thess 2:9-12
False prophets were stoned to death
- Deut 13:1-5
Lying is a way we harm each other
- Gossip and Slander
  - Ps 15:3
  - 2 Cor 12:20
  - Gal 5:19-20
  - I Tim 5:13
  - 3 John 10
- Judging rashly
  - 2 Sam 16:4
  - Matt 7:1-3
  - John 9:2
- Twisting the words of others
  - Matt 26:61
  - John 2:19
- Power of tongue to do evil
  - Gen 11:6-7
  - Rom 3:13-14
  - James 3:2-10

- WLC 144

- WLC 145

Are we always required to tell the truth?

- Augustine said the 9^th is a prohibition against lying under any circumstances

- A lie is not simply an untrue statement

A mistake is not a lie
A parable is not a lie
A fictional story is not a lie – unless it is represented as factual
Hyperbolic statements for effect are not lies

- In games, we often use deception for strategy

Everyone understands and participates in agreement under those rules
- Ball fake etc.
Jokes often involve practical suspension of truth
- Some warning here
  - Proverbs 26:18-19

- Jesus on the road to Emmaus

Luke 24:28 – acted as if he were going further

- So what is a lie: A word or act that intentionally deceives a neighbor in order to hurt him

Not everyone is a neighbor but brooder than we think (good Samaritan)
- Still does not include thieves and murders or enemies

- Misleading an enemy is prevalent in scripture (the Anne Frank defense)

Exodus 1:15-21 – Israelite midwives
Joshua 2:4-6 – Rahab – Heb 11:31
2 Kings 6: 14-20
2 Thess 2:11
May more examples
Who do we owe truth to? Our neighbor
- Deception in scripture is for promoting justice against the wicked d and protecting the innocent from the wicked

Protecting the Reputation of Others

- Two or three witnesses for any accusation

Deut 17:6
Deut 19:15
Heb 10:28

- Reputation is huge so love should be our guide in making accusations

1 Peter 4:8
Matt 18:15-20
- Matt 7:3-5
Accusation by confrontation not gossip

- A name is very important

Ex 32:11-14
Josh 7:9
Even the Reformers were too quick to accuse and attack each other
- Their sins are not our example

- Most of the problem is due to the failure of church discipline

Ethics Week 13 – 8th Commandment

ehassertt — Mon, 09 Aug 2010 07:22:15 +0000

You Shall Not Steal

- WLC 141

- WLC 142

- There are many ways to take things that do not belong to us

Elements of the commandment

- Private Property

The 8^th commandment assumes God has given us ownership of property
- Part of taking dominion
  - Gen 1:28-30
  - Ps 8:6
  - Ps 115:16
Ultimately all property belongs to God
- Ex 19:5
- Ps 24:1
- Ps 50:10
But God does give specific property to specific people
- Land of Canaan to Israel
  - Divided by tribes and families as well
  - Lev 25:10-55
- Restrictions on its use
  - Lev 25:4
  - Hos 9:3
Private property with the ultimate ownership belonging to God

- Work Ethic

Work as part of cultural mandate
- Gen 1:28-30
- I Thess 4:11-12
Warning against laziness
- Prov 6:6-11
- Prov 15:19
- 2 thess 3:6
- 2 Thess 3:10
Work as the opposite of theft
- Eph 4:28
- The thief is not only told to work but to be generous with what he earns

- The 8^th commandment mandates both justice and mercy

Narrow – justice for several types of theft
- Property – double restitution
  - Ex 22: 4-7
- Kidnapping – a capital crime
  - Ex 21:16
  - Deut 24:7
  - I tim 1:10
- Swindling
  - Jer 22:13-17
  - Amon 8:4-6
- Stealing from widows and orphans
  - Matt 23:14
- Defrauding employees
  - James 5:4
- Land Theft
  - Isa 5:8
- Unjust weights
  - Lev 19: 35-36
  - Deut 25:15
- Misleading someone for economic gain
  - Prov 20:14
Broader application of theft
- Stealing affection
  - 2 Sam 15:6
- False prophets stealing God’s words
  - Jer 23:30
- False religions leaders
  - John 10:1
- Merchandising in the temple
  - Matt 21:13
- Robbing God of tithes and offerings
  - Mal 3:8
  - Josh 7:11
- Robbing God of his due

- Scripture does seem to tolerate stealing to feed one’s self

Prov 6: 30-31

Tithing and the 8^th Commandment

- Malachi 3:8

- Various tithes in the OT

- It was not a tither on income, or wealth but agricultural produce

- Not explicitly required in the NT

2 Cor 9:7-8

Taxation and the 8^th Commandment

- In the Ot the tithe was the Lord’s tax

Ex 23:16
Deut 26:2

- Civil authorities

In the Ot they made their living as everyone else did
Tithes were used for infrastructure but not salaries or projects

- Taxation only came about with the monarchy

Army to wage war
Palaces
I Samuel 8:11-18
Warning from Samuel that kingship leads to oppression

- No prescription for taxation limits ins scripture

Solomon’s oppressive reign
- I Kings 12:4
Government called to lessen the burden on the people
- I Kings 12:12-24

- Difference between theft and taxation

Taxation is a regular procedure set forth in law
Stealing represents amounts over the standard tax

- Nt commands to pay taxes even to pagan governments

Matt 22:17-22
Rom 13:6-7
The Roman emperors used their tax money to found their won cults
Bible does not quantify amounts

- Priority of obligations to god and family over state

I Tim 5:8

Financial Responsibility and the 8^th Commandment

- Mandates a responsible use of resources

We have spheres of responsibility
- Family – 1 tim 5:8
- Church – 2Cor 8-9
- State – Matt 22:17-22
- Ourselves – @ Thess 3:10
Luke 14:28
Matt 25:14-30
Scripture does not condemn use of money for entertainment or luxury but calls for a balance

- Coveting riches is foolish

Luke 12:13-21

Gambling and the 8^th Commandment

- Often treated as a case of financial irresponsibility

Can be linked to the worship of fate for chance
Psychologically addictive
- I Cor 6:12
Involves covetousness
Waste of time, cause of poverty
Thought of as a substitute for work
Often controlled by c criminal element

- If used as recreation with none of those elements present then is not sinful

- God is sovereign

Prov 16:33

The 8^th Commandment: and wealth and poverty

- Wealth

Scripture as a whole has a favorable attitude toward wealth
- Deut 8:18
- Josh 1:7-8
- Ps 1:3
- Psa 112:1-3
- Mark 10:29-30
Both wealth and poverty come from God
- ! Sam 2:7
- Job 1:21
God uses human effort to grant financial success
- Prov 10:4
Saints who were wealthy
- Abraham – Gen 13:2
- Those who ministered to Jesus – Luke 8:3
- David
Not sinful to be wealthy and enjoy material blessings
- Deut 12:17-19
- John 2:1-11
- I Tim 6:17
Not to be preoccupied with wealth
- Matt 6:19-2
- Matt 6:24
- Luke 12:13-21
- Matt 19:24
Be content with what you have
- Matt 6:6
- Matt 19:21

- Poverty in the Covenant Community

Through scripture that we should care for the poor
- Deut 15:7-8
- Ps 41:1
- Prov 14:31
- Prov 19:17
- Isa 1:16-17
Man of righteousness is judged by his treatment of the poor
- Job 5:15016
- Ps 9:18
- Ps 35:10
Rich man in hades not because of wealth but because of lack of compassion for the needy Lazarus
- Matt 19:20-21
Care for the poor required
- Gal 2:10
- 2 Cor 8-9
- James 5:4
- James 1:26-27
Jesus says judgment is based on our treatment of the poor and needy
- Matt 25:31-46
Condemnation of laziness
- 2 Thess 3:6-12
Scripture explicitly requires help without a means test!
- Luke 10:25-37
Poverty is often the result of oppression by the rich or government in scripture – not sin
- God is not against the rich because they are rich
- God is against the rich who have no compassion on the poor
No favoritism against the poor
- Ex 23:2
Family is first defense against poverty
- Jubilee year restored family holdings to keep poverty from being systematic
- Sabbath year debt release
  - Deut 15:1-3
- Kinsman redeemer
  - Lev 25:25
Relief of poverty in the community
- Tithes
- Interest free loans
  - Deut 15:7-8
- Gleaning
  - Lev 19:10
  - Lev 23:22
  - Provides food for those willing to work
  - Limits against maximizing profit without caring for the poor
- Work
  - 2 Thess 3:10
  - Does not speak of single mothers, widows etc.
- Massive sharing
  - Mark 12:42-44
  - 2 Cor 9:7
  - I John 3:17
  - Acts 2:44-45
  - Acts 4:34-37
- Hospitality
  - Rom 12:13
  - I Tim 3:2
  - Titus 1:8
  - I Peter 4:9

- World Poverty

Are we responsible
- Gal 6:10
- Household of faith has priority
- Luke 10:25-37 again
Ethical and religious failure has contributed a great deal to world poverty
Consumption by rich nations
- No proof this is the case
- Larger level of wealth worldwide
- Bad government decisions do play into this
The state is the government of the family of Adam just as the church is the government of the family of Christ
- Families take care of their own
- Should not oppose government assistance to the poor in every case

- Economic Systems

The bible does not explicitly address the question of how a society should organize his economy
Divine sovereignty reject totalitarianism by the state
We can have strong feelings and support hem politically
- Israel’s economy is nothing like what we see in the free market today

- Homelessness

Christians should be concerned when people do not have essentials of food, clothing, housing and health care
Some re homeless because they refuse help – either for drugs, or other things – these we cannot help
Homelessness because of poverty
- Need not only offer housing but offer a means and training for them to reenter the work force
- Shouting “get a job” is unchristian
- Claiming we know their plight when we don’t is ridiculous
- Cooperative efforts among Christians are needed
Homelessness because of illness
- Dumped by church and community for mental illness
- They need the compassion of churches more than almost anyone!
Only a small percentage of people are homeless because they choose to be
- Seattle – 1 bed in a shelter for every 10 homeless persons

Ethics Week 12 – 7th Commandment

ehassertt — Mon, 09 Aug 2010 07:21:41 +0000

Exodus 20:14: You shall not commit Adultery

Meaning of the Commandment

- Narrow meaning

No sexual intercourse with another person’s spouse
But the implications can cover many areas of human life

- WLC

Question 138:
Question 139:
WLC gets a bit legalistic here and goes beyond scripture as well. We will look into those in more detail here in a minute.
- Point is a hedge of protection against lust was designed by the WLC
Goes to the heart
- Purity of heart
- Avoiding occasions for temptation
- Notice: diligent labor

- Reflection of our covenant relationship with God

So unfaithfulness to God is spiritual adultery
Personal perspective on all sin

Specific Sins covered by the 7^th commandment

- Marriage

Gender is fundamental to life
- The sexual difference is one of the most fundamental
  - Despite feminist and politically correct complaints to the contrary
  - We naturally treat people of different sexes differently
The sexual urge is deep and powerful
- God created this desire – to motivate marriage and reproduction
- In our world sex is everywhere, not just in the marriage
  - Advertisements
  - Movies
Sex as a means of dominion – obeying the dominion mandate
- Gen 1:28
Marriage is a creation ordinance
- Gen 2:23-24
- Leave = begin a new household – normative
  - Continues the primacy of the family in the commandments
  - Cleave – hold fast (Ruth 1:14 -
  - One flesh – existential
    - Sexual reference
    - Also used to refer to nurture
      - Eph 5:28-31
  - Creates a new situation
God calls marriage a covenant
- Ezekiel 16:8
- Malachi 2:14
- A relationship governed by an oath
  - Family –society – law – protection
Image of the covenant between God and his people
- Gen 3 – first sin disrupts marriage relationship
- Adultery is treason against the family as idolatry is treason against God
  - Jer 3: 6-10
  - Ezek 16:23
  - Rom 1:18-25
  - Adultery reflects a rebellion against our fundamental relationship with our spouse and God
  - The family is the root of all corporate relationships
  - Promises of marriage and the covenant
    - Renewal of the marriage of Adam and Eve
      - Gen 3:15
      - Isa 62:5
      - Hos 2:14-30
      - Eph 5: 25-33
      - I Cor 6:15-20
      - 2 Cor 11:2
The blessing of marriage
- Jesus first miracle was water into wine at a wedding feast – John 2:1-11
- The kingdom is compared to a wedding feast
  - Matthew 22:1-14
  - Marriage supper of the lamb
    - Rev 19:6-9
  - Adultery is not only treason but then a rejection of redemptive grace
    - This makes other rules of marriage make more sense
      - Death and Unbelievers
        
        ! Cor 7:39
        
        2 Corinthians 6:14
        
        Eldership
        
        I Tim 3:2
        
        Care for widows
        
        I Tim 5:9
Other truths about marriage
- No command for church leaders to be unmarried – contrary to RCC
- Not sinful to be single and may be a calling for some –
  - Matt 19:12, I tim 5:3-10
  - Sex is good and required within marriage – I Cor 7:5
  - Some biblical marriage were arranges
  - Some were based on love
    - Jacob and Rachel – Gen 29:1-30
    - David and Michel – I Sam 18:2-29

- Polygamy

Polygamists were denied church office in the NT –
- I tim 3:2
They were not denied church membership
In the OT polygamy is prevalent
Scripture does not treat polygamy as adultery but does not represent it as the ideal either
- Matt 19:1-12

- Prostitution

Surprisingly seems to be tolerated to some degree in the OT
- No command against it in the OT
  - But women who are to marry are punished for prostituting themselves
    - Dt 22:20-21
  - Judah – Genesis 38
  - One of those “dark” ethical questions…
    - Judah disobeyed God’s command for his daughter-in-law
    - He then goes to seek a prostitute
Israel is described as a prostitute for seeking other Gods
- Ex 34:15-16
- Judges 2:17, 8:27-33
- Jer 2:20
- Hos 2:1-13
Instruction in wisdom is to turn away from prostitutes
- Prov 7:10-20
Separation from the cultural temple prostitution
- Dt 23:17-18.
Rahab was declared a hero of the faith but was a prostitute
- Joshua 2
- Hebrews 11
- James 2:25

- Homosexuality

Condemned
- Sodom
- The law
  - Lev 18:22
  - Lev 20:13
  - An example of idolatry
    - Romans 1:24-27
  - Orientation is no sin
    - Heb 4:15
  - Paul lists repentant homosexuals among the church
    - I Cor 6:11
Conviction in the OT
- Required two or three eyewitnesses
- What is kept private is not criminal yet may be sinful

- Incest

Lev 18:1-18
I Cor 5:1
Violates both marital and family governance

- Pedophilia

No age of consent in scripture
- Young marriage was common in scripture
- Does not fit with modern society
Sexual fulfillment is in marriage
Most pedophilia is homosexual
It is again threat to families and marriage

- Fornication

Sexual immorality
- I Cor 6:18
- Jude 7.
Seduction
- Ex 22:16-17
- Must marry and can never divorce
  - Dt 22:29
Sex before marriage considered prostitution and sex outside marriage as sin
- Dt 22:13-21
To be avoided
- I Cor 6:18-20
No death penalty like for adultery
- Ex 22: 16-17 again

- Lust

A condition of adultery of the heart
- Matt 5:27-28
What is lust?
- Not sexual desire as such – that is good
- Not a general recognition of attractiveness – or desire
  - Gen 29:17
  - I Sam 16:12, 25:3
  - Not lustful to vie or imagine sex
    - Scripture describes many instances of sexual relations
  - Lust is not temptation
    - Heb 4:15
  - Lust is: the desire to engage in sexual acts that are contrary to God’s law
    - Lust is wrong even if it never leads to the decision to act on it
    - Difficult to see how pornography, masturbation etc. without a spouse can be done without lust

Divorce and Remarriage

- Marriage is a lifetime commitment

Matthew 19:6
Reflects the eternal covenant between God and man

- Scripture does allow for divorce

Dt 24:1-4
Mark 10:5
But it represents a failure to achieve God’s ideal

- Divorce is not always sin

Not obligated to stay with a sinning spouse, but may choose to do so
- Hosea 3:1-5
God divorced Israel
- Hos 1:9
WCf cites – adultery and willful desertion as biblical ground for divorce
- WCF 24:6

- Biblical grounds

DT 24:1-4 (again)
Remarriage prohibited in NT
- Matt 5: 31-32
- Mark 10:2-12
- Adultery
Exception
- Matt 5:32
- Matt 19:9
- Sexual immorality
  - Refers to many sexual sins
    - All are adultery when committed by a married person
    - But not commanded, necessary or desirable

- Remarriage after divorce for sexual immorality

Matt 19:9 – may do so (again)

- I Cor 7:1-15

Willful desertion – action by unbelieving spouse renouncing their marital obligations
- Excommunication applies to this as well – covenant community is being discussed not eternal salvation
  - So the abusive or sinful spouse who refuses to repent should properly through church discipline be excommunicated – that is declared a non-believer to the covenant community

The 7^th Commandment and Reproduction

- Birth Control

Purpose do marriage to bring forth children : Gen 1:28
Much scripture encourages reproduction
The family is central to God’s purpose
The dominion mandate is given to humanity as a whole, not to specific individuals
- Just as long hair can be a blessing it is not a sin to cut it
- Children maybe a blessing but their is not command to have all that we physically can
  - This is part of the covenant between husband and wife, determining the best way for them to obey the cultural mandate
Permissible but bears a high burden of proof as to why this couple sues it
- Selfishness or for the good of all?

Ethics Week 11 – the Sixth Commandment Continued – Just War, Suicide, Abortion

ehassertt — Mon, 19 Jul 2010 17:26:18 +0000

The sixth commandment and War
- Little about the ethics of war in scripture
- Consummation of history is peace not war
o Isa 2:4
o Isa 9:6-7
- Special honor to those who seek peace
o Ps 46:9
o Matt 5:9
o Even David could not build the temple because he was a man of war
 I Chron 22:18-19, 28:3
- The Kingdom of God is not to be advanced by war under the New Covenant
o Matt 26:52
o John 18: 1-11
o Spiritual Warfare alone
 Ephh 6:10-20
- Warfare is sometimes necessary in a world where sin is a reality
o Sword given to the civil magistrate
 Acts 25:11
 Rom 13:4
o It is God who allows the warrior to prevail
 Ps 144:1
 Abraham and lot
• Gen 14:13-16
o Destruction of the Canaanite tribes
 Deut 20:16-18
 Deut 7:1-5
 These are difficult verses for many
• This was a specific situation because of the promise of the land and was never repeated and should not be
o War against other nations
 Duet 20: 12-14
 Deut 21:1-14
 This is a holy war
• Involved ritual cleansing – Deut 21:10-14
o No other specific ethical categories for entering and waging a war in scripture besides these commanded by God
Two views of War by Christians : Pacifism and Just War theory
- Christianity and Pacifism
o Denies war is ever legitimate or justifiable
 John Howard Yoder, Ronald Sider,
 Contrary to the law of love
 Romans 13
• Gives the civil ruler a legitimate authority to wield the sword against wickedness
• Oppose attacks to peace from within and without the nation
o Weak in its understanding of War in the OT
 Claims that God permitted war because of their hardness of heart as he then permitted divorce (Mark 10:2-9)
 Ignores the fact that God commanded war
• Judges 2:1-5
• ! Sam 15
 Soldiers in NT never told to leave their occupation
• Luke 3:14
• Matt 27:54
• Luke 7:9
• Acts 10, 2, 22, 35
o Appeal to church fathers
 Lactanbtius – war violated the law of love
 Justin Martyr, Origin
• Opposed Christian joining the army
• But prayed for national armies to be victorious
 Tertullian –
• Problem with subjection to pagan oaths and ceremonies in the military
 Hardly a definitive pacifistic bent
o What about killing a fellow Christian in War
 Soldiers are part of the civil government 0 instrument for justice
- Just war Theory
o Deals with issues of war using natural law
 A roman Catholic theory to begin with
 We should understand this concept but make scripture the final authority not natural law
o Just War rules
 Just cause – all aggression is condemned, only defensive war is legitimate
 Just intention – only legitimate intention is peace for all involved, not conquest or economic gain, or ideological supremacy
• No wars against communism in other words
 Last resort – only when all negotiations and com[promise failed
 Formal declaration- state of war must be declared by the highest authorities of a nation
 Limited Objectives – unconditional surrender, or destruction of nation’s economic to political institutions is an unwarranted objective
 Proportionate means – only what is needed to repel aggression and deter future attacks, secure peace
 Noncombatant immunity – only official agents of the government may be targets, civilians POW’s and casualties free from attack since they cannot actively contribute
 Comparative justice – ware should not be waged unless the evils that are fought are grave enough o justify killing
 Probability of success – must be reasonable likelihood that the war will achieve its aims
 Good faith in treaties and agreements
o Really a series of questions that must be asked about war
o Analysis
 Just Cause – disagreement about current threats and seeking justice for past wrongs
• Deut 30
o Israel is the aggressor
 Just intention
• High priority ins scripture on achieving peace
o Ps 34:14
o I Peter 3:11
o Rom 14:19
• Israel’s wars in Canaan
o Involved retributive justice, conquest, ideological supremacy
• Almost all revolutions are over ideology
• War against Nazis was ideology
 Last resort – When is it a last resort – very complicated
 Formal declarations – complications of modern governments
 Limited Objectives – Nazis – could we have accepted less?
• Israel’s wars all demanded unconditional surrender
 Proportionate means –
• Unnecessary killing should be avoided
o Deut 20:10-11
o Amos 1: 3, 11, 13
• Overwhelming force can often shorten wears and thus save lives in the long run
• How can we judge before the battle how much force will be needed
 Noncombatant immunity – terrorism, and other operations make it hard to distinguish
 Comparative justice – difficult to apply
 Probability of success – how?
• American revolution
 Good faith in treaties and agreements –
• Amos 1:9
- Scriptural
o Natural law sounds good, but as we see from our analysis solves nothing in real world applications, just war theorists have been on both sides of entering almost every war
o Conscientious objections should be available to Christians who cannot support a particular war
o Preemptive strikes – may be necessary for protections
 Wars of Israel show this
o Sanctity of Life should always apply – sixth commandment
 Noncombatants – minimize loss of life
o Deterrents are viable means to minimize life
Sixth Commandment to protect life
- Abortion
o Overall Value of Life ion scripture despite no explicit command against abortion
o Exodus 22:22-25
 Case 1 – no harm – “came out” – most naturally describes premature birth
• Since there is no harm, issues is with pain and induced birth, not murder – so punishment determined by husband and judges
 Case 2 – there is harm – mother of child punishment is the same – life for life
 There is no concern for intent to harm the child
o Psalm 139: 13-16
 Reference to unborn life as fully personal
 General biblical usage
• Jon 31:15-18
o Psalm 51:5
 Unborn David referred to as a sinner
o Judges 13:3-5
 Samson’s mother had to keep nazarite prescriptions while she was pregnant with him – so as not to defile the living person
o Luke 1:35
 Was Jesus less than a person at any time?
o Carefulness
 We are to care for all human life, even if people only see that there may be a chance a fetus is a person – Matt 5:22-23
o Scientific Evidence
 Ultrasound, physical characteristics
o Can abortion ever be justified
 The father may be guilty but the baby is innocent (rape etc.)
 Except for mothers defense – aggression principle
o We are obligated to defend the weak and powerless
 Ps 72:12-14
 Ps 82: 3-4
 Principled but flexible
• Support any limits while seeking to rid the world of abortion
- Death
o Scripture defines death by breath
 Job 9:18
 Ps 104:29
 John 19:30
o Medicine denies it by irreversible cessation so circulatory and respiratory functions or brain functions
o Killing and Letting Die
 No guilt from letting someone die when we cannot help, or choosing to save one life over another
• Wrong to let someone die when we have the ability to help
 Death is inevitable
• The attempt to prolong life indefinitely is not a Christian duty
• Often it is right for one to give his life for another
o John 10:11
o ! John 3:16
 Care for the Sick and Wounded
• Ordinary care v. extraordinary care
o Expensive, difficult and scarce
• Reasons for withholding care
o Prolonging life v. relieving suffering
 Prolonging life my just be prolonging dying
o Expense and burdens to family members
 Phil 1:2-24
o Scarcity
 Who is best served by receiving the care – transplants
 Euthanasia
• Different from not providing scarce and expensive care or prolonging suffering
• God’s special care for disabled
• Very dangerous slippery slope without the patient’s wishes being heard
- Suicide
o Suicide is a violation of the sixth commandment
 Judg 9: 52-54
 I Sam 31:3-5
 2 Sam 17:23
 I Kings 16:18-19
 Matt 27:3-5
o Frustrations with life
 Num 11:12-15
 I Kings 19:4
 Jonha 4:1-11
o People who contemplate suicide are in need of special care by the church and fellow Christians
 Not judging
 A sin but not unforgiveable
 Not the same as those who lay down their lives for others
• Judges 16:28-31
 Not wrong to refuse treatment when we know the burden it would be on others, but different from killing ourselves
- Health and Safety
o Alcohol
 Prov 20:1
 Isa 5:11
 Ps 104:15
 John 2:3-11
 1 Tim 5:23
 Scripture does approve of using alcohol to improve our mood and for medicine
 When alcohol affects our health, endangers others, or affects our caring for others it is sin
o Tobacco
 Dangerous on many levels
 Hard to reconcile freedom with health in this area
o Drugs
 Medicinal use of all substances is not against biblical principles
 Allowing drugs to control or damage us or others is sin
o Food Drink and exercise
 Gluttony is sinful
 Consistent biblical examples to take care of our physical and mental well-bring
- The Environment
o God cares for all life one earth
 Job 39-40
 Os 104:11-30
 Jonha 4:11
 Matt 6:26
o Kindness to animals
 Ex 0:10
 Ex 23:5,12
 Deut 22:4
 Prov 12:10
 John 10:11
o Preserving nature
 DEeut 20:19
 Is 11:6-8
 Rev 22:2
o The cultural mandate does not justify the destruction of the environment
 Man cannot fill and subdue the earth if he destroys its resources
 Not all forms of life are equal so human life has priority
• But the planet is our responsibility as well
• stewardship
-

Ethics Week 10 – Sixth Commandment – Part 1

ehassertt — Tue, 29 Jun 2010 00:06:37 +0000

Ethics Week 10 – 6^th Commandment

Intro

- The next three commandments are linguistically short

One word with the Hebrew for NOT
But have some of the most extensive applications

Theological Background

- God is the Lord of Life

Gen 1:30
Gen 2:7
Man’s existence is physical and spiritual

- Death as the summary of the result of Adam’s fall

Gen 2:17
Gen 3:19
Everyone has a limited lifespan
- No escape or rapture coming – mortality has always been part of who we are
- Adam’s death was clearly spiritual as he did not immediately die physically – so his death that day was not physical

- Spiritual death is loss of fellowship with God

Eph 2:5
Jesus died to sin for us – sacrifice – death – victim of murder
- Rom 6:2-4

- The bible is a book about life and death

2 Cor 5:4
Ethics must involve a sacredness to our view of life

- First prohibition against bloodshed

Gen 9:5-6

- WLC Q 135

- WLC Q 136

- Shocking that they include lack of cheerfulness?

Prov 17:22

- Linguistic

Ratsakh – most often refers to killing that is unlawful or forbidden
Not used for killing animals or killing in war
Different from English word murder
- It also applies to manslaughter and negligent homicide
  - Deut 19:5
  - Ex 21 :12-14
  - Num 35:9-34
  - Josh 20:1-9
  - Avenger of Blood
    - Cities of refuge
      - If it were judged to be an unintentional killing the slayer was safe inside the walls of the city of refuge
      - Until the death of high priest then free to return
      - Assumed to have been careless with human life
        
        Seriousness of human life ins scripture

- New Testament teaching on the commandment

Jesus Traces causes of carelessness to human life to the heart
- Matt 5:21-26
- Says sixth commandment forbids
  - Anger and verbal abuse as well
  - Also Lev 19:16-17
    - Not new with Jesus – Jesus did not change the law contrary to popular belief
    - I John 3:15
    - James 1:20
Importance of resolving anger linked to this commandment
- MTT `8: `5-20
  - Burden on the offended
  - Gal 6:1-2
  - I John 3:14-16

Love Vengeance and Self Defense

- Ethic of Love taught by Jesus by quoting OT texts

Matt 22:34-40
- Deut 6:5
- Lev 19:18
  - Grudges
Exodus 23:4
- How to treat enemies
- Prov 24:17
- Rom 12:20
  - Quoting Proverbs 25:21-22
Mosaic law extends the commandments to those sojourning within Israel
- Lev 19:34
NT extends to all peoples through the gospel
- Luke 10:25-37

- Vengeance is the work of God alone

Man is to avoid taking vengeance
- Prov 20:222
- Prov 24:29
- Rom 12:14-21
God’s work in vengeance
- Deut 32:35
- Ps 94:1
- I Thess 4:6
God appoints the family and by extension the state to be His instrument of justice
- Rom 13:1-7
- Gen 9:6
- Ex 21:23-25
- Btu God forbids individual human beings from carrying out vengeance
  - Matt 5:38-42
  - Endure
    - I Peter 2:13-3:17

- Self Defense

Matthew 5:38-42 –
- Not a prohibition on self defense
- Not seek payback for ourselves
Endure unjust suffering
- I Peter 2:13-3:17
Defensive killing only when the sun ahs not risen
- Ex 22:2-3
- Presumption of less than lethal remedies during daylight

The sixth Commandment and Punishment

- Theories of Punishment

Authority must function with consequences for violating that authority
Motives for Punishment
- Deterrent
  - Punish to keep others from committing crime
  - Deut 13:11
  - Lev 1:1-17 – see seriousness of sin
  - Focus on General Society
  - Reformation
    - Punish the criminal for his own good
    - Like church discipline – goal is restoration
      - I Cor 5:5
      - 2 Cor 2:5-11
      - Prov 22:15
      - Focus on the Offender
    - Restitution
      - Those responsible for loss compensate those who have lost
      - Ex 22: 5,6, 12
      - Double restitution for theft
        
        Ex 22: 4, 7, 9
        
        Focus on the Victim
    - Restraint
      - Removal of perpetrator from society
        
        So called purpose of prison
        
        Not found really in scriptural law
        
        Closest equivalence is sending them away from the society
        
        Ex 12:19
        
        Ex 30:33, 38
        
        Ex 31: 14
        
        Exile is closes to imprisonment in scripture
    - Taxation
      - Speed traps – no scriptural authorization
    - Retribution
      - Punish because the criminal deserves it
      - Objectively left to God

- Observation

“other motives for punishment become unjust if they are not based on a theory of just deserts (Cs Lewis). If deterrence is the only consideration, one can justify punishing innocent people for the deterrence value. On that basis it is not important that the person punished be guilty, only that he appear guilty to the public. If reformation is the only issue, one can argue that everyone should be punished, since we could all use a bit of reforming. Btu clearly such a reformation program is unjust unless the law identifies which people deserve top be place in a program of reform.
- Show the primacy of retribution – JUSTICE
  - Lex talions
    - Eye for an eye

Ethics Notes in Word

ehassertt — Fri, 25 Jun 2010 04:56:56 +0000

If you would like the Ethics class notes in word format, email me at ad70.net and I will send them to you.

Ethics Week 9 – Fifth Commandment – Live Long and Prosper

ehassertt — Wed, 23 Jun 2010 06:36:16 +0000

Ethics Week 9

The Fifth Commandment

Exodus 20:12 – 12

Dt 5:16 16

- Live Long and Prosper!

Moving into the second table – our duty toward each other

Perspectives on the Commandment

- Intro

Calvin: reference Obedience and Gratitude
Calvin fits our three aspects of ethics
- Existential – reverence
- Submission – Normative
- Gratitude – situational – specifically application to support

- Reverence (Existential Perspective)

Both sin and righteousness begin in the heart
- Lev 19:3 – fear
- Rom 13:7 -
- 1 Peter 2:18 Phobos – fear
Honor and fear often used ot describe our relationship with God
- Prov 3:9 -
- Heb 2:9 -
Demand for such reverence to parents because of our fear of God
Respect to others in thoughts words and actions
- I Kings 2:19 -
- I Tim 5:1 -
- Seriousness of cursing others – Ex 21:17
Balance between supreme honor and obedience due to God and the real but subordinate honor owed to parents
- Some use tradition to shirk this commandment – Matt 15:6:

- Submission (normative perspective)

Respect
- Listening to others without assuming we know more than them
- Disagree with reluctance and honor
Parents are teachers
- Deut 6:6-7
- Prov 1:10 -
- Prov 2:1
- Prov 3:1 -
Accepting the wisdom of parents tends to long life
- Prov 4:10 – 10
How do we show submission?
- Demeanor, listening,
- Hearing rebuke and correction
- Gentle exhortation
It is about honor, not just obedience!
- Faithful, submitting to their wisdom
This relationship exists in other places as well:
- Civil authorities
  - Rom 13:1 -
  - Titus 3:1 -
- Church officers
  - Phil 2:12 -
  - 2 Thess 3:14 -
  - Heb 13:17 -.
- Wives to husbands
  - I Peter 3:6
- Servants to masters
  - Col 3:22-25 -
  - I Pter 2:18-20 -
- Obedience to other humans is always limited
  - Acts 5:39 -
Still not biblical to use the Nuremberg defense
- Dan 3:6 -
- Acts 4:18-20

- Financial Support (Situational Perspective)

Honor – kavad in Hebrew
- Distinct sense of “render financial value”
- Roots often refer to wealth
  - Gen 13:2 – Abraham
  - Prov 13:18 -
  - Mal 1:6-7 -
  - I tim 5:17
Jesus applies against the Pharisees for refusing to support their parents for pious reasons
- Commandment – 1 Tim 5:4-8 -
As parents grow old honor becomes less about obedience and more a matter of respectful support
- When we cannot meet all needs then scripture tells us the church is supportive
- In this world health care and elder care is a complicated situation
Principles to apply to dealing with parents in old age
- No commandment for parents to live with us
  - Gen 2:24 – leave parents
  - As long as a parent is able to live independently, such separation is desirable – but we need more unified families
- When long term medical care is needed we should help provide it
  - Nursing homes are needed in many cases because of the advances in health care, longer lives
  - Help with wise decisions – not dump parents and forget them

Father and Mother

- WLC defines father and mother:

Natural parents, all superiors in age and gifts and those placed in authority over us
- Do you agree with this?
- Stretched out mind to see more such relationships beyond scripture
- Mutual submission – Ephesians 5:21 -

- Family metaphors in scripture

Rulers
- Gen 45:8 -
- Is 49:23 -
Military chiefs
- 2 Kings 5:13 -
Prophets
- 2 Kings 2:12 -
Wisdom teachers
- Ps 34:11 -
- Prov 1:8, 10, 15 -
Church leaders
- I cor 4:15 -
- Gal 4:19 -
- I tim 1:12
- Titus 1:4
Older people
- I Tim 5:1 -
God as Father
- Matt 6:9
- Eph 3:14-15 -

- The family is the fundamental sphers of authority from which all others are derived

New covenant community is a family
- Matt 12:48-50
- Rom 14:10 -
Proceeds to the authority of church. Community, and nation
Obedience to authority leads to covenant inheritance
- Col 3:23-24 -
All people deserve honor
- I Peter 2:17 -
- Romans 12:10
Men and women
- I Corinthians 7:2-4 -
Its all about servant leadership
- John 13:12-15 -
Government in all spheres in scripture rejects both egalitarianism and authoritarianism
- Authority is a blessing it is not demeaning

Live long and Prosper

- Keeping God’s commandments bring life

Isa 55:3 -
Amos 5:4-6 -4

- Covenant Keeping

Deut 28:1-14 -

- Promises for this life and the life to come

Family, Church and state in the fifth commandment

- The Family

Began in Gen 1:27
- Gen 2:18-25 -
Proverbs 31
Gen 1:28 – role on earth
God calls families
- Acts 11:14 -.’
- Acts 16:15, 31 -
Educating children
- Deut 6:6-9 -
Discipline
- Prov 10:13 -
The family is God’s means of dominion and redemption
- Fill the earth
- Act in our community as ambassadors of Chris
Family is the basic unit of human society
- Other authorities are entrusted by the family with the role of protection, service, economy and community

- The church and state are extensions of the family

Problem of human government
- State is a problematic category ins scripture
- Scripture speaks of the family, people of God, nation of Israel and church
- State is used of governments that do not honor God
- Law was enforced by families and the covenant community
  - Genesis 9:6
  - Num 35:19,21 -
  - Deut 19:12
  - The family is three instrument of justice
Role of government
- Settling issues not resolvable on lower levels
  - Ex 18:26 -
- National army for p[protection
  - Gen 14
- Government becomes more elaborate with the growth of a nation but there was never a sharp line in Israel between family authority, the authority of prophets, priests and kings
  - Servants and ministers
    - Rom 13:4 –
Criticisms of government in scripture
- I Sam 8:10-18 -
Even in secular societies we should model biblical views of authority
- ! Corinthians 10:31
Civil disobedience
- Obey even corrupt authority
  - Rom 13:1-7 -
  - I Peter 2:13-17 -
- Limits:
  - Test-case law breaking in our society to overturn unjust laws
  - When ruler requires us to sin against God
  - Prosecution of leaders for violating the law
  - Abortion protests

Man and Woman under the fifth commandment

- Image of God : Gen 1:27

Equally created

- Helper

Gen 2:18-20
Eph 5:25-29 -
Subordination does not detract from character
Equal representatives of God

- Church

Teach younger women and children – Titus 2
Does not say they should never speak
- I Cor 11:5

- Society

No biblical prohibition against women in politics or leadership
- Prov 31 – in the gates

Ethics Week 8 – Fourth Commandment – Sabbath Keeping

ehassertt — Wed, 23 Jun 2010 06:28:36 +0000

Ethics Week 8

Fourth Commandment

Exodus 20:8-11 -

Deuteronomy 5:12-15 -

Exodus: Reason for keeping the commandment is God’s creative Work

Deut: Reason for Keeping the Commandment is celebration of rest from bondage in Egypt

“Creation and Redemption do not generate two different ethics, but rather the same one.” – JF

We are to imitate Jesus’ work of redemption – John 13:34-35 -

Views of the Sabbath

- Modern society

This is the most visibly rejected commandment in modern culture
We also have to think of what it means now that we have entered into the Sabbath rest of the New Jerusalem
Shopping, sports on Sunday etc
Is Sunday the right day?
Dispensationalism separates Old from New
Several views of Sabbath keeping within the Reformed community

- Transition from Sabbath to Lord’s Day

My opinion – although worship commonly took place on Sunday in the early church there is no evidence this was a moving or replacement for the Sabbath
- Rev 1:10 – Lord’s day for worship
- Creation ordinance as the basis for Sabbath did not change
DA Carson rejected the translation

- John Calvin’s View

One of the least restrictive of all the Reformed views
For Calvin the Sabbath
- Represented spiritual rest
- There was supposed to be a day to gather to hear the law
- A day of rest for servants and those under the authority of others
God wants us to turn from our works to his grace
How Calvin teaches observance of those three
- A Shadow – the first aspect – spiritual rest
- Worship
- Rest for Servants
For Calvin other views of the Sabbath are superstition
- Romans 14:5
Calvin urges us to take worship seriously though
Heidelberg Cathechism Q 103 reflects Calvin’s view
Summary of Calvin’s View
- We keep the Sabbath by resting from sinful works and receiving the grace of God’s Spirit

- The Decrees of Dordt

These became more sabbatarian than Calvin in response to Arminianism
What they say
- Both ceremonial and moral
- Ceremonial
  - Creation rest
  - Moral
    - Set aside for worship
  - The Jewish Sabbath is abolished so Christians must keep Sunday
    - Always observed since the apostles
  - Day must be set aside for worship and people must not engage in labors or even recreations that hinder worship

- The Westminster Standards

WCF 21:7-8VII.
WLC 116-121
Summary
- God gave the Sabbath at creation – It continued until the consummation
- The Lord’s day IS the Sabbath
- Refrain from
  - Works, words, and thoughts about labor and recreation
  - Worship is the main point

Preterist

- We know rest in Christ

- In the New Jerusalem

We come daily to the throne
We are renewed and rest in his grace daily
We no longer toil under spiritual bondage

- Calvin saw this darkly stated that now we are to worship every day

Theology of the Sabbath

- Sabbath and Creation

Gen 2:2-3
God chooses to deal with his creatures in the temporal world although he could choose to do everything instantly
- The Sabbath is proof of this point
- We are not instantly created, justified and sanctified and glorified
  - God works each other these through time
    - Creation – birth
    - Justification by faith
    - Sanctification in living
    - Glorification in the resurrection
  - God’s Sabbath rest points forward to the completion of God’s work and the Sabbath rest in the New Jerusalem
  - God’s Sabbath reveals His lordship over creation
  - God’s Sabbath shows all creation recognizes God’s lordship
The Sabbath is a covenant sign
The Sabbath is a creation ordinance

- Sabbath and Common Grace

Rest from work in the Sabbath was from work
Holy Governments follow the Sabbath

- Sabbath and Redemption

Deut 5:15
Eschatological
- Brought the consummation of redemption back to the pre-fall world
Rest from the curse of toil God placed on the ground

- Work and Rest

Reformed view – applicable prior to the end of the age
Creation ordinance – post 70 AD
- Day of rest
- Scripture actually never defines the Sabbath as a day of worship
  - When scripture mentions work it is illegitimate work
    - Ex 31:13-17
    - Ex 34:21
    - Ex 35:3
    - Num 15:32-36
    - Neh 13:15-18
    - Jer 17:21-22
    - Amos 8:4-6
  - It was a ceasing of activity not just laying aside one for other activities
  - The theology of redemptive rest is key
    - Ps 127:2
    - Matt 11:28
  - A feast not a fast
    - 2 Sam 6:12-23
    - Luke 15 – Prodigal Son
  - Recreation is based on our thoughts and motives, not a biblical list of do’s and don’ts – balance

- Works of Necessity and Works of Mercy

Matt 12:2
Mark 2:27
Luke 14:5
In biblical times it was not wrong to milk a cow on the Sabbath
What about a Christian taking a job that requires Sunday work?
- Supporting one’s family is a work of necessity
  - Mark 2:27
Ex 20:10
Ex 23:10-11
Deut 15:1`11 – Sabath Year

- Worship

A day of rest in which worship is appropriate but not commanded
Rest in our final inheritance
- PS 95

- Finally

The Sabbath is a celebration of God’s lordship and provision and our salvation
We rest fully in him
We are in the Sabbath rest of Christ’s redemption

Ethics Week 7 – Third Commandment

ehassertt — Wed, 23 Jun 2010 06:22:49 +0000

Ethics Week 7

Third Commandment

EX 20:7 – 7 “You shall not take the name of the Lord your God in vain, for the Lord will not hold him guiltless who takes his name in vain.

JF “ We should never utter his name without expressing in some measure the reverence and awe that are due to him, for that would be to speak in a way that denies his nature.”

WLC 112-113

The name of the Lord

- Why is this a command?

Naming in ancient cultures was an exercise of sovereignty
- Only God names himself – control and aseity
- Revealed names allows us to call upon him
- Jacob wrestling with God – name like having power over God
  - Gen 32: 22-32
  - Hosea 12:4
- Identifying God’s future with the future of his people by placing his name upon them
  - Num 6:27
  - Deut 28:10
  - 2 Chron 7:14
  - Dan 9:18-19
  - Rev 13:6
Naming is characterizing the authority of God
- Yahweh – lordship
- Elohim – creative power
- El Shaddai – his might
- El ELyon – transcendence
- Yahweh Sabbaoth – lordship over the armies of heaven
- Psalm 8:1 – majesty
- Proverbs 22:1
Naming Indicates presence
- We can find a person by calling their name
- Glory
- Saved for His name sake
  - Ps 106:8
  - ! Sam 12:22
Those who bear the name of God
- Dwelling in the temple
  - Deut 12:11
  - Ezra 6:12
  - Ezek 43:7
- The people
  - Rev 13:6 – again
  - Acts 4:12
- Every knee shall bow
  - Phil 2:9-11
- Carried to the world
  - Acts 9:15
Because God is sovereign and in control of all things to swear by anything is to swear by God

- What does it mean to take God’s name in vain

We often see this as a commandment about language
Nasa – Hebrew, not the normal word for speak
- Actually mean lift up, bear or carry
  - Num 6:27
- Carrying God’s name
  - Our identity is to be the people of God
  - Psalm 24:3-4
Vanity
- Empty, trivial, meaningless
  - Job 7:3

Applying the Third Commandment in Worship

- The Name of God in Worship

Use God’s name in reverence in an attitude of worship – His presence
Oaths Kingly
Confession Prophetic
Blessings Priestly

- Oaths and Vows

In an oath we call God to witness concerning the truth of a statement or promise
- It is more than a promise to man, it is a promise to God
  - Josh 7:19
  - Matt 26:63-64
  - Hebrews 6:16
- Marriage is an oath before God!
Matt 5:33-37 – Jesus on oaths
Some oaths are wrong
- False Gods –
- Secret Societies
- Unlawful oaths
Unkept oaths (situational)
- Lev 19:12
- Num 30:3-16
Oaths from Wrong Attitudes (Existential)
- Careless
  - Lev 5:4.
- Presumptions
  - Isaiah 48:1

- Confession

Confession
- God placed is name on us so we are his
- We identify ourselves as God’s covenant servants
- We proclaim our position and invite others to join with us
Acknowledging Christ before men
- Matt 10:32-33
- Rom 10:9-10
- Christianity is a public faith, lived in the community, not in closets or behind closed doors
- There are times to be silent
  - Matt 7:6
  - Appropriate when speaking would hurt our witness
Written confessions
- Purpose is to give a witness to the world of our Christian faith

- Blessing

Equivalent to praise
- Psalm 103:1
Prayer
- Numbers 6:23-27 – Aaronic blessing – repeat
- 2 Cor 13:14
On others
- Rom 12:14
- I cor 4:12
- 1 Tim 2:1
Curses – negative blessing
- James 3:10.
- Ps 109:17-19
- Matt 5:21-22
- Not against all harsh language
  - Gal 1:8
  - Matt 23:17-19

Additional Applications of the 3^rd Commandment

- Humor in Religion

Since all of creation bears God’s name would ban all humor
God’s use of humor
- Proverbs 19:24
- Proverbs 26:15.
- Proverbs 27:15
- Eccl 10:8
- Num 22:22-41
- Matt 23:24
Prov 12:15, 2 Cor 9:7

- Profanity

People use God’ name to show resentment or contempt for a situation 1 Cor 9

- Sexual Language

Not etymologically related to divine names
No absolute prohibition,Gal 5:12 )emasculate themselves
Vastly overused and used to describe people created in the image of God
- Gal 5:22

Eph 5:4

Obviously much is based on culture and usage
- We cannot forbid what scripture does not
- The Christian should always be one who avoids irreverent images without legalism

Ethics Week 6

ehassertt — Tue, 04 May 2010 20:53:31 +0000

Second Commandment

Exodus 20:4-6: 4 “You shall not make for yourself a carved image, or any likeness of anything that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth. 5 You shall not bow down to them or serve them, for I the Lord your God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers on the children to the third and the fourth generation of those who hate me, 6 but showing steadfast love to thousands [2] of those who love me and keep my commandments.

Images

- What is forbidden

In Islam all representative art is forbidden
Not even all images used in worship are forbidden
- God commands images be made for worship at times
  - Exodus 25:18-20
  - Exodus 36:8
  - Exodus 25:33-34
  - Numbers 21:6-8
    - John 3:14-15
- Images existed in the temple
  - I Kings 6:18
  - I Kings 6: 23-28
  - Ezekial 41:17-20
- Obviously making images is not intrinsically sinful
Some interpretations
- Only allowed when God commands it
  - I Kings 10:19-20 – Solomon’s throne – not condemned
- Wrong to display images in places of worship
  - God required images precisely for places of worship
Forbidden: Making images for the purpose of bowing down and worshipping them
- “pesel” = carvced image – always one used for worship, never simply a piece of artwork
- Explicit in Lev 26:1
  - Exodus 20:23
- 2 Kings 18:4
  - Only destroyed once people began to worship it
Objects of Worship
- Actuial identity with the god worhsipped, or
- A conduit to the god worshipped
Images of the True God
- Idolatry incolves the image as well as what it claims to represent
- Exodus 32
- I Kings 12:25-33
  - Worshipping the true God by means of images

- Why does God forbid it?

Redemptive-historical
- The visible image distorts the nature of the invisible God
  - Col 1:15
  - John 1:18
- God reveals himself through visible means
  - Ex 24:10
  - Num 12:8
- God reveals himself through Jesus Christ
  - John 14:9
  - I John 1:1-3
- Man as God’s image
  - Gen 1:26-27
- God chose to hide himself at one point in history, but not forever
  - He revelaed himself through word and deed in OT
  - He revealed himself in the above images at other times
- Under the new covenant God reveakls himself in visible and material form
  - John 14:9
  - I John 1:1-3
  - Rev 1:7
  - Heb 11:27
- God’s revelation of His image is the sign of the End of the Age
  - The word now creates images in our mind of Jesus/God
    - We do not worship the images in our mind
    - We do worship Him who those images represent
      - We are not forbidden from having mental images
God as the Living God
- Personal and living
  - Deut 5:26
  - Josh 3:10
- Idols are impersonal, made of Gold, silver etc
- Idols are lies because they fail to picture what is true about God – living and personal
God’s True Image
- Images are not as strong as the creator
- Only Jesus could properly image God
  - Those who bow down to him become like him
God’s Covenant Jealousy
- Ex 20:5-6
- Worship of other God’s is covenant disloyalty – adultery
- This brings punishement under the second commandment
- Children punished for sins of fathers?
  - Idolatrous parents creat an datmospher in their families that encourage their children and later generations to be idolatrous
    - Ezekial 18:20
- Children can turn away and not find punisemnt
  - Exekial 20:14-18
  - Repetance and God’s grace
    - Acts 2:40
- Promises to those who keep the commandments
  - Exodus 20:6
  - Deut 7:9
    - Generations
    - Shows God’s mercy is greater than his wrath
      - We saw 3-4 generations for wrath

Application of Second Commandment to Worship

- The Regulative Principle

In worship we should only do what God has prescribed for us to do
- WCF 21:1
- WCF 1:6
- Lev 10:1-2
- Calvin: The sum, therefore is, that the people of God should abstain from all the inventions of men, whereby pure and simple religion is adulterated.
Elements – those things that scripture commands
Circumstances – those things we must do in order to perform the elements
RP in the New Jerusalem
- No Temple
- No light
- Worship in spirit and truth
  - Woman at the well
- Now worship is:
  - Nature: homage to God
  - Revelation
  - Sufficiency of scripture
  - Caring for others
    - Matt 25
  - Not worship based on human reason but God’s law written in our hearts
- Elders – authority
  - All are priests
  - Hierarchy in churches gives way to mutual leadership
    - We still have those gifted in teaching – but none esteemed above others
Problems with applying the regulative principle
- Determining biblical elements?
  - Incest? Gold Altars?