Below is a letter to a man I have had the pleasure of discussing the Bible with over several years; and who I originally tried to direct toward membership in Jehovah's Witnesses. I no longer direct him toward the Witnesses of course, but he and I still talk about the Bible regularly, and find an interchange of encouragement in doing so. (Romans 1:11-12) [I am encouraged, and I hope he is as well.]


Hey Brad,

Peace to you and your household. I've been thinking about our conversation, and I appreciate your making me aware that both you and Nathan enjoyed our consideration of Jehovah's sense of humor: As displayed in the way he dealt with the Philistines back in Samuel's day. I thought it was humorous as well. [It is a serious matter of course!]

For any who are reading letter this from the web site, and are therefore not familiar with the conversation Brad and Nathan and I had, we were discussing how Jehovah has a sense of humor. We see it every time we see kittens playing, or see a little penguin slide down an icy slope, hop up, run back up the hill, and slide down again. In the conversation we were having though, we were considering Jehovah's sense of humor in his dealing with the Philistines as recorded in the book of 1st Samuel. In this account, the Jews had been unfaithful to Jehovah, and had lost his protection. The ark of the covenant thus got captured by the Philistines in battle. The Philistines were enemies of the Jewish nation [and the Jews were God's chosen nation of people in those days]. Rather than recognize the true God, and sue for peace with God's chosen nation, the Philistines made war with them. They well knew who Jehovah was, and yet they attacked his people anyway. (Please note: 1 Samuel 4:6-8.) God struck the Philistines with an infestation of jerboa's (rat like creatures) which ate up their crops, and with terrible piles (hemorrhoids) in every city where the Philistines moved the ark. When the Philistines finally decided to return the Ark of the covenant to the Jews, Jehovah's sense of humor seems displayed. The Philistines asked the priests of their false god's how they should send the Ark back, and were given instructions to make golden images of their piles, and of their rat-like or mouse-like creatures. That struck me as funny, and Brad and Nathan enjoyed it as well. It was amusing to us as well, how Jehovah caused their god Dagon to fall on it's face before the Ark. It is interesting in my sight, that God did not strike the Philistines all dead (some of them likely did die) for their wicked actions. Apparently, God had a measure of compassion in this instance for their lack of full knowledge [for their ignorance] of their actions. In the Bible verses which follow this account; and tell of the return of the Ark to the Jewish Levite city of Bethshemesh, we see Jehovah put to death seventy of those Levite Jews for improperly dealing with the Ark of the covenant. (1 Samuel 6:19) The Jews were not ignorant, and they knew (or should have known) from the Jewish Law Code exactly how to deal with the Ark. That was the Law! How wonderful it is to live under the arrangement today of faith in Christ Jesus, rather than under that law code. (Galatians 3:19-29)

I believe you are right Brad: It is hard to share the humor of this Bible account with many [or even most] people. For people to enjoy a consideration of something like (God's sense of humor in this account), I believe they must have faith in the Bible, and be comfortable discussing it. That seems hard for many. Many people seem uncomfortable discussing the Bible! As you said, many simply tune you out as soon as you even mention the Bible. That attitude of being uncomfortable in having a leisurely discussion of the Bible seems largely the responsibility of false religion. I have noted several reasons I believe people have for being unable to simply relax in talking about something like God's sense of humor:
  1. The worst to cause people to be leery of talking with others about the Bible are the Bible thumpers who spread lies with Bible in hand; All the while claiming what they teach comes from the Bible. They will use one or two scriptures to support some teaching or other, and then demand everyone accept it as Bible truth, even if there are other scriptures that seem to contradict it. [Anytime there appears to be a contradiction in the Bible, it is because there is a misunderstanding on our part. If a scripture seems to contradict others, there has been a misapplication of some of those scriptures. Continue to examine all the scriptures and it will become clear. (2 Timothy 3:16-17) That is the purpose and method of studying the Bible: Learning to fit all the scriptures together, because they are all truth! That is how we know we correctly understand what God is telling us in the Bible: All the scriptures fit our mental picture of truth.] Most people have been hurt by being exposed to such hypocrites, as individuals or as groups; And are absolutely sick of them! Some people confuse the lies or exaggerations of those Bible thumpers with Bible truth. Such hypocrites thus turn people away from the Bible. [That is not something new. (John 7:47-49 ; John 12:42-43 ; 1 Corinthians 10:13)]
  2. Then there are others who claim to have faith in the Bible; but who's only real interest is in controlling and/or being part of a group or club. Whether such individuals want to be members who go every Sunday and get a pat on the head [absolution]; or they desire to become lords over the group so as to make laws for and control others, [and/or to figure out a way to benefit themselves from the association;] All such persons put others off from the Bible. People recognize the interest of such individuals is only in gaining new members for their organization, and in supporting that group and furthering it's interest. Such individuals have no interest in the truth of the Bible, and the unselfish love for others it teaches; or at best their interest is divided. (Matthew 6:24) Many people will thus fear we are seeking them as members for our club [or to get money from them] as soon we mention the Bible. [We are, of course, hoping everyone will become Christian. (Acts 26:28-29) But we do not assert or imagine we maintain those membership rolls; and we seek no advantage over others. We are simply considering what is truth. That benefits everyone! - I do not here imply all large gatherings are bad. Just asserting the danger associated with them. You must be careful the people you gather with are gathered for the purpose of learning and sharing the truth of the Bible. Be careful of those who want to assert themselves as judges over others.]
  3. Then there are others who seem hesitant to discuss the Bible simply because they wish to avoid conflict; and that is easy to understand. Many persons become belligerent regarding their faith. [The most violent being the ones who strap on bombs and blow up women and children; doing so in the justification of their own self righteousness. Other self righteous persons lacking love of people are prone to render judgment their group alone are the righteous in the earth; and that everyone not in their group, or approved by it, are lost and/or wicked. They reckon membership in their cult means salvation, thus steering people away from faith in Christ as the means of salvation. (Acts 4:12) Any who display a hatred of others certainly do not get it from the Bible. Such individuals have been misled by the lies of men.]
  4. Some who get angry during a discussion of the Bible do so because they start to realize they can't defend their own faith from the Bible; Or they may realize the Bible is leading them to have to abandon some of their current beliefs. Most of us suffer in that way to some degree or other. In such cases, and if they become beligerent or unreasonable, the Bible encourages we simply take our leave. (Proverbs 17:14) There is no reason to fight about our faith. Perhaps such individuals will give further consideration to truth as they move forward in life. Perhaps it is something we don't yet understand that has upset them.
All of those can seem good reasons to avoid talking about the Bible, until persons having such beliefs can be helped to see behind the curtain. [Helped to recognize the wolves in sheep's covering. (Matthew 7:15)] If these truly are "the last days" which Jesus spoke of; (Luke 21:28) then the meek and humble of this old system [many of whom have lived a life of abuse at the hands of the self glorious and self righteous judgmental lords of this old system] suddenly find relief in the hope of the Bible. As people learn it is Bible knowledge that can help them easily recognize the hypocritical religious "wolves;" They also realize the Bible provides them weapons so they have absolutely no reason to fear such wolves. (2 Corinthians 10:4-5 ; Ephesians 6:14-18) Many who are hesitant to talk about the Bible today, may well change to appreciate doing so tomorrow; If we can show them we simply parrot what they Bible teaches. If we show them we render no judgment as to how they feel about that truth, and show them we recognize our judgment wouldn't matter anyway. We are not judges over others and we recognize it is our personal faith we discuss with them. They are free to do with Bible knowledge just as they wish. They can elect to build faith, or refuse to do so. It is the same decision we are all making, and it is a struggle for us all. (Romans 7:21-23) If they refuse even to hear what the Bible teaches though, they throw away their chance to build or even consider faith. (Romans 10:14) What they choose, one way or the other, should not cause us to become upset with them. Again, our tolerance is because we recognize: It is not something we can see and handle that we are discussing; but it is our personal hope and faith! (Romans 8:24-25) God has not whispered in our ear. We are deciding what to believe by using our own power of reason; (Romans 12:1) and trying to realize our own hope based on our decision to exercise faith in the Bible; And then to understand it. (Philippians 2:12) Again, we are not judges over others. (Matthew 7:1-5) We should not judge others wicked because they don't share our faith; nor should we join in with, or continue in company with, those who are anxious to judge others.

So then, all who don't wish to even consider the Bible are missing the most wonderful point of it all: That we all have opportunity to get to very personally know the God of Creation: Jehovah; the God of the Bible. Having a discussion in appreciating God's patience, and his sense of humor, and his love then; as he dealt with the Philistines in 1 Samuel, is not something I think can be enjoyed except by those who have a sincere interest in the truth of the Bible. By those who have grown comfortable in peacefully discussing the Bible with others.

To become comfortable in talking about the Bible with others requires only a few simple steps: We are therefore, each and every one of us, judging our own selves in those previous few steps: We are either choosing to develop faith based on God's inspired word, or we are refusing to do so. (John 12:48 ; John 17:3) There is no third option!

For those who do love God's word, it is a joy to spend time discussing it with others who share that love. It is a joy to associate with those who are sincerely trying to get to know the God of creation through his word the Bible; and most specifically, through the teachings of his son Christ Jesus. Such persons are united in appreciation of the love, the power, the justice, the wisdom, the mercy, and the sense of humor, of our Creator. All lovers of truth are united through their individual effort to know Jehovah personally. It is the Bible, and only the Bible, that can guide us. (Psalms 119:105) It is God's word after all! (1 Thessalonians 2:13) It is alive and exerting power in the lives of those who love it; as they simply talk about it among themselves. (Hebrews 4:12) It seems certain, throughout mankind's history, all those who have been drawn to the true God have shared joy in discussing the Bible and in reflecting on God's qualities. If we have now arrived at the end of this system, at the time Jesus said we should lift our heads up, (Luke 21:25-28) then those who have real faith will be in the group who have opportunity to never die at all. (John 11:26) They will be preserved alive just as were Noah and Lot. (Matthew 24:37-39 ; Luke 17:26-30) Do you believe this?

Jehovah's blessings upon all who are turning to him through faith in his son. As Christ Jesus himself taught us to pray: "'Our Father, the [One] in the heavens, let Your name be regarded as holy; Let Your kingdom come; let Your will be done, as in heaven, [so] also on the earth. 'Each day be giving us the bread sufficient for the day. 'And forgive us our sins, for also we ourselves forgive every [one] being indebted to us; and do not lead us into temptation, but deliver us from evil [or, the evil [one] for yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen].'" (Luke 11:2-4 ; Matthew 6:9-13)

My best to you and yours Brad,


Joe


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