The Thing About Rahab

Hi.

Since the Bible never really covers some of the stickier issues regarding the story of Rahab in Joshua 2, I chose not to delve into those questions in the message yesterday. As I said, the point in the story is the decision by Rahab to put her complete trust--including her own life and the life of her family--in the God of Israel, the God whom she professed was Lord of all heaven and earth.

The questions hang around the story, although they are not questions put in the Bible itself except by silence. So the answers can only be surmised by our understanding of God, by what the Bible says about related issues, and by what we know of human behavior.

Question #1: Did Rahab continue her prostitution after the encounter with the Israeli spies? Why didn't Rahab repent of her prostitution?

We don't know that she DIDN'T, of course. We don't know what she did or did not do after the visit from the spies. So what can we suppose happened? What we know is that Rahab put herself into the care of God. She trusted him, believing him to be in charge of everything. What we know about God suggests that he would honor Rahab's decision of trust, and that the relationship thus established would have the result of Rahab's facing off with her sin and repenting of that sin. What we know about people is that once a true relationship with God is established, and as it grows, the heart softens in the gentle exposure of God's holiness and brokenness is healed. It is not a flippant assumption to believe that this is what happened to Rahab, either before or after the account in Joshua 2.

Question #2: Rahab lied to protect the spies by convincing the King's police that she had sent the two men on their way back to the ford's of the Jordan. Does this mean that lying is OK? Is it OK to lie in certain situations? And if so, doesn't that make morality subjective instead of objective?

Two answers are usually given for this one:

a. Rahab lied and it was a sin. God, in his sovereign power, still honored the faith of Rahab and the promise to the people of Israel and protected the spies in spite of the means Rahab used. If Rahab had not chosen to lie, God would still have protected the spies. Rahab's faith was adequate to believe God for her life, but was not mature enough to prevent her lying to the King's squad. We simply don't know how God would have protected the spies had Rahab chosen the more righteous path of honesty, but we know this is what he would have done.

b. Rahab lied and it was not a sin, because the purposes of God in saving the spies was more honorable than the deceit of the lie was sinful. In other words, since the deceit was actually an act of faith, and since that act of faith was in service of the plans and purposes of God, the lie was justified. The good from the lie trumps any sinfulness involved.

There are other examples of deceit used in the plans of God in scripture, and in every case these two arguments are proposed. Neither position is completely satisfying to me.

The first is sketchy because it doesn't answer the foundational question: If God could have accomplished his purpose without deceit, why didn't he just do that and keep Rahab from the sin? And if Rahab's actions were sin, why didn't God hold her publicly accountable for that sin so that we wouldn't have to guess about it?

The second option has its own trouble. If Rahab's deceit was not sin because of the ethics of the situation, it opens up the possibility of sin being defined by a person's own motives rather than objectively an issue of right and wrong. It seems to put sin on a teeter-totter with righteousness, so that if you can add something righteous to the sin you can outweigh it and make it OK. This ushers in the issue of relative morality, which always seems a little dicey.

Question #3: Why does the Bible leave us to ask/answer these questions?

This, to me, is the question that is most intriguing. It speaks volumes that these issues were left to the reader to ponder instead of God simply answering them outright. He surely knew we would ask! That he didn't plop down an answer on the spot gives us a point of wrestling. It may be uncomfortable and involve some brain power and trust on our part, but in the end it is good for us.

So, what do you think? Come on! Don't fudge. Don't be afraid of a wrong answer. What do you think?

Ron

Voting, Elections, and Grace

Please note: no advocacy, advice, or political intention is herein provided. Just strong thinking and a plea for lots of prayer. Please don't use the comments for campaigning, but please respond with how your thinking.

Provided here for your ponderings--Links to some interesting thoughts about voting as Christians and the present campaign:

Watch the FIRST campaign "debate" at Saddleback Church, hosted by Rick Warren.
Jesus for President
NYTimes Op-Ed "Christ Among the Partisans" by Garry Wills
J.P. Moreland on trueu re: WWJD: How Would Jesus Vote?
Do Christians Have an Obligation to Vote?
Chuck Colson on Breakpoint: An Urgent Calling
Obama and Faith - New York Times
About.com on McCain and Faith

Coming Up at GCF

Hi all.

The next two weeks I'll be away. In my place, John Davis returns to speak. I've heard good things about John's ministry in the past. Please give him a kind welcome.

On November 2 we'll be considering our role in politics and government. We'll tell you exactly who Jesus would vote for! We'll also be praying for the election and our country, and observing communion.

The next Sunday we'll get back to our study in Joshua.

Grace!

Pastor Ron

BAPTISM!

Wow! What a great day for GCF!

Yesterday more than 100 people crowded the shoreline at Haithco Park as six people went full-bore public with their faith in Jesus Christ. They were baptized in the clear pleasant water, and when they came up out of the lake the crowd cheered!

As soon as I get some pictures I'll post them here. In the meantime, let's continue to be excited about these people and what God is doing:

Isaac Negranza
Ryan Kingham
Karra Owczarzak
Bradley Landon
Lesley Wager
Sue Townsend

Also, when you see my wife Linda, give her a BIG HUG! She's the one who put the afternoon together, and we all had a great time!

Pastor Ron

The Blues

Hey.

What a great service Sunday. The band, as my wife says, was HOT! We are so blessed to have a great group of musicians under the humble and capable leadership of Doug. Thanks, guys.

Some of you asked me where I got the "Blues Primer" I used Sunday. Here's a link: Blues Primer. My special thanks to guitar teacher Stephen Compton for this hilarious bit.

Some of you also asked for the lyrics to "Evangelical Church-Going Blues," although I can't imagine why. It's the band that made that song any good! But, here are the lyrics:

Woke up this mornin, I was late for church (2X)
Woke up and realized I forgot to wash my shirt,
And now this wrinkled button down is showin all my dirt,

I got the evangelical church-goin blues. (2X)

Pulled into the parkin lot, sometin missin from my life, (2X)
Got out of the car and realized, I forgot to bring my wife,
She waitin back at home and I am gonna face some real strife,

I got the evangelical church goin blues. (2X)

Preacher at the pulpit, he got up in my face (2X)
He told me where I goin and he put me in my place
He said, “I want your InfoCard, or you are a disgrace”

I got the Grace Christian Fellowship,

Amelith Road,

Sunday Mornin,

People Lovin,

Evanglical church going (BIG FINISH!) blu—es!

Have a great week. Don't forget about our car wash push this Saturday at noon. Meet at the church!

Pastor Ron

Psalms So Far

I realize the blog had not been a regular part of the summer for me, and hence probably not for you. But I've been enjoying the series on worship, "here i am," and I'm wondering how you are feeling about it.

Here's where we've been. We've talked about worship as the intersection of God's greatness and our brokenness. We've discussed how worship amplifies God's character, and in so doing diminishes our place in the universe. Worship is a humbling experience.

Because of all this, worship needs to be honest. In fact, any other approach to worship nullifies it. In other words, if you worship in deceit, if you're trying to fool God when you're praising him, if you "put on airs" during worship, it's not worship at all. You've reduced God to someone who can be scammed, and you've covered yourself in lies, and that's not worship.

And last week we looked at emotion in worship--one of the things that Psalms are all about. Joy, happiness, contentment, peace, anger, depression, grief, frustration, and even jealousy all show up in various psalms. Talk about honesty!

Here's the thing that blows me away: God allowed all that into the manuscript. God, through the elaborate and elegant process of inspiration, shows us how honesty and vulnerability operates when we come face to face with him in worship.

Psalms are the songs and poetic content for the worship of the people of Israel, and serve as a model for our worship. So how does your own personal worship, whether in church or without, compare to what's going on in Psalms?

Let me hear what you're thinking.

Pastor Ron

Next Up at Grace...

New series starts on June 22.