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"Time and chance"? What's that?
What does the Bible means when it says that "time and chance happen to them all"?
The author of Ecclesiastes made a puzzling statement when he wrote that "time and chance happen to them all" (Ecclesiastes 9:11). Some interpret this to mean that, sometimes, bad things happen for no real reason. But is that true?
Bad things certainly happen. But it would be completely out of character for the same God who does not forget so much as a sparrow, and who assures us that "you are of more value than many sparrows" (Luke 12:6-7), to allow anything to happen without a reason.
Think about the implications of something happening without any reason. It means one of two things: either God wasn't paying attention or didn't care. That's like calling the Almighty either incompetent or apathetic.
We know that neither is true. God is all-seeing (Psalm 33:13-15), never-sleeping (Psalm 121:3-4) and cares deeply about His people (Romans 8:38-39). So we must examine the alternative—that, while God does not directly cause evil, He knowingly allows it to happen.
Because humanity has elected to follow its own way instead of God's, God "gave them over to a debased mind, to do those things which are not fitting; being filled with all unrighteousness, sexual immorality, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, evil-mindedness; they are whisperers, backbiters, haters of God, violent, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents, undiscerning, untrustworthy, unloving, unforgiving, unmerciful" (Romans 1:28-31). God has, in essence, taken a step back from a world that says it doesn't want Him around. He is allowing its inhabitants to see the result of a life without Him.
That result is, from a human perspective, time and chance. Though God has not lost the ability to restrain Satan and his demons at will, humanity has forfeited God's protection by turning its collective back on Him. As a result, "The race is not to the swift, nor the battle to the strong, nor bread to the wise, nor riches to men of understanding, nor favor to men of skill; but time and chance happen to them all" (Ecclesiastes 9:11). Bad things happen as a result of humanity's choices; as a result of sin and forsaking God. But none of them happen "accidentally" or apart from God's will.
As it is written in the Psalms, "the eye of the Lord is on those who fear Him, on those who hope in His mercy" (Psalm 33:18). That is a promise. (What about when bad things happen to God's people? See the Related Online Resources below.)
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Is infant baptism valid?
Should babies be baptized? What does the Bible teach about baptism?
Some churches use different methods of baptism, including sprinkling or pouring water. Typically, these methods are used for the baptism of babies, based on the idea that this type of baptism would guarantee their admission to heaven, should they die before they reach the age of reason. Flawed reasoning underlies the practice of infant baptism.
Baptism doesn't guarantee salvation. Rather, it is an outward demonstration of the inner commitment a Christian has made, repenting of his or her sins and seeking God's forgiveness, as well as the gift of the Holy Spirit. So baptism is just the beginning of the conversion process.
Obviously, babies are not able to make a decision about committing their lives to the obedience and service of God; they do not understand what sin is or how they sin. God requires all of these factors of a person seeking baptism, and no one can do this for him or her. As good as the idea of baptizing an infant might sound, even parents cannot make decisions about conversion for their children.
What is the destiny of innocent children who die before they reach the age of commitment? Let's broaden the question: What is the destiny of every person who has died without understanding the truth of God? Few people, including those who regularly study the Bible, understand that God plans to bring all such people back to life 1,000 years after establishing the Kingdom of God on earth (Revelation 20:5, 11-13).
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What is the "soul"?
Is the soul talked about in the Bible an immortal part of human beings...or is it something else entirely?
The Bible, in both the Old and New Testaments, repeatedly makes reference to the "soul." Mainstream Christianity generally teaches that this soul is an immortal component of human beings; that upon our death, it is released from our bodies to spend eternity in either eternal bliss or eternal torment, depending on our conduct in this life. But a closer examination of the word shows that this is not the case.
The only Hebrew word translated as "soul" in the Old Testament, nephesh, is also translated elsewhere as "creature" or "being." All three words are synonymous, whether we look at God's creation of "an abundance of living creatures [nephesh]" in the sea (Genesis 1:20) or that "man became a living being [nephesh]" (Genesis 2:7) or read God's declaration that "the soul [nephesh] who sins shall die" (Ezekiel 18:4).
That last verse is key to understanding the concept of a soul. If the soul is immortal, it would be impossible to say that sinning would produce death. Rather, if mainstream Christianity were correct in its doctrine of hell, Ezekiel 18:4 would have to say, "the soul who sins shall be condemned to eternal torment." But it, along with the apostle Paul in Romans 6:23, plainly states that the penalty of sin is death, not never-ending fiery torment in hell.
Given that the soul is capable of death, and taking into consideration the fact that the word translated "soul" is used in reference to all sorts of living creatures, we can only conclude that the soul talked about in the Bible is a living being itself—not an eternal component of mankind.
For further explanation of the soul, including a look at instances of the word in the New Testament and information about the "spirit in man" (Job 32:8)
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What is the "the spirit in man"?
Several verses in the Bible talk about a spirit of man that is described much differently from what many religions envision as an immortal soul. What is this spirit in man?
What is the difference between an animal brain and a human brain of similar size? Science hasn't been able to explain the vast difference in thinking ability between the animal brain and the human mind. But the Bible talks about a spiritual component God gives to every person (Zechariah 12:1). The Bible teaches that this spirit in man imparts aspects of the human mind, including self-awareness, intellect, creativity, personality and temperament—everything that enables human accomplishment and knowledge short of true spiritual understanding (1 Corinthians 2:11).
Ecclesiastes 12:7 mentions this spirit, saying that the spirit of man returns to God upon death. Some erroneously interpret this as a reference to righteous souls going to heaven. However, the context shows this interpretation is wrong. For one thing, it says that the spirit of everyone who dies, not just the righteous, goes back to God who gave it. The preceding verses speak of aging and death taking their natural course in every person.
Paul wrote that the righteous dead wait in their graves until the resurrection (1 Thessalonians 4:14-18). And since Christ comes to the earth to reign, the resurrected saints will also be on the earth. Heaven isn't the reward of Christians.
This verse of Ecclesiastes 12 is part of the chapter's conclusion. In its entirety, the verse reads, "Then the dust will return to the earth as it was, and the spirit will return to God who gave it." Upon death, the human body decomposes into the dust from which it was created and the spirit in man goes back to God.
What is the spirit in man? Is it the man himself? If that were the case, Ecclesiastes 12:7 would not make sense. It plainly says that the body decomposes. Is the spirit in man an immortal soul? Much of mainstream Christianity has adopted the idea of an immortal soul from ancient pagan religion; it is not taught in the Scriptures.
Why would the spirit of man return to God upon death? Consider how God will resurrect the dead. He will not simply put life back into dead bodies. For even if the body remains intact upon death, it will eventually decompose, just as Ecclesiastes 12:7 stated. That is, the bodies of most people will no longer exist by the time of the resurrections.
It is likely, therefore, that the spirit in man serves as the permanent record of every human being, by which God will resurrect him or her at the appointed time (1 Corinthians 15:23). By way of analogy, it's possible to recreate a destroyed building if one has the blueprints of the original. Similarly, God is able to recreate a person by the record preserved in the spirit in man.
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Can you earn salvation?
Is salvation something to be earned? Can it be lost?
The Bible says very clearly that salvation cannot be earned through works. The apostle Paul writes, "For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast" (Ephesians 2:8-9). Salvation is a free gift from God received after genuine repentance and baptism (Acts 2:38-40).
However, salvation is something we are capable of losing. The author of Hebrews warns that it is possible to "neglect so great a salvation" (Hebrews 2:3) if we do not "give the more earnest heed to the things we have heard, lest we drift away" (Hebrews 2:1). So how do we avoid neglect and spiritual drift? We need to be zealous to follow God's way of life. This includes doing what Jesus Christ told the rich young ruler: "If you want to enter into life, keep the commandments" (Matthew 19:17).
Why? Because the only way to be happy is to be like God, which He explains through His laws. His laws are good, and so He wants us to obey them for our good and for the good of those around us. We must recognize that God's law is so important to Him that our disobedience required Jesus Christ to die. This should lead us to choose and to strive to avoid sinning.
The Bible tells us that "all have sinned [broken God's law] and fall short of the glory of God" (Romans 3:23). The blood of Christ removes the death penalty from us each time we sin only when we truly repent. Repentance involves turning from sin and following God and His law.
Salvation, though it cannot be earned, can be lost if we don't stay on the narrow path to life (Matthew 7:13-14). Obedience to God's "perfect law of liberty" (James 1:25) should be our natural response to Jesus' sacrifice and gift of forgiveness and salvation.
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What should I do when family members disagree with my religious beliefs?
What biblical advice can help when family members have a conflict over religion? Should you try to convert your family?
We understand how challenging it can be when there are strong, but differing, religious convictions within a household. Jesus Christ forewarned Christians that following God's way of life might well trigger this kind of painful conflict (Matthew 10:34-37). At the same time, a Christian should work to maintain as positive a family relationship as possible. Such a situation calls for love, understanding and graciousness. In most situations, Christians who conduct themselves this way find that conflicts and attitudes soften with the passing of time.
Many people erroneously believe that Christ would have them press their convictions on those around them. But the apostle Peter's admonition is to be ready to give an answer "to everyone who asks," doing it with meekness and fear (1 Peter 3:15). If someone is not interested or antagonistic, we should not press our beliefs on them.
Note this prophecy about how Christ conducted Himself: "A bruised reed He will not break, and smoking flax He will not quench" (Matthew 12:20). That is, He would not force His way on anyone—even when doing so would take no more effort than to break a reed that was already bent or to extinguish a fire that was already about to go out.
It wasn't then time for God to establish His Kingdom. It still isn't. God has a plan for all people, but He doesn't call everyone to understand His truth at the same time and, of course, there is no reason for boasting for those called first (2 Peter 3:9; 1 Corinthians 1:26-29).
Treat those around you with respect and kindness, not criticizing their religious convictions. Do not attempt to persuade them that they are wrong or that you are right. It is up to God to call them to understanding in His time (John 6:44). Until He does, they will likely receive any "preaching" poorly—perhaps even with hostility. Remember that the example set by a Christian is a priceless service to all who know him or her (Matthew 5:13-16).
Please bear in mind that those who do not understand what you do would naturally have concerns about any changes you are making to your religious beliefs and practices. Although you do not share their convictions, you can appreciate and respect their concern. Regularly ask God for wisdom and guidance to meet the daily challenges that come your way and help you create and maintain healthy family relationships.
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Why should I attend church?
Does a Christian have to attend a church, or is it possible to "go it alone" as an independent Christian?
Some doubt whether attending church services is really necessary in a Christian's life. They can keep the Sabbath holy from home; why bother travelling all the way to church every week if it doesn't really matter?
The Bible, however, says plainly that it does matter. Some individuals are genuinely unable to attend services, but to those who are able, the Bible says, "Let us consider one another in order to stir up love and good works, not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some, but exhorting one another, and so much the more as you see the Day approaching" (Hebrews 10:24-25).
As the end of this age draws closer, Satan will be going after God's people with more and more intensity (Revelation 12:12). The simple fact of the matter is that we need each other—for exhortation, for getting stirred up and passionate about God's way of life. The iron-sharpening-iron effect talked about in Proverbs 27:17 is simply impossible when we intentionally separate ourselves from our brethren. The benefits of weekly fellowship (support, encouragement, mutual growth, friendships and so on) are innumerable, and verses like Hebrews 10:24 command us to take part in them.
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What is idolatry?
What exactly constitutes idolatry, and how does God's command against idolatry apply to Christians today?
Most people today who have any concept of idolatry probably think of pagans bowing down and worshipping a strange-looking idol—a carved image or statue. That's part of what idolatry means, but since most of us today don't do that, how do God's commands against idolatry apply to Christians now?
In the King James Version of the Bible, there are three different words translated as "idolatry." Each one (teraphiym, kateidolos and eidololatria) has at its core the concept of serving or worshipping something other than the one true God.
The apostle Paul provides us with a modern application of idolatry in the middle of a sentence in his letter to the Colossians. He mentions "covetousness [greed, New International Version], which is idolatry" (Colossians 3:5).
So idolatry is not just venerating a statue, carving or painting. Idolatry occurs when we begin to value anything more than we value God. If we spend more time thinking about our hero than God, that's idolatry. If our every thought is about the latest gadget or our personal appearance, that's idolatry. If the first priority in our lives is our family, even that's idolatry.
When God said, "You shall have no other gods before Me" (Exodus 20:3), He wasn't just talking about the imaginary deities that seem so ridiculous to us today. He was talking about anything that usurps His place as number one in our hearts. The solution to this problem is as simple (and as difficult) as Christ's admonition in Matthew 6:33: "Seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness."
Everything else must come after.
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How should a Christian view the Old Testament?
Is the Old Testament outdated and obsolete or valuable for Christians to live by?
In many modern religious writings you are likely to encounter considerable prejudice against the Old Testament. That prejudice isn't justified in the light of Jesus Christ\'s teachings or those of the early Church of God.
While people today neatly partition the Bible into Old and New Testaments, Christ and His disciples did not. "The Scriptures" to them were what people now call the Old Testament writings. When Paul urged Timothy to be "diligent to present yourself approved to God…rightly dividing the word of truth" (2 Timothy 2:15), that "word" was the Old Testament.
Later in the same book, Paul reminded Timothy, "From childhood you have known the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus… All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness" (2 Timothy 3:15-16). Again, his references to Scripture meant the Old Testament.
Today, we rightly include the New Testament writings in our thoughts, as we read these verses. However, those who reject the actual Scriptures to which Paul referred—the Old Testament—make a serious error.
Again, many religious writers and teachers make that error, seeking to build a theology on the New Testament alone. Their primary motivation seems to be antinomian, that is, a prejudice against the law of God. They usually attempt to minimize what's written in the Old Testament, if not sweep it aside altogether. They mistakenly consider all "Old Testament" laws to be obsolete for Christians except for those validated by New Testament passages. That is not how we approach the unified Word of God. You'll see that United Church of God publications draw upon the Old Testament writings, just as the New Testament writers did throughout all of their books.
How true Christ's words are: "Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God" (Matthew 4:4).
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What is the "baptism of the Holy Spirit"?
The Bible talks about water baptism (being immersed in water to symbolize the death of our old self and being raised to new life). But what does it mean when it talks about baptism of the Holy Spirit? Does this refer to speaking in tongues?
Matthew, Mark and Luke all mention that Jesus would baptize people with the Holy Spirit (Matthew 3:11; Mark 1:8; Luke 3:16). This is a symbolic way to represent Christ's giving the Holy Spirit to Christians.
Pentecostal religions teach that the "baptism of the Holy Spirit" enables recipients to "speak in tongues," because of the unique events on the Day of Pentecost of Acts 2. But what many churches call "speaking in tongues" today is nothing like what the Bible records in the books of Acts and Corinthians. The miracle that occurred on the day of Pentecost in A.D. 31 (Acts 2:4-8) was one of communication—apparently, in this case, not so much in the speaking, as in the hearing. The Greek word translated "tongues" is glossa and means "languages." The miracle of "speaking in tongues" simply meant that every member of the audience could hear in his or her native tongue (language), regardless of what language the apostles spoke.
Also, some in the early Church, particularly in Corinth, had the supernatural ability to speak in different languages. In that case, speakers were able to use a language that their audience could understand. It would be like speaking Spanish to a Spanish-speaking audience or French to a French-speaking audience. Some members in Corinth were proud of their ability to "speak in tongues," having lost sight of the fact that they should always use their spiritual gifts to serve others. Paul wrote chapter 14 of 1 Corinthians specifically to deal with this problem.
Paul reminded the Christians in Corinth that speaking different languages was of no real value if an audience could not understand the words. He admonished them to concentrate more on understandable communication than on their linguistic abilities.
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What is Armageddon?
Many ideas about Armageddon can be found in literature and movies. But what does the Bible say about Armageddon?
You may be surprised to hear that Armageddon is not an event—it's a place. The Bible mentions Armageddon only once, in Revelation 16:16: "And they gathered them together to the place called in Hebrew, Armageddon." The word Armageddoncomes from two Hebrew words: Har Megiddo, meaning "the hill of Megiddo."
The common (but misleading) notion is that Armageddon will be the last, climactic battle to be fought on earth between the powers of good and evil. However, this is not quite right in several crucial respects.
Armageddon—or more likely the large broad Valley of Jezreel, or Esdraelon, which Megiddo overlooks—will in fact be the staging area for the final great battle of this age, but not the site of the battle itself. That is set not at Megiddo but in the Valley of Jehoshaphat—commonly reckoned to be the Kidron Valley, immediately adjacent to Jerusalem (see Joel 3:2, 9-16).
Notwithstanding the popular concept of the Battle of Armageddon, the Bible makes no specific prediction for a war fought at armageddon between two human armies precisely at Christ's return. However, the Bible does say that the armies of the East and West will be drawn to the infamous valley by lying demons (Revelation 16:14). From there they will march to Jerusalem. There they will fight the returning Jesus Christ (Revelation 16:14; 19:11-21; Joel 3:12-14).
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What is faith?
The concept of faith appears many times throughout the Bible. What is faith, and what does it mean for us?
The Bible defines faith this way: "Faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen" (Hebrews 11:1). In a world primarily dependent on the scientific method, where all facts must be tested and retested using observable, measurable evidence and empirical data, to claim that something as intangible as faith counts for both substance and evidence sounds ridiculous. But that, at its core, is faith.
In Hebrews 11 (and most places in the New Testament), faith is translated from the Greek word pistis, which can also be translated belief or assurance. To have faith is to believe God and trust Him. Faith can begin with seeing the wonders of the physical creation, which reveal our Creator's invisible attributes (Romans 1:20). But faith must grow beyond that to become an active, living faith powered through the gift of God's Holy Spirit (James 2:18-20; Ephesians 2:8; Galatians 5:22).
The rest of Hebrews 11 proceeds to describe men and women who "died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off were assured of them, embraced them and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth" (verse 13). Their faith in God's promises was so strong that they could see them in their minds' eye. Their future homeland, the Kingdom of God, was as real to them (arguably more real) as anything else around them.
The Bible says that "without faith it is impossible to please Him [God], for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him" (Hebrews 11:6). Faith—absolute and unshakable trust that God's promises are true—is essential for entering God's Kingdom. Of the heroes of faith listed in Hebrews 11, we read, "Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for He has prepared a city for them" (verse 16). That promised eternal city takes faith to reach.
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Is smoking a sin?
Does the Bible condemn smoking? What are the biblical principles that can be applied to smoking?
The Bible does not speak specifically of smoking, which is a relatively modern practice. However, it does cover the subject in principle. One of the main scriptures that addresses the heart of the matter is 1 Corinthians 6:19-20: "Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, which you have from God, and that you are not your own? For you were bought with a price; therefore glorify God in your body" (New Revised Standard Version).
God created us, and Jesus Christ paid the price for our sin through the sacrifice of His life. For both reasons, we belong to God, and we must not abuse God's property—our bodies. Today there is an abundance of scientific confirmation of the fact that smoking seriously damages one's health.
If one smokes only occasionally, the amount of nicotine and tar may be relatively small, but why should we deliberately put any of these toxic chemicals into our bodies? Every time a smoker inhales, some internal damage is occurring. Even if you don't inhale, the body absorbs toxic chemicals through the mucous membranes of the mouth and nose.
An additional scriptural principle involved with the smoking question is "you shall love your neighbor as yourself" (Matthew 22:39; Leviticus 19:18). Science clearly documents the damaging effect of secondhand smoke, as well as the monumental cost of smoking-related health problems. So, out of loving concern for others, a Christian should choose not to smoke. These principles show us that it is indeed a sin to smoke.
For many, it is not simply a matter of deciding to quit, but rather a difficult struggle with a physical addiction. This is yet another reason why smoking is a sin. It results in addiction, resulting in the smoker becoming a slave to an unhealthy habit. Notice what Paul says about this in 1 Corinthians 6:12, "You may say, 'I am allowed to do anything.' But I reply, 'Not everything is good for you.' And even though 'I am allowed to do anything,' I must not become a slave to anything" (New Living Translation).
Making a personal commitment is necessary to break the habit of smoking, as is praying regularly for God's help. It may also be necessary to seek advice and/or treatment from those trained in dealing with nicotine addiction.
