Just BECAUSE ..... Part 2

Understanding how things happen is critical to understanding your Bible. In a previous Blog I introduced the idea of causation (big word, mammoth idea!). Let me give you one example of why this is an important concept to grasp. Notice this Bible verse: “But we ought always to give thanks to God for you, brothers beloved by the Lord, because God chose you as the firstfruits to be saved, through sanctification by the Spirit and belief in the truth.” (2 Thessalonians 2:13, ESV).   In this one verse we have a primary cause and at least two secondary causes.  The primary cause (God chose) does not render the secondary causes (sanctification and belief) unnecessary.  But the secondary causes do not supersede the primary cause.

Aristotle wrote that "we do not have knowledge of a thing until we have grasped its why, that is to say, its cause."  I believe he was right.  Thomas Aquinas formulated five ways of arguing for the existence of God. His fifth way proving the existence of God is that he observed that everything has a purpose; and end that must have been applied by an intelligent Being.  Thus God created causality!

Aquinas rightly concluded that final causality comes first and works in and through the efficient causes. The efficient causes are subordinate to the final causes inasmuch as they are means to ends. 

Probably one of the most beloved Bible verses for Christians is found in Paul's Letter to Rome: “And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose. For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, in order that he might be the firstborn among many brothers.” (Romans 8:28–29, ESV).

In the next Blog, I will try to show the law of causation working strenuously through these precious verses.  As Aristotle concluded, until we screen this passage through the lens of causation we won't properly understand it.  Therefore we won't understand God's providence.  

Just BECAUSE ..... Part 1

Unless Christians understand and apply the phenomenon of multiple causes we will fail to grasp the magnitude and the wonder of God’s relationship with men and women. Embracing complex causation leads to worship in the true sense of the word: admiration for God and responsibility in life.

I think the concept of multiple causes is critical to proper Christian understanding of God’s interaction with men and women.  Let’s start with an easy illustration:

 A married couple has a beautiful baby girl.  We are absolutely aware that this event occurred because this couple engaged in the marriage act which produced a baby.   But this wasn’t the first time they tried to have a baby.  What was different this time?  Well in the most basic sense, there was unification between a sperm and an egg.  So conception occurs because of this union.  Later in life this little girl grows and she asks her mother where she came from.  As my daughter likes to mimic: “Daddy loved Mommy very much and that is why you are here.”   Well of course that is a means of keeping the details to a minimum, but there is truth there.  Behind every act there is a decision a decision that more than often occurs in the deep recesses of one’s subconscious.  That baby girl is here because of the choice of the mind.

Now wait a minute.  Paul affirms about God that “the God who made the world and everything in it, being Lord of heaven and earth, does not live in temples made by man,” (Acts 17:24, ESV).  Psalm 139 is a classic text that insists that this baby girl of our subject is here because God made her.

So you will notice that I used the word because four times in this make-believe story.  A baby girl is here BECAUSE a man and woman chose to engage in sexual intimacy.  She is here BECAUSE they did.  She is here BECAUSE of the union of a sperm and an egg.  She is here BECAUSE God formed and fashioned her in her mother’s womb. 

Theologians (and scientists) have sometimes framed this discussion in terms of primary and secondary causes. The drawer in the theological filing cabinet that contains this discussion is called providence. God is the primary cause of all things.  The uncaused Cause of the universe. But God relates to mankind through secondary causes. When Joseph reconciled with his brothers, Moses records the classic text that reflects this existence of multiple causes. “As for you, you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good, to bring it about that many people should be kept alive, as they are today.” (Genesis 50:20, ESV).

Correct biblical understanding will indeed show a pecking order in this arena of causation, but to deny compound causes will not only deny the reality of living, but will stunt one’s understanding of the relationship between God and man.  People who fail to embrace multifaceted causation also tend to become myopic – focusing on one aspect of reality rather than seeing the entire picture.

To be continued …

You Can Do Anything. (Not You .... God!)

Four Horns and Four Craftsmen

Zechariah 1:18–21 (NIV),

¹⁸ Then I looked up, and there before me were four horns. ¹⁹ I asked the angel who was speaking to me, “What are these?” He answered me, “These are the horns that scattered Judah, Israel and Jerusalem.” ²⁰ Then the Lord showed me four craftsmen. ²¹ I asked, “What are these coming to do?” He answered, “These are the horns that scattered Judah so that no one could raise their head, but the craftsmen have come to terrify them and throw down these horns of the nations who lifted up their horns against the land of Judah to scatter its people.”

In this vision Zechariah sees four horns that are interpreted by the angel as those which scattered Israel; and the arrival of four craftsman that come and throw down these horns.  The horns are symbols of strength, usually military strength or kingdoms.  "The four craftsmen come to overthrow the power of the nations. This is symbolic of God’s judgment coming on the nations that have persecuted His people, a fulfillment of God’s promise to Abraham that He would curse those who cursed Abraham’s descendants (Gen. 12:3)." [1]  The number 4 has a unique biblical meaning. Essentially is speaks of God's works.  So the meaning of the four horns and the four craftsman are that all are ultimately ordained by God. For a correct understanding of what I mean by "ordain" click HERE. 

There is much debate over who these four are.  One of the helpful notes is offered by The Believer's Bible Commentary:

"As the “horn” often represents a Gentile king (cf. Dan. 7:24; Rev. 17:12), the “four horns” allude either to the four empires spoken of by Daniel—Babylon, Medo-Persia, Greece, and Rome (cf. Dan 2:31–45; 7:3–28) or to the earlier powers of Assyria, Egypt, Babylon, and Medo-Persia." [2] 

Who are the four craftsmen?  They certainly are four nations ordained to deal with the oppressors of Israel.  Historically, from our vantage point they appear to be Medo-Persia, Greece, Rome and ultimately Christ.[3]  Why do I believe that the last "craftsman" to vindicate God's people is Christ?  I take that from another prophecy -- the prophecy of Daniel.  In Daniel 2:31-45, Daniel prophecies 5 coming kingdoms including the Babylonian captivity.  The fifth kingdom is the Kingdom of God.

““In the time of those kings, the God of heaven will set up a kingdom that will never be destroyed, nor will it be left to another people. It will crush all those kingdoms and bring them to an end, but it will itself endure forever.” (Daniel 2:44, NIV)

So Zechariah's prophecy ends up looking like this: 

THE HORNS	THE CRAFTSMAN
Babylon	Medo-Persian
Medo-Persia	Greece
Greece	Rome
Rome	Christ

  

Christ, then is the ultimate "Craftsman."   The carpenter's son from Galilee is destined to establish a Kingdom.  A Kingdom with no end.

So quite clearly the main point is that those whom God ordains to bring judgment on His people; He also ordains to bring into judgment those He ordained to scourge His people!   As noted in Isaiah 10:5,12 (NIV),

⁵ “Woe to the Assyrian, the rod of my anger, in whose hand is the club of my wrath! ¹² When the Lord has finished all his work against Mount Zion and Jerusalem, he will say, “I will punish the king of Assyria for the willful pride of his heart and the haughty look in his eyes.

John Calvin eloquently discussed this work of God in the mammoth work: Institutes of Christian Religion. You can read his chapter on this HERE. However the essence of this Vision is summarized well in this statement: "This is symbolic of God’s judgment coming on the nations that have persecuted His people, a fulfillment of God’s promise to Abraham that He would curse those who cursed Abraham’s descendants (Gen. 12:3)." [4]

The Abrahamic Covenant will stand the test of time.  Ultimately, as noted above, Christ will come and deal with all the enemies of His covenant people.  "When God has work to do he will raise up some to do it and others to defend it and protect those that are employed in the doing of it." [5]  As Job said of God, ““I know that you can do all things; no purpose of yours can be thwarted.” (Job 42:2, NIV). 

Of Jesus Christ, the writer to the Hebrews said,   “Since the children have flesh and blood, he too shared in their humanity so that by his death he might break the power of him who holds the power of death—that is, the devil—and free those who all their lives were held in slavery by their fear of death.” (Hebrews 2:14–15, NIV).

Father, I am reminded that we do not put our trust in chariots, nor in horses.  Father we don't put our trust in human kingdoms and earthly kings.  Father, Your Son and our Redeemer is the One who will fulfill this prophecy. He will bring judgment on the seed of the Serpent.  He will vindicate the seed of the woman.  He will do it in a way that even uses these wicked people to serve His purposes. He will do it in a way that in no way renders Him impeachable.  We await the One who has come and is coming to make all things new and right.  Until then, Father, grant the grace of Your Spirit that we would be sustained, encouraged and patient.  These are wicked days.  Your Church is under great assault.  But vengeance is Yours.  In that we rest for we know that all this is for the glory of Your Son and the eternal joy of Your people. Amen.

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1. Whitlock, L. G., Sproul, R. C., Waltke, B. K., & Silva, M. (1995). The Reformation study Bible: Bringing the light of the Reformation to Scripture: New King James Version (Zec 1:21). Nashville: T. Nelson.

2. Believer’s Study Bible. 1991 (W. A. Criswell, P. Patterson, E. R. Clendenen, D. L. Akin, M. Chamberlin, D. K. Patterson & J. Pogue, Ed.) (electronic ed.) (Zec 1:18). Nashville: Thomas Nelson.

3. KJV Bible Commentary. 1994 (E. E. Hindson & W. M. Kroll, Ed.) (1800). Nashville: Thomas Nelson.

4. Whitlock, L. G., Sproul, R. C., Waltke, B. K., & Silva, M. (1995). The Reformation study Bible: Bringing the light of the Reformation to Scripture: New King James Version (Zec 1:21). Nashville: T. Nelson.

5. Henry, M. (1994). Matthew Henry’s commentary on the whole Bible: Complete and unabridged in one volume (1570). Peabody: Hendrickson.