On September 9,. 2007 the three assigned readings are Deuteronomy 30:15-20 (choose life); Philemon 1-21 (Onesimus) and Luke 14:25-35 (Hate parents). Chosen to prepare for a sermon is Deuteronomy 30:19 in which God commands Israel to “choose life, that both you and your descendants may live.”
The problem with this text is that at first reading it appears to contradict the clear message of Scripture when Jesus reveals that we did not choose Him; He chose us! Yet here we find Moses placing before the people the choice between “life and death, blessing and cursing” and encouraging them to choose life. How is that possible?
Theology is the art of making distinctions. On the one hand the Bible is clear that a person cannot find God for the simple reason that one has no knowledge of the true God until one receives faith. It would be similar to having a treasure hunt for three items such as a used tire, an old toothbrush and something else. However, no one is told what the “something else” is. Without such knowledge, it would be impossible to find it.
So also, born into the world as we are with original sin, it is impossible for us to find the true God since we have no inkling as to what He is like. Every god of every other religion in the world is a god of our imagination as well as insisting that some set of rules, commandments, instructions or the like be kept in order to be saved. Not only is it impossible to choose the true God; it is also probable that most people do not realize their lost condition.
So how do we resolve the clear passages of Scripture that indicate that God chose us to be believers; we did not choose Him and the passages that encourage us to make the right choices in regard to life, not death? Context is the king of theology. The resolution to our apparent dilemma is found by looking at the verses surrounding verse 19 about choosing life.
The question is to whom is Moses talking? Is he talking to unbelievers or believers? From verse 17 which speaks of the heart of the people turning away from God and serving other gods, Moses is speaking to believers. The answer is that in regard to unbelievers, there is no possibility of them either finding God or choosing Him. They are blind and ignorant as to His real nature and salvation He has provided them through the sufferings, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ.
The will of the unbeliever is in bondage to Satan and his evil deeds. It is as impossible for an unbeliever to choose the true God as it was for Lazarus to choose to come out of the grave. Indeed, Christian faith is a gift from God Himself as He works through the inerrant Word and precious Sacraments in bringing people to faith and keeping them in that faith. All credit goes to God and Him alone.
By keeping in mind the distinctions and differences between the believer an unbeliever, the Bible is now understood never to contradict itself. Passages that at first reading appear to contradict one another are found to be in agreement by using the principle of “Scripture interprets Scripture” and by keeping the distinctions between Law and Gospel clear.
Name:Tom Baker
Pr. Baker,
As sinners we certainly do seek out ways to involve ourselves in our salvation. Thank you for continuing to point out this error so we dont trip over ourselves.