 | Reverend Terry G. Fox is Senior Pastor of Immanuel Baptist Church. He is Chairman of the North American Mission Board, member of its Executive Committee and the FamilyNet Broadcast Communications Committee, as well as numerous other subcommittees. He's listed on the Who's Who Among Outstanding Corporate Executives. He is a sought after speaker and has traveled and ministered in many places in the United States, Latin America and Southeast Asia. Rev. Fox and his wife Barbara have three children. You may contact him at Immanuel Baptist Church, 1415 South Topeka, Wichita, Kansas, 67211; phone (316) 262-1452; or Fax (316) 262-4704. |
Religion
2002-02-01 15:35:00
Is the Bible contradictory?
: While I understand from time to time there might be a contradiction in the way a Bible passage is interpreted, there is one that is causing me some difficulty....it says in one spot that if you do not acknowledge God before man, Jesus will not acknowledge you before His Father. In another spot it says that one should not boast of doing things in honor of God for if you do, you will have already received your reward. Are these not contradictory?
Rev. Terry Fox
Question: While I understand from time to time there might be a contradiction in the way a Bible passage is interpreted, there is one that is causing me some difficulty....it says in one spot that if you do not acknowledge God before man, Jesus will not acknowledge you before His Father. In another spot it says that one should not boast of doing things in honor of God for if you do, you will have already received your reward. Are these not contradictory?Answer: The first is from Matthew 10:32-33 (or Luke 12:8-9): "Whoever acknowledges me before men, I will also acknowledge him before my Father in heaven. But whoever disowns me before men, I will also disown before my Father in heaven." The second is from Matthew 6:1 "Be careful not to do your 'acts of righteousness' before men, to be seen by them. If you do, you will have no reward from your Father in heaven." Then verses 2, 3 and 16 explain what he means by "acts of righteousness". "When you give to the needy...", "And when you pray...", "When you fast, do not look somber as the hypocrites do, for they disfigure their faces to show men that they are fasting. I tell you the truth, they have received their reward in full." These are very different cases. The first hides his religion and the second brags about it. In both cases they are crowd-pleasers, but are trying to impress two different crowds. Unfortunately, both of these are still common temptations and failings. Jesus contrasts both of them with genuine God-pleasers. The first is a person who tries to fit in with the crowd at his or her work place and is afraid of being different, so never objects to unfair practices or filthy jokes or blasphemous language. The second is the same person, but on Sunday at church he pretends to be a faithful and pious follower and servant of Christ. There is no contradiction in Christ's two reprimands.
