Here’s your problem: you really, really don’t get Deuteronomy 29:29
Post by Dan Phillips over at the PyroManiacs Blog
Moses writes, “The secret things belong to [Yahweh] our God, but the things that are revealed belong to us and to our children forever, that we may do all the words of this law” (Deuteronomy 29:29).
This revelatory nugget sets up two distinct, discrete categories.
1. Secret things, which (A) belong to Yahweh, and therefore (B) do not belong to us, and therefore (C) are neither our business to know, to do, nor even to be concerned about; and
2. Revealed things, which (A) belong to us and our children, and therefore (B) are not Yahweh’s concern to do in our stead, and therefore (C) are our sole business and responsibility to know, to do, and to be concerned about.
I’m going to belabor those two points, then I’m going to apply them. (Note: the following assumes, rather than repeats, the Biblical case developed in previous posts and comments on this subject.)
Belaboring
God will not do Category 2 for you. That is, He will not love your wife in your stead. He will not raise your children in the nurture and admonition of the Lord in your stead. He will not think about the Word in your stead. He will not go out and disciple the nations in your stead, hold out the Word of Life in your stead, shine in the darkness in your stead, nor be ready to give every man an answer for your hope in your stead.
He told you to do it. He told me to do it. We mustn’t try to twit God — fool’s errand! — by playing ultra-Calvinistically dumb.
Now, you cannot do it without His grace, His enabling, His Spirit. But do it you must. Do it you must. Do it you must. If you refuse — however complex, noble, nuanced and pious-sounding your excuses reasons — you are sinning, and you must repent.
Equally, you cannot do Category 1 for God. It isn’t your responsibility. Look on the “Need-to-know” list, and you’ll only find one name. It isn’t yours, nor is it mine.
What’s more, you cannot prevent God from doing Category 1. Unlike you and me, God always does what He sets out to do; and, also unlike us, nothing prevents Him from doing it. No matter how lazy or hyperactive, how wise or foolish, how stupid or bright, or how bold or timid you and I are, God can and will see to every last one of His “secret things.” It is sheer unbelief to reason or act otherwise.
Applying
Now, just about every one of you thinks you believes those things. But dissonant strains in metas like this one really make me wonder.
If you believed Category 2, then you wouldn’t worry about whether or not it is “doctrinally proper” to call people to come to Christ, to decide, to believe, to repent, to turn, to accept Christ, to get reconciled to God, or even to get saved. Because God issues all these commands, and authorizes us to echo them in His name (cf. 2 Corinthians 5:19-20).
We wouldn’t waste our (and others’) time, and embarrass ourselves, by trying to find longwinded ways of making the Word not say what it plainly does say. We wouldn’t write 200-page essays on how the number 2, when doubled, actually equals Varfnod. We wouldn’t get out our electromicroscopes and hyper-examine every possible implication of simply doing what God says to do, rather than simply doing it.
If you believed Category 1, then you wouldn’t worry about whether or not you were issuing these invitations and commands to an elect person or a reprobate person. That’s not your business! That’s no part of your concern! If he’s reprobate, he won’t hear and respond anyway! If he’s elect, he will! That’s a secret thing. Let God worry about it.
That’s it.
Maybe you expect another 2000 words, making this all nuanced and complex and deep.
But that’s really all I have to say.
Except this: if the shoe doesn’t fit, feel free to drive on.
But if it does… your issue’s really not with me, now, is it?
Tags: Christian Life
October 13th, 2009 at 5:28 pm
We (believers in Yeshua) are called to be the light of the world, and just tht we ought to be. Too many times in our zeal we tend to get frustrated because people don’t respond to the light an then our bad attitude begins to shine. We can’t save anybody…… It’s not our job. Our job is to be the vessel in which the light shines thru. No one can come to G-d unless His Spirit draws them. So everyone!!!!!!!!!!!! listen up… When someone doesn’t respond to the message of Yeshua, don’t let your bad attitude get in the way. Let your light continue to shine, cntinue to do the works of righteousness in the name of Yeshua. Remember why so many of our Jewish bro.’s and sis’s won’t even mention His name. How many were killed in the name of Yeshua? So just be a light and pray that Jews and Gentile both will see the goodness of Yeshua who paid the price with His blood that all might be saved.