Why Does God Permit Natural Disasters, Such As The Recent Earthquake In Haiti?

Why Does God Permit Natural Disasters, Such As The Recent Earthquake In
Haiti?

By Rev. Bill McGinnis, Director - LoveAllPeople.org
Search our pages => http://loveallpeople.org/searchallpages.html

HTML version of this page, with more links and better formatting, is
located at=>
http://www.internetchurchofchrist.org/pearl-naturaldisasters.html

Why Does God Permit Natural Disasters? If He is all-powerful, why doesn't
He intervene to prevent very bad things, such as the recent earthquake in
Haiti?

Here is the answer, as I see it, from a Christian Universalist position.

First, recognize that God does not permit us to understand all things at
this time. Why not? I don't know. He just doesn't permit it. At the
present time, we see things only dimly, as through a glass.

"For now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face: now
I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known."
(1 Corinthians 13:12 KJV)

Nevertheless, there are certain things He does permit us to know,
including these:
1. God is absolute sovereign over everything. He created everything; it
all belongs to Him. Nothing happens without His knowledge and consent.

"For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that
are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or
dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created
by him, and for him:" (Colossians 1:16 KJV)

2. God has ordained the laws of Nature, including the laws of Physics,
such as The Law Of Gravity. He does not usually interfere with their
normal, mechanical, cause-and-effect operation. When He does interfere, it
is considered a miracle. So when the mechanic fails to fasten the bolts,
and the wing falls off the airplane, and it crashes, killing your child,
God didn't do it: the mechanic did. Yes, God could have kept it from
happening, but in order to do so, He would have had to interrupt the
normal operation of His creation. He doesn't do that very often. Many of
the bad things that happen to good people are the result of the normal
cause-and-effect workings of Nature. For instance, people are designed to
wear out and die. That's just the way it is. These things happen to good
people and bad people alike.

"for he maketh his sun to rise on the evil and the good,
and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust."
(Matthew 5:45b KJV)

And in the case of earthquakes, the natural geological processes which
caused the earthquake in Haiti have been going on for millions of years.
Yes, God could have stopped the earthquake from happening, but that would
have forced Him to overturn His basic laws of Nature. And He established
these basic laws of Nature so that the universe would operate in a
rational cause-and-effect manner everywhere, as He desires. He very rarely
overturns his laws of Nature for any reason.

3. For some reason, Satan and his demons have certain rights to exist and
to act. And they hate us. They will harm us as much as they can. As
Christians, we have some authority over them, but few of us know how to
use it. Many of the bad things that happen to good people are caused
directly by Satan and his demons. Acts 10:38 speaks of people being
"oppressed of the devil."

"How God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Ghost and with
power: who went about doing good, and healing all that were
oppressed of the devil; for God was with him."
(Acts 10:38 KJV)

4. Sometimes, God will warn us in dreams or by some other means, when bad
things are heading our way. If we cultivate a close relationship with the
Holy Spirit, we are more likely to be warned of impending trouble so we
can avoid it. Joseph was warned in a dream to take Mary and baby Jesus
into Egypt, to escape Herod who was trying to kill Jesus (see Matthew
2:13).

5. No matter what happens, if we love Him, God will make EVERYTHING work
out for our own good in the long run, even if this idea seems preposterous
at the time.

"And we know that all things work together for good to them that
love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose."
(Romans 8:28 KJV)

6. The world is a very rough place. We can expect much pain and many
difficulties of all kinds. Why? We don't know. That's just the way it is.

"Man that is born of a woman is of few days,
and full of trouble." (Job 14:1 KJV)

7. The good news is that Heaven awaits us, and then all our troubles will
be gone.

"And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and
there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying,
neither shall there be any more pain: for the former
things are passed away." (Revelation 21:4 KJV)

8. Until then, we have the Holy Spirit as our Comforter, Who will be with
us, helping us and loving us at all times.

"And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another
Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever;"
(John 14:16 KJV)
<><

If you, yourself, have had bad things happen to you, then this prayer is
for you.

"Comfort In Sorrow"

I pray the Lord will comfort you in sorrow,
When sadness fills your heart with dull despair.
When things you wanted most seem gone forever,
I pray His holy presence gives you peace.
When nothing in this world seems safe or certain,
I pray you have the Lord and He has you.
Amen.
<><

Please also see our pages on Christian Universalism. . .

http://www.loveallpeople.org/christianuniversalist.html and . . .
http://www.internetchurchofchrist.org/christianuniversalism.html

May the Lord bless this presentation of His holy Word.

Rev. Bill McGinnis <><
bmcgin@patriot.net

See more pages like this, at our Index of Pearls Of Faith, a treasury of
Biblical truths.

Please also see our related pages . . .

CHRISTIAN
ETHICS & HUMAN RELATIONS
POLITICS & PUBLIC AFFAIRS
Sitemap

Blessings to you in Jesus Christ our Lord.

Rev. Bill McGinnis, Director - LoveAllPeople.org

All of our original content on all of our pages is in the Public Domain.
Webmasters: you may link to our pages by any means you choose, including
"framing."

You can accept Jesus here and now at Jesus Direct -
http://www.loveallpeople.org/jesusdirect.html

To support us, please visit the advertiers appearing on our pages.

HTML version of this page, with more links and better formatting, is
located at=>
http://www.internetchurchofchrist.org/pearl-naturaldisasters.html

We are http://www.LoveAllPeople.org

"Start Each Day The Positive Way," at Internet Daily Chapel - Christian
daily worship service and practical guide.
http://www.internetchurchofchrist.org/idc.html

A Simple Plan To Deradicalize The Islamic Terrorists And Their Sympathizers

A Simple Plan To Deradicalize The Islamic Terrorists And Their
Sympathizers

http://www.deradicalize.com, http://www.deradicalise.com

A Service Of LoveAllPeople.org - Rev. Bill McGinnis, Director

The HTML version of this page, with more links, is at =>
http://www.loveallpeople.org/deradicalize.html

Welcome to DERADICALIZE.COM, where we explore and present ways to
deradicalize the Islamic terrorists and their sympathizers.

FIRST AND FOREMOST: Restrain Israel, and prevent the Israelis from
continuing their multiple atrocities against the Palestinians.
These atrocities are well-publicized around the world, although mostly
ignored by the pro-Israel US media. They provide a continuing source of
strong motivation for Muslims to hate Israel and its main sponsor and
enabler in the world, the USA.

"Why do they hate us," you ask. "Because of Israel," I reply. "All other
factors are secondary."

Israel is the delinquent child of the United States. The USA through the
United Nations created Israel in 1948, and the USA has supported Israel --
right or wrong -- ever since then. Without the continuing support of the
USA, Israel could not exist today. Therefore the USA is now morally
responsible for everything Israel does and is rightfully entitled to use
to use whatever means are necessary to end Israeli atrocities in the
world.

Search Google for "Israeli atrocities" =>
http://www.google.com/search?&q=Israeli+atrocities

Here is our very first example, from the news recently (Jan. 9, 2010). The
person who recently killed the CIA personnel in Afghanistan had previously
revealed his motivation . . .

In 2008, Balawi had declared on an Internet site that he wished to "be a
bomb" so he could destroy Israelis for their treatment of Palestinians.
Family members have said they were unaware of any help he was providing to
the Jordanian government, noting that his prison stay left him agitated
and visibly stressed. But Jordanian analysts found his missives to be
compelling. "We made an effort to lure him in and verify the information
he had," a senior Jordanian government official said.

Source:
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/01/09/AR2010010900758_2.html?hpid=topnews&sid=ST2010010900787

NEXT . . . AFTER FIRST RESTRAINING ISRAEL . . . ATTACK THE FALSE RELIGIOUS
THEORIES WHICH SEEM TO JUSTIFY ISLAMIC TERRORISM

Using the Qur'an as the religious authority, present these ideas . . .

"The Qur'an Forbids Terrorism" -
http://www.loveallpeople.org/quranforbidsterrorism.html

"Terrorist Murderers Insult Allah, Bring Shame To Islam" -
http://www.loveallpeople.org/terroristmurderers1.html

Please also see our web page at => Defeating Terrorism -
http://www.loveallpeople.org/defeatingterrorism.html

Blessings to you. May God help us all.

Rev. Bill McGinnis, Director - LoveAllPeople.org

The HTML version of this page, with more links, is at =>
http://www.loveallpeople.org/deradicalize.html

We are . . . http://www.LoveAllPeople.org

"Treat Others As You Would Like To Be Treated."

"Start Each Day The Positive Way," at Internet Daily Chapel - Christian
daily worship service and practical guide.
http://www.internetchurchofchrist.org/idc.html

A Plan To Deradicalize The Islamic Terrorists And Their Sympathizers -

A Plan To Deradicalize The Islamic Terrorists And Their Sympathizers -

http://www.deradicalize.com, http://www.deradicalise.com

A Service Of LoveAllPeople.org
Rev. Bill McGinnis, Director

HTML version of this page, with more links, is at =>
http://www.loveallpeople.org/deradicalize.html

Welcome to DERADICALIZE.COM, where we explore and present ways to
deradicalize the Islamic terrorists and their sympathizers.

FIRST AND FOREMOST: Restrain Israel, and prevent the Israelis from
continuing their Satanic atrocities against the Palestinians.
These atrocities are well-publicized around the world, although mostly
ignored by the pro-Israel US media. They provide a continuing source of
strong motivation for Muslims to hate Israel and its main sponsor and
enabler in the world, the USA.

"Why do they hate us," you ask. "Because of Israel," I reply. "All other
factors are secondary."

Israel is the delinquent child of the United States. The USA through the
United Nations created Israel in 1948, and the USA has supported Israel --
right or wrong -- ever since then. Without the continuing support of the
USA, Israel could not exist today. Therefore the USA is now morally
responsible for everything Israel does and is rightfully entitled to use
to use whatever means are necessary to end Israeli atrocities in the
world.

Search Google for "Israeli atrocities" =>
http://www.google.com/search?&q=Israeli+atrocities

Here is our very first example, from the news recently (Jan. 9, 2010). The
person who recently killed the CIA personnel in Afghanistan had previously
revealed his motivation . . .

In 2008, Balawi had declared on an Internet site that he wished to "be a
bomb" so he could destroy Israelis for their treatment of Palestinians.
Family members have said they were unaware of any help he was providing to
the Jordanian government, noting that his prison stay left him agitated
and visibly stressed. But Jordanian analysts found his missives to be
compelling. "We made an effort to lure him in and verify the information
he had," a senior Jordanian government official said.

Source:
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/01/09/AR2010010900758_2.html?hpid=topnews&sid=ST2010010900787

NEXT . . . AFTER FIRST RESTRAINING ISRAEL . . . ATTACK THE FALSE RELIGIOUS
THEORIES WHICH SEEM TO JUSTIFY ISLAMIC TERRORISM

Using the Qur'an as the religious authority, present these ideas . . .

"The Qur'an Forbids Terrorism" -
http://www.loveallpeople.org/quranforbidsterrorism.html

"Terrorist Murderers Insult Allah, Bring Shame To Islam" -
http://www.loveallpeople.org/terroristmurderers1.html

Please also see our web page at => Defeating Terrorism -
http://www.loveallpeople.org/defeatingterrorism.html

Blessings to you. May God help us all.

Rev. Bill McGinnis, Director - LoveAllPeople.org

HTML version of this page, with more links, is at =>
http://www.loveallpeople.org/deradicalize.html

The advertising above is served automatically and independently by Google.

We are . . . http://www.LoveAllPeople.org

"Treat Others As You Would Like To Be Treated."

"Start Each Day The Positive Way," at Internet Daily Chapel - Christian
daily worship service and practical guide.
http://www.internetchurchofchrist.org/idc.html

Internet Daily Chapel (text version) For Week Of January 10, 2010, Featuring "How To Deradicalize The Islamic Terrorists And Their Sympathizers"

Internet Daily Chapel (text version) For Week Of January 10, 2010 At
Internet Church Of Christ

Featuring "How To Deradicalize The Islamic Terrorists And Their
Sympathizers"

HTML version of this page is at =>
http://www.internetchurchofchrist.org/idc01102010.html

A Service Of LoveAllPeople.org - Rev. Bill McGinnis, Director
To search all our pages, please click =>
http://www.loveallpeople.org/searchallpages.html

Bible Readings For Each Day

New American Bible (with notes and links) -
http://www.usccb.org/nab/today.shtml

Daily Light On The Daily Path -
http://www.gnpcb.org/esv/devotions/daily.light/

National Presbyterian Church (USA) -
http://www.natpresch.org/one_daily_reading.php

How To Deradicalize The Islamic Terrorists And Their Sympathizers

By Rev. Bill McGinnis, Pastor - InternetChurchOfChrist.org

http://www.deradicalize.com, http://www.deradicalise.com

FIRST AND FOREMOST: Restrain Israel, and prevent the Israelis from
continuing their Satanic atrocities against the Palestinians.
These atrocities are well-publicized around the world, although mostly
ignored by the pro-Israel US media. They provide a continuing source of
strong motivation for Muslims to hate Israel and its main sponsor and
enabler in the world, the USA.

"Why do they hate us," you ask. "Because of Israel," I reply. "All other
factors are secondary."

Israel is the delinquent child of the United States. The USA through the
United Nations created Israel in 1948, and the USA has supported Israel --
right or wrong -- ever since then. Without the continuing support of the
USA, Israel could not exist today. Therefore the USA is now morally
responsible for everything Israel does and is rightfully entitled to use
whatever means are necessary to end Israeli atrocities in the
world.

Search Google for "Israeli atrocities" =>
http://www.google.com/search?&q=Israeli+atrocities

Here is our very first example, from the news yesterday (Jan. 9, 2010).
The person who recently killed the CIA personnel in Afghanistan had
previously revealed his motivation . . .

In 2008, Balawi had declared on an Internet site that he wished to "be a
bomb" so he could destroy Israelis for their treatment of Palestinians.
Family members have said they were unaware of any help he was providing to
the Jordanian government, noting that his prison stay left him agitated
and visibly stressed. But Jordanian analysts found his missives to be
compelling. "We made an effort to lure him in and verify the information
he had," a senior Jordanian government official said.

Source:
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/01/09/AR2010010900758_2.html?hpid=topnews&sid=ST2010010900787

NEXT . . . AFTER FIRST RESTRAINING ISRAEL . . . ATTACK THE FALSE RELIGIOUS
THEORIES WHICH SEEM TO JUSTIFY ISLAMIC TERRORISM

Using the Qur'an as the religious authority, present these ideas . . .

"The Qur'an Forbids Terrorism" -
http://www.loveallpeople.org/quranforbidsterrorism.html

"Terrorist Murderers Insult Allah, Bring Shame To Islam" -
http://www.loveallpeople.org/terroristmurderers1.html

Please also see our web page at => Defeating Terrorism -
http://www.loveallpeople.org/defeatingterrorism.html

HTML version of this page is at =>
http://www.internetchurchofchrist.org/idc01102010.html

Blessings to you in Jesus Christ our Lord.

Rev. Bill McGinnis, Director - LoveAllPeople.org

All of our original content on all of our pages is in the Public Domain.
Webmasters: you may link to our pages by any means you choose, including
"framing."

These ads are served automatically by Google. They may be theologically
incorrect.

You can accept Jesus here and now at Jesus Direct.

We are . . . http://www.InternetChurchOfChrist.org
A service of . . . http://www.LoveAllPeople.org

"Start Each Day The Positive Way," at Internet Daily Chapel - Christian
daily worship service and practical guide.
http://www.internetchurchofchrist.org/idc.html

How To Deradicalize The Islamic Terrorists And Their Sympathizers

How To Deradicalize The Islamic Terrorists And Their Sympathizers

http://www.deradicalize.com, http://www.deradicalise.com

A Service Of LoveAllPeople.org
Rev. Bill McGinnis, Director

HTML version of this page, with more links, is at =>
http://www.loveallpeople.org/deradicalize.html

Welcome to DERADICALIZE.COM, where we explore and present ways to
deradicalize the Islamic terrorists and their sympathizers.

FIRST AND FOREMOST: Restrain Israel, and prevent the Israelis from
continuing their Satanic atrocities against the Palestinians.
These atrocities are well-publicized around the world, although mostly
ignored by the pro-Israel US media. They provide a continuing source of
strong motivation for Muslims to hate Israel and its main sponsor in the
world, the USA.

"Why do they hate us," you ask. "Because of Israel," I reply. "All other
factors are secondary."

Israel is the delinquent child of the United States. The USA through the
United Nations created Israel in 1948, and the USA has supported Israel --
right or wrong -- ever since then. Therefore the USA is now morally
responsible for everything Israel does.

Search Google for "Israeli atrocities" =>
http://www.google.com/search?&q=Israeli+atrocities

Here is our very first example, from the news today (Jan. 9, 2010). The
person who recently killed the CIA personnel in Afghanistan had previously
revealed his motivation . . .
'In 2008, Balawi had declared on an Internet site that he wished to "be a
bomb" so he could destroy Israelis for their treatment of Palestinians.'

In 2008, Balawi had declared on an Internet site that he wished to "be a
bomb" so he could destroy Israelis for their treatment of Palestinians.
Family members have said they were unaware of any help he was providing to
the Jordanian government, noting that his prison stay left him agitated
and visibly stressed. But Jordanian analysts found his missives to be
compelling. "We made an effort to lure him in and verify the information
he had," a senior Jordanian government official said.

Source:
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/01/09/AR2010010900758_2.html?hpid=topnews&sid=ST2010010900787

Blessings to you. May God help us all.

Rev. Bill McGinnis, Director - LoveAllPeople.org

All of our original content on all of our web pages is in the Public
Domain. You may link to these pages by any means you choose, including
"framing."

Index of LoveAllPeople.org: - ETHICS & HUMAN RELATIONS - POLITICS & PUBLIC
AFFAIRS - CHRISTIAN - AUTOMOTIVE - LAW & LEGAL SERVICES - HEALTH & FITNESS
- PUBLISHING & CONSULTING - AFFILIATES & FEATURED PRODUCTS - SITE MAP -
CONTACT LINK

"Seeking The Greatest Good For The Greatest Number, With Basic Rights For
All."
Search all pages in The LoveAllPeople.org Network,
using the search box below . . .

For list of suggested searches, click => HERE!

See what we do => On The Web and Newsgroups-1 and Newsgroups-2.
To support us, please visit the advertisers appearing on our pages.

HTML version of this page, with more links, is at =>
http://www.loveallpeople.org/deradicalize.html

The advertising above is served automatically and independently by Google.

We are . . . http://www.LoveAllPeople.org

"Treat Others As You Would Like To Be Treated."

"Start Each Day The Positive Way," at Internet Daily Chapel - Christian
daily worship service and practical guide.
http://www.internetchurchofchrist.org/idc.html

President Abraham Lincoln Refused To Kill Innocent Confederate Prisoners For Crimes Committed By Other People

President Abraham Lincoln Refused To Kill Innocent Confederate Prisoners
For Crimes Committed By Other People

A Service Of LoveAllPeople.org
Rev. Bill McGinnis, Director

HTML version of this page, with full links is located at
http://loveallpeople.org/lincolnrefusedtokilltheinnocentforcrimesofotherpeople.html

BACKGROUND

The time was may, 1864, toward the end of the United States Civil War. The
Union Army
was heading toward the Confederate capital at Richmond, Virginia .
. .

THE INCIDENT - President Lincoln said he could not kill the innocent for
the guilty.

There were serious questions, too, to be decided about negro soldiers, for
the South had raised a mighty outcry against the Emancipation
Proclamation, especially against the use of the freed slaves as soldiers,
vowing that white officers of negro troops would be shown small mercy, if
ever they were taken prisoners. No act of such vengeance occurred, but in
1864 a fort manned by colored soldiers was captured by the Confederates,
and almost the entire garrison was put to death. Must the order that the
War Department had issued some time earlier, to offset the Confederate
threats, now be put in force? The order said that for every negro prisoner
killed by the Confederates a Confederate prisoner in the hands of the
Union armies would be taken out and shot. It fell upon Mr. Lincoln to
decide. The idea seemed unbearable to him, yet, on the other hand, could
he afford to let the massacre go unavenged and thus encourage the South in
the belief that it could commit such barbarous acts and escape unharmed?
Two reasons finally decided him against putting the order in force. One
was that General Grant was about to start on his campaign against
Richmond, and that it would be most unwise to begin this by the tragic
spectacle of a military punishment, however merited. The other was his
tender-hearted humanity. He could not, he said, take men out and kill them
in cold blood for crimes committed by other men. If he could get hold of
the persons who were guilty of killing the colored prisoners in cold
blood, the case would be different; but he could not kill the innocent for
the guilty. Fortunately the offense was not repeated, and no one had cause
to criticize his clemency.

Source: This description was copied from pages 244-245 of the book: The
Boys' Life Of Abraham Lincoln, by Helen Nicolay, as digitized by Google
below:

HTML version of this page, with full links is located at
http://loveallpeople.org/lincolnrefusedtokilltheinnocentforcrimesofotherpeople.html

Please also see our HTML page devoted to this book, located at
http://www.loveallpeople.org/library/boyslifeofabrahamlincoln.html

Blessings to you. May God help us all.

Rev. Bill McGinnis, Director - LoveAllPeople.org

All of our original content on all of our web pages is in the Public
Domain. You may link to these pages by any means you choose, including
"framing."

Index of LoveAllPeople.org: - ETHICS & HUMAN RELATIONS - POLITICS & PUBLIC
AFFAIRS - CHRISTIAN - AUTOMOTIVE - LAW & LEGAL SERVICES - HEALTH & FITNESS
- PUBLISHING & CONSULTING - AFFILIATES & FEATURED PRODUCTS - SITE MAP -
CONTACT LINK

"Seeking The Greatest Good For The Greatest Number, With Basic Rights For
All."
Search all pages in The LoveAllPeople.org Network,
using the search box below . . .

For list of suggested searches, click => HERE!

See what we do => On The Web and Newsgroups-1 and Newsgroups-2.
To support us, please visit the advertisers appearing on our pages.

The advertising above is served automatically and independently by Google.

We are . . . http://www.LoveAllPeople.org
"Treat Others As You Would Like To Be Treated."

Internet Daily Chapel For Week Of January 3, 2010 (text version) At Internet Church Of ChristFeaturing "Figures Of Speech In The Bible - part 1"

Internet Daily Chapel For Week Of January 3, 2010 (text version)
At Internet Church Of Christ
Featuring "Figures Of Speech In The Bible - part 1"

HTML version of this page with more links at =>
http://www.internetchurchofchrist.org/idc01032010.html

A Service Of LoveAllPeople.org - Rev. Bill McGinnis, Director
To search all our pages, please click =>
http://www.loveallpeople.org/searchallpages.html

Bible Readings For Each Day

New American Bible (with notes and links) -
http://www.usccb.org/nab/today.shtml

Daily Light On The Daily Path -
http://www.gnpcb.org/esv/devotions/daily.light/

National Presbyterian Church (USA) -
http://www.natpresch.org/one_daily_reading.php

Figures Of Speech In The Bible - part 1
A Statement Of Opinion From One Bible Teacher
With commentary by Rev. Bill McGinnis

Web Page By Rev. Bill McGinnis, Pastor - InternetChurchOfChrist.org
Located at =>
http://www.internetchurchofchrist.org/figuresofspeechinthebible-part1.html

A Statement Of Opinion From One Bible Teacher

Chapter XIII..Figurative Language Of The Bible.

Source: The Bible companion: From the last London edition, edited by
Stephen Higginson Tyng, pages 108-111
as digitized by Google here =>
http://books.google.com/books?id=oe8XAAAAYAAJ&dq=figurative%20language%20of%20the%20bible%20%22figures%20of%20speech%22&lr=&as_drrb_is=q&as_minm_is=0&as_miny_is=&as_maxm_is=0&as_maxy_is=&as_brr=4&pg=RA1-PA108#v=onepage&q=figurative%20language%20of%20the%20bible%20%22figures%20of%20speech%22&f=false

"I have multiplied visions, and used similitudes by the ministry of the
prophets," Hosea xii. 10.

This declaration of the Lord God Almighty must be practically regarded,
fully to profit by studying the holy Scriptures. To adopt this mode of
instruction was a merciful condescension to human weakness on the part of
God ; especially in the early ages of the world, when symbolical language
originated from the necessary scarcity of words. Figures of speech, as all
allow, were occasioned by the very poverty of language. The advancement of
society in arts, sciences, and refinement, has produced the addition of a
multitude of words. Still in the highest state of improvement, all
languages continue to be more or less figurative.

Probably there are no writings in existence whose style is not in some
degree metaphorical; which, indeed, really constitutes much of its
essential beauty.

The language of the Bible is highly figurative, particularly the Old
Testament; for which, besides its remote antiquity, two particular reasons
have been assigned. First, the eastern nations, possessing warm
imaginations, and living in climates rich and fertile, surrounded by
objects equally grand and beautiful, naturally delighted in a figurative
mode of expression, far beyond that of the more sober taste of Europeans
in less luxuriant regions. The other is, that many of the books of the Old
Testament consist of Hebrew poetry; in the style in which the author is
allowed, by universal consent, the privilege of illustrating his
productions by images and similitudes, drawn from every striking subject
which may be present to his imagination. Moses, David, Solomon, Isaiah,
and other sacred poets, ;i In iii Iki with figures; on every occasion
their compositions are adorned with the richest flowers and the most
instructive metaphors, to impress the minds and affect the hearts of their
readers. But their propriety, design, and beauty, can be appreciated fully
only by possessing a tolerable idea of the country in which the inspired
poets flourished, the peculiarities of its inhabitants, and the idioms of
its language.

The style of the New Testament also, especially the discourses of our
Saviour, are remarkably metaphorical; by mistaking which the most
extravagant notions'have been published as divine doctrine ; some
professors of Christianity adopting a literal application of those
expressions which were figuratively intended. A few examples will show the
incorrectness of a literal interpretation of some of the words of our
Lord. Speaking of Herod the king, Christ says, " Go ye, and tell that
fox," Luke xiii. 32. Here, as every reader perceives, the word fox is
transferred from its literal signification that of a beast of prey,
proverbial for its profound cunning, to denote a cruel tyrant, and that
use of the term conveys, as was designed, the idea of consummate
hypocrisy.

Our Lord said to the Jews, " I am the living bread which came down from
heaven: if any man eat of this bread he shall live for ever : and the
bread that I will give is my flesh, which I will give for the life of the
world," John vi. 51. The sensual Jews understood his words literally; and
said, " How can this man give us his flesh to eat 1" ver. 52; not
considering that he intended the sacrifice of his life, which he gave as
an atonement for the sins of the world.

In the institution of the Lord's Supper, our Saviour said of the bread, "
This is my body; and of the wine " This is my blood," Matt. xxvi. 26.28.
Upon these words the Roman Catholics, since the twelfth century, have put
a forced construction; and in opposition to other passages of the
Scriptures, as well as every principle of nature and sound reason, they
have attempted to establish their monstrous doctrine of
transubstantiation; or, the conversion of the bread and wine in the Lord's
Supper into the real body and blood of Christ, when the priest pronounces
the words of pretended consecration, though to all the senses it remains
just the same bread and wine unchanged. The evident meaning of our Lord
was, that the bread represented his body, and the wine signified his
blood. This mode of.expression may be seen used in the Old Testament, Gen.
xli. 26, 27. Exod. xii. 11. Dan. vii. 24, and by our Saviour himself in
his parables, Matt. xiii. 38, 39. John x. 7. 9. Also, Christ calls himself
the door, John x. 9 ; a vine, John xv. 1; a shepherd, John x. 11.

The most common and remarkable figures of speech in the Bible are the
following:

I. A Metaphor is a figurative expression, founded on some similitude which
one object bears to another, as, to bridle the tongue, Jas. i. 26. For the
sword to devour flesh, Deut. xxxii. 42. To be born again, John iii. 3.

II. An Allegory is a continued metaphor, as the discourse of our Saviour
concerning eating his flesh, John vi. 35.65.

III. A Parable is the representation of some moral or spiritual doctrine
under an ingenious similitude, as that of the Sower, Matt. xiii. 2.23 ;
the Prodigal Son, Luke xvi. 11.32; and the Ten Virgins, Matt. xxv. 1.13.

IV. A Proverb is a concise, sententious saying, founded on a penetrating
observation of men and manners. Brevity and elegance are essential to a
proverb Prov. x. 15. Luke iv. 23.

V. Metonymy is a figure of speech in which one word is put for another;
as, " They have Moses and the prophets," Luke xvi. 29, meaning'not their
persons, but their writings.

VI. Prosopopteia, or Personification, attributes the actions of persons to
things, as in Ps. Ixxxv. 10, it is said, " Mercy and truth are met
together; righteousness and peace have kissed each other."

VII. Synecdoche puts a part for the whole of any thing, or the whole for a
part, as Luke ii. 1. "All the world;" and Acts xxiv. 5. " Throughout the
world," by which is meant the Roman empire, or parts of it. In Acts xxvu.
37, the word "souls" is put for the whole persons.

VIII. Irony is a figure in which a different thing is intended from that
which is spoken. Examples of this kind are not very frequent in the Bible;
yet there area tew. Such is the address of Elijah to the priests of Baal,
1 Kings xviii. 27, and the remark of Job to his friends. Job xii. 2.

IX. Hyperbole is a representation of any thing as being much greater or
smaller than it is in reality. For examples of this figure, see Num. xiii.
33. Deut. i. 28; ix. 1.

Source: The Bible companion: From the last London edition, edited by
Stephen Higginson Tyng, pages 108-111
as digitized by Google here =>
http://books.google.com/books?id=oe8XAAAAYAAJ&dq=figurative%20language%20of%20the%20bible%20%22figures%20of%20speech%22&lr=&as_drrb_is=q&as_minm_is=0&as_miny_is=&as_maxm_is=0&as_maxy_is=&as_brr=4&pg=RA1-PA108#v=onepage&q=figurative%20language%20of%20the%20bible%20%22figures%20of%20speech%22&f=false

Commentary by Rev. Bill McGinnis

Where do we draw the line between Bible verses which are literally true
(where each word means only its exact definition, such as "He began to
speak,") -- and those which are figuratively true (where some words mean
something other than their exact definitions, such as " righteousness and
peace have kissed each other.") ?

What does a particular Bible verse really mean? This is perhaps the most
difficult and most important question for any Christian to answer, because
it has a huge impact on what we believe. For example: Did God create the
universe in six twenty-four hour days? A literal reading says, "Yes, He
did." Science says, "No, He didn't." Does God actually send the
resurrected bodies of all non-Christian humans to be burned alive in Hell
forever? A literal reading says, "Yes, He does." Our common sense of
justice says, "No, He doesn't."

In the coming days and weeks, I hope to be able to go through the most
important Bible verses to discern what they really mean for us today in
the real world we are in. And I hope to share this process with you, as
the Lord enables me to do.

* * *

May the Lord bless this presentation.

Rev. Bill McGinnis <><
bmcgin@patriot.net

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