“Is God Bi-Polar?”
Why does the loving, forgiving God of the New Testament seem so judgmental & vengeful in the Old Testament? As someone who has a family history of mental illness, who has personally experienced its consequences, let me begin by saying that I’m not throwing out the word “bi-polar” like a cheap, bar room joke. I understand and appreciate the difficulties of living with alterations in how reality is perceived, based on either chemical imbalances in the brain, or bad psychological or sociological programming in youth. These things aside, I’m seriously asking the question….lots of people are….and for good reason.
This year, my wife & I are reading through the entire Bible. We read a couple chapters in the OT and one in the NT every day. Right now we’re reading Deuteronomy in the OT and just finished Romans in the NT. Here is one sample of the apparent disparity I see in God’s Words, which add credence to the bi-polar question:
- [Deuteronomy 7:16] “You must destroy all the nations the LORD your God hands over to you. Show them no mercy…”
- [Romans 12:14-17 excerpts] “Bless those who persecute you. Don’t curse them; pray that God will bless them…. Live in harmony with each other…Do all that you can to live in peace with everyone.”
This is one of hundreds of examples I could share. These statements really do seem like they portray two different people….with different personalities and priorities. Yet we know that one of the foundational truths proclaimed throughout the Bible is that there is only one God. So what happened? Did God change? Did He calm down & grow up over time like we do? Or does it reveal that the Bible is a hoax to make fools of the simple-minded? When confronted with paradoxes like this, people tend to fall into different categories: Indignance, blind-faith, or introspection.
- Indignance: Definition-“A feeling, characterized by, or expressing strong displeasure at something considered unjust, offensive, insulting, or base.” Lots of people feel like this about God these days. “God’s a jerk, and if that’s how He is, then I don’t want any part of Him!” This is an honest reaction that many people are feeling. It results in a door that is quickly and decisively shut & locked, as they write-off God from their worlds.
- Blind-faith: This is the person who deflects questions, who might say “God said it, I believe it, that settles it.” This response can either come across as an attack from a fiercely self-righteous believer; or as a protective shield from someone who abhors confrontation. In any case, blind-faith is rooted in ignorance and fear of discovery, and this also shuts the door to conversation and truth.
- Introspective: This is where I land. My mind is too fertile to unquestioningly believe things that aren’t true, and I’ve learned many times over that being quick to judge doesn’t serve me well either. This issue, like many others, needs & deserves percolation. It doesn’t mean we’re non-committal, it just means we’re still working through it…but we often don’t give the time.
So, if you’re still with me. Understanding this is about the CONTEXT of God’s redemptive history.
Just like any good story or business plan, God started with the end in mind…..but He didn’t start AT the end….He started at the beginning. God is not bound within time, as you and I are; yet He interacts with us in time. After the fall of mankind into sin (aka Adam & Eve ate the fruit, etc. etc.), God put into effect a plan to redeem mankind back into relationship with Himself….recreating the relationship we enjoyed with our creator in Eden. There have been many chapters in this ongoing story, and we are currently toward the end. When God was leading the people of Israel through the desert, preparing them to take possession of the “promised land,” it was part of this plan. The “promise” was made to Abraham, that his descendants would live in that specific land, and that through his descendants all nations in the whole world would be blessed. Here’s bit more of the narrative that gives some context (emphasis mine):
[Deuteronomy 7:1] “When the LORD your God brings you into the land you are about to enter and occupy, he will clear away many nations ahead of you: the Hittites, Girgashites, Amorites, Canaanites, Perizzites, Hivites, and Jebusites. These seven nations are greater and more numerous than you. [2] When the LORD your God hands these nations over to you and you conquer them, you must completely destroy* them. Make no treaties with them and show them no mercy. [3] You must not intermarry with them. Do not let your daughters and sons marry their sons and daughters, [4] for they will lead your children away from me to worship other gods. Then the anger of the LORD will burn against you, and he will quickly destroy you. [5] This is what you must do. You must break down their pagan altars and shatter their sacred pillars. Cut down their Asherah poles and burn their idols. [6] For you are a holy people, who belong to the LORD your God. Of all the people on earth, the LORD your God has chosen you to be his own special treasure.[7] “The LORD did not set his heart on you and choose you because you were more numerous than other nations, for you were the smallest of all nations! [8] Rather, it was simply that the LORD loves you, and he was keeping the oath he had sworn to your ancestors. That is why the LORD rescued you with such a strong hand from your slavery and from the oppressive hand of Pharaoh, king of Egypt. [9] Understand, therefore, that the LORD your God is indeed God. He is the faithful God who keeps his covenant for a thousand generations and lavishes his unfailing love on those who love him and obey his commands.
When we read the Bible through the eyes of those who wrote it and to whom it was written, considering the stage of God’s Plan and the circumstances of the world at the time, we can get a much more accurate picture of a God who’s character does not change even though the manner in which he parents His children changes according to their development. I admit, there are parts of the story I don’t understand or like, but I’m not God…there’s only one of those….and whether or not it’s how I would have done it, the way He did it does make sense….and it was part of the story that paved the way for Jesus Christ, the descendant of Abraham, to offer God’s salvation to all the nations in the world.
10 replies on “Tough Questions 2: Is God Bi-Polar?”
In your last paragraph you wrote, "…the way He did it does make sense." Part of God's creation included mankind being given self will. He did that knowing the result would include the Hitlers of the world, millions starving to death, the rape and molestation of innocent children etc. Knowing what was going to happen, He still decided to do it that way. It makes sense to me that the unsaved world would have questions about believing in, following and worshipping this 'type of God.' It adds to their dilemma when also having to observe a divided, confused and many times hypocritical church world, which includes the Body of Christ. How does that make any sense mentally or spiritually? I think we do well and that it's okay to say, "it doesn't make sense, period. God has big shoulders and in fact, I believe He delights in and welcomes our sincere questioning along with any frustration, anger or hurt that results from the Fall and man's self will.
One answer is, "there is no answer." Another is, if God and since God is who we believe He is, that's the way He did it so that's the way He did it. These and other answers are included in your post above.
So what does this mean then? How are we to be succseeful ambassadors for Christ in presenting His good news to a lost and dying world that is asked to believe in a God who doesn't make sense to them as they stand by observing a condused, divided and hypocritical church world? I have other thoughts and ideas but would like to hear "anyone's" input.
Hey Gearsdad, I really appreciate your comments! It's difficult to swallow that God knew the evils we would do – as individuals and societies – before we were even born, but still chose to do it that way in order to preserve our free will. This gives us insight into the Creator's value for free will, and gives a clue about our standing with Him. I also appreciate how you embrace the notion that it's ok for us to not have the answers. Thanks again
Thx Shawn and likewise to you.
I have a question that is 'off point,' at this point, but may be of help in your current question above. Have you noticed in any of your previous study of the OT that the blessing of God to the nations, the Gentiles, was to be only through a a risen, redeemed and glorified Israel?
Sorry, pertains to your new, current question regarding the 'church' that Jesus and the apostles preached in the gospel of the kingdom and the 'church' of today.
I actually don't think that's off point at all, Keith. Regarding the question, no I don't see that in the OT. In fact, what I do see in both OT and NT is that, although "salvation is from the Jews," as Jesus said, the centrality of that nation and God's work through it to reach all people was transcended and replaced by the ministry of Jesus. In a sense, that vehicle reached its destination and the driver moved on….and although His deference / blessing of Israel will endure because of His promise to the patriarchs, the movement of His attention into the future went past them. This is the main topic of the NT book of Hebrews
This comment has been removed by the author.
This comment has been removed by the author.
This comment has been removed by the author.
This comment has been removed by the author.
This comment has been removed by the author.