In the latter half of Deuteronomy Chapter 14 (from verse 22), we arrive at that portion of Scripture which drives traditional Judaism’s great concern for social justice and fairness AND…
…starts off a series of instructions that will continue on into Deuteronomy chapters 15 and 16.
There’s actually one important point concerning studying the Scriptures and this portion of the Bible that I want to talk about today.
That important point can be expressed in one word:
BALANCE.
What I want to get at is that we have to be careful to not over focus too tightly on just one isolated area of Scripture to the exclusion of all the others.
What happens when we become too focused on just one part of Scripture?
I’ll tell you what happens.
Our behavior becomes dangerously unbalanced.
That’s what happens man.
A perfect example is that anti-Semitic freak show known as Westboro Baptist Church.
These folks have so over focused on the anti-homosexual verses in Scripture that they walk the streets carrying picket signs that proclaim “God Hates Fags”
In fact, their official homepage is titled godhatesfagsdotcom.
I’m friggin’ serious!
Check it out if you think I’m joking man.
One must wonder in astonishment how seemingly reasonable and intelligent people could descend to such levels of extreme behavior.
Here’s the problem.
What they’ve mistakenly done is focus so much on just one part of Scripture that they’ve neglected the other parts dealing with love and being gentle in speech.
However, here’s the thing and this is my main point today.
It IS possible to become unbalanced in the opposite direction as well.
For instance, concerning the land of Israel and the Palestinians, there are those who have become so overly focused on the ideals of human social justice…
…that they have allowed that concern to override God’s other commandments in this area.
If you were to study Joshua or the Book of Judges, you’ll see many examples of severe unbalance approaching the point of total disobedience.
In the name of “fairness” and “compassion”, Israel’s leaders in the Promised Land began doing those very things God commanded them NOT to do such as make treaties with the Canaanites, intermarry with the Canaanites or worst of all…
…allow pagan worship to continue within their boundaries.
Again, why did they do these things?
Did they make a deliberate decision to disobey God?
I don’t think so.
I believe they simply succumbed to the social or possibly political pressure to show respect and tolerance in the hopes of gaining a peaceful coexistence.
And did it work?
Was peace ever achieved?
Well, whaddaya think man?
Obviously not.
Whenever you disobey God, things never seem to work out no matter how rational or level-headed the decisions we made at the time seemed, do they?
I honestly see this as being one of THE biggest problems with the modern church today, especially the liberal ones.
It’s all about buttery and maple syrupy love and making sure to never say anything that might possibly hurt or offend someone.
Unfortunately, with regards to the Palestinian problem, we are witnessing a similar problem with the Israeli government today who sometimes seems hellbent on their own self-destruction.
Sometimes it seems like the Israeli government is doing everything they can to not just help but advance the cause of their enemies.
Enemies who have made it clear in no uncertain terms that they have zero intentions of making peace with Israel.
Having said that though, understand it’s one thing for the gentile world to demand that Israel give up land that God gave to them but it’s quite another thing for God’s Chosen People themselves to advocate the same thing.
That I believe is rebellion, pure and simple.
And we’re going to find that this is the exact same mentality that Moses, Joshua and later leaders will adopt.
They will over focus on God’s commands concerning social justice, love and mercy to the point where they will..
…go ahead and do those specific things God told them NOT to do with their pagan neighbors.
What’s the conclusion of the matter?
The conclusion is simple.
We are NOT to set aside God’s laws and principles at our convenience and flippant whims.
Or to be more specific…
…we are NOT to use the Biblical ideals of “love” and “mercy” as some almighty and universal humanistic solvent that somehow supersedes or does away with God’s other commands to not mix worship of Him with other gods or…
…makes it okay to celebrate pagan holy days (like Christmas or Easter) or mix those observances with the observance of God’s Biblical feasts.
Of course, we are to strive for social justice.
I’m talking about balance here man.
The Lord’s social justice is important.
But it is NOT to be achieved within the context of fleshly men’s philosophies or human relativism which changes day by day.
Before I close today, let me let you in on a little secret.
The values and principles that are written in this Torah are far better than those of the world (even if the world doesn’t think so).
So what are you gonna build your life on?
God’s Word or the world?
Talk to ya later.
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