Romans, Proverbs & problematic debt

British Columbia tour

Related April 2015

Update

In regard to the subject of financial 'Debt', reviewing Nelson's Three In One Bible Reference Companion:

Romans 13:8 is provided as example. From the New American Standard Version: Romans 13:8 New American Standard Bible (NASB)

8 Owe nothing to anyone except to love one another; for he who loves [a]his neighbor has fulfilled the law. Footnotes: Romans 13:8 Lit the other from the New American Standard Bible (NASB)

Writing on 13: 8... Cranfield comments that 'Christians are to leave no debts, no obligations to their fellow-men undischarged.' Cranfield (1992: 326).

Mounce: 'The Christian is to allow no debt to remain outstanding except the one that can never be paid off-''the debt to the love one another''.' Mounce (1995: 245). A key in regard to financial debt with the verse is the 'Owe nothing to anyone', although overall within Christian faith, theology and philosophy, love of course is central.

As a student, with eventually a high-level, British, PhD I had many years to be frugal and conservative with my income and to prayerfully consider money and now have quite a strong theological and philosophical objection to debt. To update from my article, I am now, technically, debt free. I purchased a ‘newish’ used US model, SUV with cash, as paying for fixes is cheaper than making monthly payments for new. As I have been homecaring for ‘the Boss’ since 2002, I should inherit the condominium once she passes. Whenever, that occurs. Thankfully, the mortgage payments are low, as is the overall debt, relatively, for a mortgage.

It seems good and reasonable to have significant cash savings and the ability to travel to Europe for cultural activities, football tours and a holiday from work. Travelling to the United States, Asia and other continents also is reasonable for similar reasons. It is also good and reasonable to have significant money to give to the Church and the poor, for example. I collect books, for fiction and non-fiction and I need the funds to do this affordably and reasonably.

Romans 13: 8 is good and reasonable is regard to financial debt.

Proverbs on debt (New American Standard Version): I preferred this one for the context of the article:

Proverbs 22: 7

The rich rules over the poor, And the borrower becomes the lender's slave.

CRANFIELD, C.E.B. (1992) Romans: A Shorter Commentary, Grand Rapids, William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company.

MOUNCE, ROBERT H. (1995) The New American Commentary: Romans, Nashville, Broadman & Holman Publishers. Nelson's Three-In-One Bible Reference (1982), Nashville, Thomas Nelson Publishers.

In Three Minutes: Getting real with Matthew 18

Kelowna

Further from what I was attempting to state before my self-imposed, four minute mark. I do not reason that shunning is a good, biblical, Godly, way to deal with sin or supposed sin.

Those in the Church should always be civil and demonstrate love, even when fellowship ceases due to sin.

1 Corinthians 5: 9 from New American Standard Bible (NASB)

9 I wrote you in my letter not to associate with immoral people; 10 I did not at all mean with the immoral people of this world, or with the covetous and swindlers, or with idolaters, for then you would have to go out of the world. 11 But [f]actually, I wrote to you not to associate [g]with any so-called brother if he is an immoral person, or covetous, or an idolater, or a reviler, or a drunkard, or a swindler—not even to eat with such a one. 12 For what have I to do with judging outsiders? Do you not judge those who are within the church? 13 But those who are outside, God [h]judges. Remove the wicked man from among yourselves.
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1 Corinthians 5:11 Lit now
1 Corinthians 5:11 Lit together if any man called a brother is
1 Corinthians 5:13 Or will judge

Even in this extreme case, I still would not recommend shunning, but instead reason this example is prohibiting fellowship with the hope of restoration. In 2 Corinthians, restoration with this offending brother in 1 Corinthians 5 is encouraged.

NEW AMERICAN STANDARD BIBLE, Updated Version (1995), American Bible Society, New York.

Motive is key (PhD Edit)

Ferry ride to Nakusp

August 8, 2018

When working through problems of evil, academically, theologically, philosophically, biblically and personally, I reason that John Calvin’s explanation in regard to God’s motives is sound. 

I do not embrace Calvinism, however, but I am definitely Reformed, theologically, without being a specific follower of Calvin. God is infinite, eternal, omnipotent. God’s biblical, sovereign, providential control over his creation from Genesis to Revelation demonstrates that God does will all things, whether directly willing or allowing, or within perfect will or permissible will. This can also be reasoned in a parallel way with premises and conclusions via philosophy of religion. viewing God as the first and primary cause of all things, while allowing for secondary causes within compatibilism (God's sovereignty is compatible with the limited free will, via nature, of secondary agents).

PhD, University of Wales, Trinity Saint David, Lampeter, 2010: Theodicy and Practical Theology 

David Ray Griffin vigorously challenges Calvinistic notions of sovereignty in regard to theodicy.[1]  Griffin claims that God cannot be shown to be perfectly moral for three reasons.[2]  One, God cannot be understood to be morally perfect because God is an alleged deity and his morality cannot be demonstrated.[3]  Two, since with a Calvininstic view God wills all things, including evil acts, God must be immoral.[4]  Three, since Calvinists believe that God bases all things on eternal decisions, God is not truly free and is therefore amoral.[5] 

The Calvinist could reply to Griffin with the words of Calvin himself in The Bondage and Liberation of the Will, that God is moral and as evil human actions occur God is willing a good thing and the sinner another.[6]  This type of explanation needs to be presented in a logical and reasonable way.[7]

CALVIN, JOHN (1539)(1998) The Institutes of the Christian Religion, Book II, Translated by Henry Beveridge, Grand Rapids, The Christian Classic Ethereal Library, Wheaton College. http://www.ccel.org/ccel/calvin/institutes.html

CALVIN, JOHN (1539)(1998) The Institutes of the Christian Religion, Book IV, Translated by Henry Beveridge, Grand Rapids, The Christian Classic Ethereal Library, Wheaton College. http://www.ccel.org/ccel/calvin/institutes.html

CALVIN, JOHN (1540)(1973) Romans and Thessalonians, Translated by Ross Mackenzie, Grand Rapids, Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Company.

CALVIN, JOHN (1543)(1996) The Bondage and Liberation of the Will, Translated by G.I. Davies, Grand Rapids, Baker Book House.

CALVIN, JOHN (1550)(1978) Concerning Scandals, Translated by John W. Fraser, Grand Rapids, William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company.

CALVIN, JOHN (1552)(1995) Acts, Translated by Watermark, Nottingham, Crossway Books.  

CALVIN, JOHN (1553)(1952) Job, Translated by Leroy Nixon, Grand Rapids, Baker Book House.  

CALVIN, JOHN (1554)(1965) Genesis, Translated by John King, Edinburgh, The Banner of Truth Trust.

GRIFFIN, DAVID RAY (1976) God, Power, and Evil, Philadelphia, The Westminster Press.   

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[1] Griffin (1976: 116-130).

[2] Griffin (1976: 130).

[3] Griffin (1976: 130).

[4] Griffin (1976: 130).

[5] Griffin (1976: 130).

[6] Calvin (1543)(1996: 37).

[7] While at the same time seriously examining criticisms of the view.

Returned from Cranbrook-Revelstoke trip/Proverbs on holding the tongue

Golden, British Columbia

I returned home  today from a several hundred kilometre driving trip for ministry work; much of it in heat typically warmer than in Maple Ridge in the summer. I would like to have more tasks closer to my skill-set, but I met many good Christian people on tour and at the host churches. I gained more employment and life skills. I made friends.

Most people were positive and fair, and if I was critiqued, it was in love, but for the otherwise small minority, the following Hebrew Bible and Biblical concept came to mind...

New American Standard Bible

Proverbs 21: 23

23 He who guards his mouth and his tongue, Guards his soul from troubles.