The Bible is Full of Contradictions...God’s Immutability

The immutability of God is defined as God’s not changing in any way in his nature, in his moral character; God is ‘without variableness or shadow of turning.’ James 1:17 A corollary of this is God’s impassibility, meaning God is emotionally unchangeable; he doesn’t suffer, he is not subject to fits of passion in response to circumstances.

James writes:

‘Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation, or shadow due to change.’ 1:17

In the Old Testament we read:

‘God is not man, that he should lie, or a son of man, that he should change his mind. Has he said, and will he not do? Or has he spoken, and will he not fulfil it? Numbers 23:19

Yet we also read:

‘Go up to a land flowing with milk and honey; but I will not go up among you, lest I consume you on the way, for you are a stiff-necked people...And [Moses] said, ‘If your presence will not go with me, do not bring us up from here...And the LORD said to Moses, ‘This very thing that you have spoken I will do, for you have found favour in my sight…’ Exodus 23:3,15,17

‘My presence will go with you, and I will give you rest.’ Exodus 23:14

We must remember that it is God who is unchangeable. Man, on the other hand, is a fallen, sinful creature, and it is man with whom God is dealing when God makes declarations of intent. Some declarations are absolute in nature, others are conditional.

A wicked man is, by God’s decree, bound for eternal punishment. Nevertheless, a wicked man who repents is bound for eternal blessing. It is not God who has changed, but man. If a righteous man turns away to wickedness he is no longer the righteous man to whom God has made promises. What appears to be change in God is God’s immutability working out in changeable man. God’s attitude to sin is fixed and constant, his attitude to the humble and righteous similarly unchangeable. It has been said that he changes because he is unchangeable.

This principle is clearly seen in the LORD’S word to Jeremiah:

‘If at any time I announce that a nation or kingdom is to be uprooted, torn down and destroyed, and if that nation I warned repents of its evil, then I will relent and not inflict on it the disaster I had planned. And if at another time I announce that a nation or kingdom is to be built up and planted, and if it does evil in my sight and does not obey me, then I will reconsider the good I had intended to do for it.’ 18:7-10

This is a helpful text to remember when considering Jonah’s complaint to God that Nineveh was spared. Jonah knew his theology better than those who, today, use his story to insist God is mutable:

Isn’t this what I said, Lord, when I was still at home? That is what I tried to forestall by fleeing to Tarshish. I knew that you are a gracious and compassionate God, slow to anger and abounding in love, a God who relents from sending calamity.’ Jonah 4:1,2

Mormon Christians? Whats in a Name?

The Mormon Church, disturbed by the continuing identifying of polygamus sects in the news with the name Mormon, recently issued a press statement aimed at "clarifying" issues. It is interesting to note that if you substitute the name "Christian" where they use the name "Mormon" it makes a very good argument for us against the claims of the Mormon Church. The full press release is reproduced below in italics with each paragraph rewritten in ordinary text to present it from a Christian perspective. SALT LAKE CITY 10 July 2008 On 26 June, Newsroom published a package of information featuring profiles of ordinary Latter-day Saints in Texas. With no other intention but to define themselves, these members provided a tangible depiction of what their faith is all about. They serve as the best distinction between the lifestyles and values of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and a Texas-based polygamous group that has recently attracted media attent...

Cheers!

In their latest update #4, the Jehovah’s Witnesses' Governing Body has announced that toasting and ‘ clinking glasses’ is now allowed at the individual Jehovah’s Witness’s ‘ bible trained conscience’ . This, Governing Body member Stephen Lett tells us, is due to ‘ prayerful consideration’ by the Governing Body. This doesn’t sound unreasonable; who could possibly object to toasting, it’s such an innocuous custom? The answer to that is the Governing Body itself, until now. Ever since 1952, and possibly earlier, the Watchtower has roundly condemned this practice due to its ‘ pagan roots’ in ‘ false religion’ . The 15 May 1952 Watchtower (page 319), has this to say on the matter Jehovah God and Christ Jesus are not honored by having pagan customs of toasting switched to them, or to human s In 1968, in an answer to Questions from Readers, the 1 Jan Watchtower states If a Christian is going to make a request f...

The Dangers of Adding to the Bible: Guest Post by Jacob Lambert

T oday, when we come across Jehovah’s Witnesses and Mormons we find that they are led by a group of people who hold unquestioned authority. Members of this group know this, some even believe it themselves. This puts them in a powerful position, even to the point where they can create their own Bible. Two examples are the J oseph S mith Translation of the Mormons and the N ew W orld T ranslation of the Jehovah’s Witnesses. T hey can add words into their own Bible, words that are not in other, respectable, translations. F or example, in the Greek, C olossians 1:1 6 say s that J esus created all things: ‘ He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation. For by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities – all things were created through him and for him.’ Col.1:15,16, ESV Jehovah’s Witnesses say that this runs counter to their understanding that Jesus is God’s first creat...

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