“The human mind is notorious for being unable to accept data that is objectionable and alien to it. The human mind has the amazing capacity to shut out data that it cannot emotionally or rationally compute. Any idea so new, so revolutionary, so unexpected, so contradictory to all that is believed and loved stands very little chance of reception.” – Greg Deuble, They Never Told Me This in Church! pg. 422
The Psalmist asks a very introspective question, “What is man that you are mindful of him…?” Perhaps more than introspect it is an actual inquiry of the Creator. Job asks the same question, “What is man, that you make so much of him, and that you set your heart on him…” (Psalm 8.4; Job 7.17) The undertones of these inquiries lead to the over whelming truth that YHWH cares deeply for His creation, in particular, mankind. After all, God “did not create the earth empty, he formed it to be inhabited.” (Isaiah 45.18)
What else can we learn from this inquiry? Aside from the “meaning of life” and “why are we here” type of inquiry there is a physical aspect. Are we just the culmination of eons of time, natural biological processes and elemental mutations resulting in the intellectual and moral beings we are today? Or is there some eternal, immortal element to us? Is there more or is the here and now all there is?
The Soul
I believe in letting scripture define terms for us, in as far as we are able to understand them. In the book of Beginnings (Genesis) we learn that God created the heavens and the earth, “and YHWH formed the man of the dust of the earth and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and the man became a living soul/being.” (2.7)
There is an ideology that dominates our culture. One, which I feel has really found a foothold over the last twenty to thirty years. Its root stems from the “enlightenment” which was instrumental in developing the “rugged individualistic mentality” that built America. This “individualistic” concept gave rise to modernism and eventually progressed into post-modernism, relativism and the search for one’s own truth. Ultimately, this quest for truth results in personal betterment, self enlightenment, self improvement, self realization or as I like to call it, “enrollment into the New Age School of Self-Help.”
Why such a desire to be better, to become enlightened, to improve if this life is all there is? The philosophical concept of dualism is ingrained, most people innately believe there is more. This is because God “has put eternity into man’s heart.” (Ecclesiastes 3.11) This idea conceivably contributes to the belief of an eternal essence which is identified as the “immortal soul.” Socrates proposed and Plato maintained that man has an immortal soul and upon death the soul lives on forever.
Scripture states, “the wages of sin is death [and] all have sinned and fall short of the glory of YHWH.” (Romans 6.23; 3.23) Since mankind is defined as living beings or souls we can therefore deduce that “the soul (human being) that sins will die.” (Ezekiel 18.4,20) Certainly there is no misconception about what “to die, death, and dead” means. However one may define these terms, it is illogical to propose that death and die mean “immortal” or “live forever.”
Philosophy and Truth
See to it that no one takes you captive by philosophy and empty deceit,
according to human tradition,
according to the elemental spirits of the world,
and not according to Christ.
(Colossians 2.8)
The Apostle Paul warned about pursuing futility rather than truth. He mentions the likes of “vain philosophies, traditions of men, oppositions of science falsely so called, myths and endless genealogies, mindless talk/conversations (vain/profane babbling), elemental spirits/principles (meaningless rules/regulations religious and civil), and arguments over words that are not important.” (Col. 2.8; 1 Tim. 6.4,20; 1 Tim. 1.4; 2 Tim. 2.4)
For Paul the only “philosophy, tradition, science, genealogy, talk, conversation, principle and word” that mattered was the Gospel of the Kingdom of YHWH and Jesus the Messiah. Considering the weight of importance with which the Apostles (and the whole New Testament) hold this subject, it is inconceivable how a Christian could or would allow any philosophy to occupy, taint and influence our understanding more than the truth of the Gospel of the Kingdom and the word of Jesus the Messiah. Yet, as God conveys through scripture, “My people are destroyed [due to] a lack of knowledge (understanding.)” (Hosea 4.6; Jeremiah 5.4)
The “destruction for lack of knowledge” is due to not keeping ourselves informed, or staying up to date with the latest falsehoods and deceptions, right? Surely, knowing the plethora of lies and understanding how they are used will help us to differentiate the truth, won’t it?
Perhaps.
However if one is spending all their time hunting down lies, falsehoods and deception in an attempt to avoid them where is the time for knowing truth? Truth frees and gives hope, lies enslave and create fear.
Truth and Lies
So what is the truth? That is a good question. When it comes to the subject at hand (mankind, the soul, and immortality) the truth may be something that most have not heard. What most “pew warmers” believe to be true about the soul, death and immortality are the actual words uttered in the very first lie recorded in scripture. Your favorite “pulpiteer” will not admit this.
In summary God created the earth and then He created man to be His free-will, vice-regents over the earth with only one requirement. “Don’t eat from the tree…If you do you will die.” Pretty simple request right? Wrong.
When confronted and interrogated by the talking serpent, Eve willfully engaged in dialog by conveying what she knew or at least thought she knew (a prime example of why one should not volunteer information).
“God said that if we eat the fruit we would die.”
The serpent’s response was simple. “You will not die…Your eyes will be enlightened and you will be like God himself.” (Genesis 3)
Could it be any more obvious that these ideologies of self-help and personal enlightenment, getting in touch with the real you to be a better you are lies. The church takes up the primary lie of “living forever” via an “immortal soul.” When will we stop propagating the lies told? Employed Pulpiteers are not going to tell the truth, their livelihood depends on it. We have to seek it out for ourselves.
“The whole Bible, the New Testament as well as the Old Testament, is based on the Hebrew attitude and approach. We are of the firm opinion that this ought to be recognized on all
hands to a greater extent. It is clear to us…that there is often a great difference between Christian theology and biblical theology. Throughout the centuries the Bible has been
interpreted in a Greek context, and even the New Testament has been interpreted on the basis of Plato and Aristotle…Our position is that the reinterpretation of biblical theology in terms of the ideas of Greek philosophers has been both widespread throughout the centuries and everywhere destructive to the essence of the Christian faith…”
– Norman H. Snaith, M.A., D.D. (The Distinctive Ideas of the Old Testament, New York: Schocken, 1964)
Lies and Tradition
Concerning identity and who we are it is best to hear what scripture says on the matter. The traditional understanding and interpretation of scripture, which is philosophically greek and prevalent in the Orthodox, Catholic and Protestant traditions is, dare I say, not Christian nor biblical.
Does this mean all traditions are bad? If in defending or presenting “your” tradition as truth through manipulation and fear, compelling others to adhere under certain “penalties” than yes, your tradition is bad. We are to be compelling for truth not traditions.
Knowing and believing the truth of scripture versus the “traditional view” of certain topics changes our views, perceptions and understanding of key issues. There are many traditional concepts that I have challenged and will challenge on this blog.
The soul and immortality is a fundamental building block within scripture, these subjects are bookends to the entire bible, found in the opening and closing chapters. If we get these wrong than there is a whole lot of misunderstanding and incorrect teaching that occurs in the middle.
Do some investigation, be a Berean. Study to show thyself approved before God.
“For rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft, and stubbornness is as iniquity and idolatry. Because thou hast rejected the word of the LORD, he hath also rejected thee…” 1 Samuel 15.23
To believe whatever comes from the pulpit, small group, Sunday/Sabbath school class, or lectern without careful investigation is to deny and be in rebellion against the clear truth of scripture revealed by the holy spirit and through careful investigation.
The warning is clear, don’t be in rebellion, don’t be stubborn or arrogant, don’t reject the word of God because you like your preacher, your home group, your denomination, or your traditions. Know the Truth and the Truth will set you Free.
Those Who Can't 