The Darwinian Worldview and the "11th Commandment"

We are in a time na madaming naniniwalang ang natatanging constant sa mundo is change–hindi si God, hindi yung truth ng Word ni God. That's a sad reality for us today. At dahil sa paniniwalang ito, madami tuloy ang tinitingnan ang salita ng Diyos as 'primitive' instruction or as 'outdated' literature na hindi na applicable for our times. Ang justification nila is: "Hindi pa kasi as 'civilized' yung panahon ng Bible compared sa time natin ngayon... So we are more 'right' today kesa sa kung ano pa man ang nakasulat sa Bible na 'primitive'".

Kaya gano'n na lamang kadali para sa ilan ang i-ignore ang truth ng Salita ng Diyos: kasi they think it's no longer applicable sa panahon ngayon. At for some "progressives" sa Christian circles, they believe that the Bible needs to evolve with the times. I personally think this is coming out of willful ignorance sa kung ano ang tinuturo ng Bibliya and is an evidence of faithlessness sa Salita ng Diyos. Imbes na tayo ang ma-transform according sa Word, 'yung perfect Word of God ang gusto nating mag-adjust sa atin. That's really proud for a man to say or think before the Almighty. *Sigh* 😩

For, “All flesh is like grass and all its glory like the flower of grass. The grass withers, and the flower falls, but the word of the Lord remains forever.” And this word is the good news that was preached to you.
1 Peter 1:24-25

We can discuss further sa discussion na 'yan pero sa ngayon, I want to focus on one topic that modern-day 'progressive' evanjellys think is true: <strong>"thou shalt be nice"</strong>.

Do Everything in Love

This seems to have become a new commandment amongst many Christians... na parang it is wrong to be angry, it's wrong to offend someone for any reason, na it's wrong to tell the truth when we know it would hurt. Na to be Christ-like is to be nice all the time, with matching all smiles pa, na dapat 'peacemakers' lang tayong lahat–friends-friends, hug-hug, beso-beso, apir-apir–na dapat as Christians eh dapat puro 'love' lang (in compromising ways). Sometimes nagiging taboo na concept amongst Christians yung truthfulness just because the truth hurts.

Pero hindi naman talaga mali ang magalit. In fact, the Bible commands us to be angry... but in our anger, we must not sin (Ephesians 4:26). 'Yun 'yung catch. The Bible also warns us about false judgments (Exodus 20:16). The Bible does not teach us to refrain from judging (just as some Christians would say), pero it correctly puts us in our place by reminding us that we must judge righteously (Proverbs 31:9) and that when we judge, 'yung same measure by which we judged something/someone would apply to us (Matthew 7:1-2). Beloved, if someone tells you na mali ang mag-judge, balikan mo sya at sabihan mo syang tumigil na i-judge ka for being 'wrong'. Hehehe! 😉 So yes, we can judge. And by what standard should we judge? The Word of the living God, hindi according sa sarili nating corrupt na pamantayan.

Hindi din tayo kino-call ng Bibliya to just be nice. Instead, we are called to be kind (Ephesians 4:32). And yes, magkaiba 'yon. I can be nice to somebody and hate that person in my heart and have no sincere care about him. I can be nice na mage-empathize ako for someone na nagsa-suffer as an outcome of his sin and rebellion sa order ng Panginoon, pero hindi ko sasabihin sa kanya yung truth or hindi ko sya ili-lead sa wisdom ni Lord kasi ayaw ko syang ma-offend. I can be nice at magpaka-plastic to someone pero may grudge ako sa heart ko na hindi ko mapakawalan. Friends, kung pagiging nice lang ang command sa atin ng Bible, then dapat tama lang ang pagiging plastik. Pero, we're called to be kind... to sincerely care, forgive, serve others, to be concerned sa soul and welfare nung mga tao around us. So this unofficial "11th commandment" na trending sa Christian circles today is something that is not really 'biblical'.

Also, hindi din naman maling maging truthful, pero like everything else, it has to be done in love (1 Corinthians 16:14). Kasi nga... the truth really hurts. It can easily be offensive. Pero sabi nga sa Proverbs:

A word fitly spoken is like apples of gold in a setting of silver.
Proverbs 25:11

Ako? I am guilty sa maraming panahon na nagdeliver ako ng truth for the sake of being right na hindi ako nag-iwan ng room for grace and understanding... from simple arguments up to intense theological discourses. And the Bible is right for saying that the flesh is weak, kasi in my experience, I really find it easier to be a jerk sometimes than to be graceful and patient with another person, lalo na kung nasa mali sya. Truth when delivered without love can be devastating rather than edifying. It can be as sharp as sword and fatal when delivered carelessly. As Jeff Durbin said, "Sometimes we don't know the difference between being a prophet and a jerk, and I think that's a huge failure."

Therefore, let's not forget (note to self na din): Yes, true love is truthful; but truth should serve love. The Apostle Paul is clear on this:

If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal. And if I have prophetic powers, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have all faith, so as to remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. If I give away all I have, and if I deliver up my body to be burned, but have not love, I gain nothing.
1 Corinthians 13:1-3

Indeed. We may do all things right and be great and be the most religious or charitable people, pero kung yung heart natin is not doing these things to love God primarily and love neighbor according sa will ni God, we are failing. We are missing the mark. We are still sinning.

This Love

So how shall we behave then sa times ng conflict, arguments, grief? Shouldn't we just be nice and be 'loving'? Well, it depends sa kung tama ba 'yung definition mo ng love. Let's continue on with 1 Corinthians 13 and see how the Bible defines love:

Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; it does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth. Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Love never ends. As for prophecies, they will pass away; as for tongues, they will cease; as for knowledge, it will pass away.
1 Corinthians 13:4-8

And Paul summarizes this amazingly in Romans 12:9 by saying, "Let love be genuine. Abhor what is evil; hold fast to what is good." If we really understand this, then makikita natin na this is the kind of love na hindi compromising sa sin. Hindi ito yung worldly na kind ng love that simplifies and dilutes love to equate to charity, empathy, several love languages, or being nice.

True and biblical love is nothing like that. This love hates evil, but forgives and does not keep records of wrongs. This love is truthful but is kind and patient. This love can rebuke and not be hateful of a person. This love can be right and not proud. This love is not self-seeking but it subscribes to God's Word for instruction.

This is God's love. This is perfect love that casts away fears (1 John 4:18). This is the love that heals (Hosea 14:4). This is the love that brings life to dry bones (Ezekiel 37). This is the love that secures and gives rest to the soul (Romans 8:38-39). And this is the same love Christ, our Savior, practiced unto death sa cross that covered my sin and guilt and shame (Romans 5:8). This is the love we are called to live by and do everything in.

I pray we all learn to love each other the way Christ loved us (John 15:12). Grace to you, beloved!