The wall was made of jasper, and the city of pure gold, as pure as glass. Genesis 6:5 “And GOD saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually.”. Some point to these references as evidence that celebrating birthdays is wrong; since both men were non-believing individuals, their birthday celebrations are seen as some form of pagan ritual. To begin with, it’s misleading to think of evil as a “thing.” Evil isn’t a “substance” that has a traceable “source.” Biblically speaking, evil is an aspect of relationship. But it’s equally clear that Saul, like Pharaoh, was responsible and accountable for his reaction to the situation. We see celebration not only here in Nehemiah 12, as Israel dedicated the wall, but we also see celebration throughout the Bible. Who Were the “Three Wise Men”? \"It shone with the glory of God, and its brilliance was like that of a very precious jewel, like a jasper, clear as crystal. 2. Home » Family QAs » Get Help » Family Q&A » Faith Q&As » What the Bible Says About the Origin of Evil. The Bible reveals that psychic experiences are real but demonic, and that deceiving sprits are counterfeits for the true Spirit of God. These parties were obviously not centered around any kind of celebration related to God, or Job would not have worried that his children may have sinned during these celebration feasts. WHAT THE BIBLE SAYS “The whole world is lying in the power of the wicked one.” (1 John 5:19) The Devil exerts great influence over mankind, but he does not control every human.WHAT ELSE CAN WE LEARN FROM THE BIBLE? Instead, an examination of the history of Christmas exposes its roots in pagan religious rites. Is that why the Lord says in Isaiah 45:7 (KJV), "I make peace and create evil"? Instead of yielding to the convicting influence of the Spirit, he snapped under the pressure and gave vent to his hatred. In light of everything we’ve said, we know that when I Samuel 18:10 asserts that “an evil spirit from God came upon Saul,” it cannot possibly mean that God is the source of wickedness or sin. Proverbs 15:26 The thoughts of the wicked are an abomination to the LORD: But the words of the pure are pleasant words. The Bible says that Job’s seven sons “went and feasted in their houses, every one his day; and sent and called for their three sisters to eat and to drink with them” . Why Don’t Jehovah’s Witnesses Celebrate Christmas? The Hebrew text states that ruach elohim ra’ah came upon Saul. In the midst of this crisis, the Spirit of God was prodding him, pricking him, stirring him up, and driving him to deal with his emotions and his misguided quest for personal significance. By way of contrast, the Bible never attributes the creation of rasha’ or “moral wickedness” to God. The Bible does not mention Halloween. Celebration is central to all the Spiritual Disciplines. What Every Christian Ought to Know Day by Day: Essential Truths for Growing Your Faith, The Faith: What Christians Believe, Why They Believe It, and Why It Matters, Christian Beliefs: Twenty Basics Every Christian Should Know, What the Bible Teaches: The Truths of the Bible Made Plain, Simple, and Understandable, The Bible Answer Book  21 but test them all; hold on to what is good, 22 reject every kind of evil… Many think of evil people as drug dealers or terrorists, but the Bible is clear that every person has a sin nature and sins in life. Did They Follow the “Star” of Bethlehem. Many Christians believe that participating in Halloween is a form of involvement in the worthless deeds of evil and darkness, which is forbidden in Scripture: Ephesians 5:7-15. Encyclopedia Americana, 1944 edition, says: “Christmas, according to many authorities, was not celebrated in the first centuries of the Christian church, as the Christian usage in general was to celebrate the death of remarkable persons rather than their birth. (Then were the days of unleavened bread.) For example, He sometimes uses affliction to compel people to seek His face (Hosea 5:15). The faithful man Timothy, for example, suffered “frequent cases of sickness.” (1 Timothy 5:23) But the Bible does not say that this was a sign of God’s disfavor. Interestingly, the authors of the Bible seem to have struggled with this issue as well, with different perspectives being presented in different passages. The Psalmist wrote, "I believed, even when I spoke, 'I am greatly afflicted'" (Psalm … The New King James Version makes this explicit with the translation, “I make peace and create calamity.” The same word is used in Lamentations 3:38 (KJV), where the prophet Jeremiah declares that both “evil and good proceed out of the mouth of the host High.”. Don’t participate in the things these people do. ResourcesIf a title is currently unavailable through Focus on the Family, we encourage you to use another retailer. He had to be a creature with a genuine will of his own. 1. It includes the potential for pain. What Does the Bible Say About Christmas? Gift-giving, feasting, partying: The Encyclopedia Americana says: “Saturnalia, a Roman feast celebrated in mid-December, provided the model for many of the merry-making customs of Christmas. (Read More...) Ecclesiastes 12:14 - For God shall bring every work into judgment, with every secret thing, whether [it be] good, or whether [it be] evil. So far so good. Mistletoe, holly: “The Druids ascribed magical properties to the mistletoe in particular. Matthew 15:19 “For from the heart come evil thoughts, murder, adultery, all sexual immorality, theft, lying, and slander.”. The word for “evil” here is ra’ah – “unfortunate,” “disastrous,” “hurtful.” The New King James version translates this as ” … a distressing spirit from God came upon Saul.” It might also be translated, “The Spirit of God came upon Saul in a distressing or troubling way.”. They’re rebellious towards the Word of God and when someone rebukes them they say, “thou shall not judge.” First, that verse is talking […] Why would the Spirit of God come upon Saul “in a distressing way?” The answer should be obvious. The Bible does not give the date of Jesus’ birth, nor does it say that we should celebrate his birthday. Do not be afraid of them, for they cannot do evil, neither is it in them to do good.” ... John 4:23-24 ESV / 30 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful But the hour is coming, and is now here, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for the Father is seeking such people to worship him. Question: "What does the Bible say about war?" The Bible warns: “There must never be anyone among you who . Kill every desire for the wrong kind of sex.” (Colossians 3:5, Contemporary English Version) To kill wrong desires, which lead to wrong actions, you need to control your thinking. . However, the Hebrew word literally means “the intentional, premeditated killing of another person with malice; murder.” Similarly, He works all things, including trials and troubles, “together for good to those who love [Him]” (Romans 8:28, NKJV). As McClintock and Strong’s Cyclopedia states: “The observance of Christmas is not of divine appointment, nor is it of NT [New Testament] origin.”. 1 Timothy 4:1. Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good. If you’d like to discuss this subject at greater length, call us. The Bible says: “Don’t be controlled by your body. That’s what evil is all about. The evergreen holly was worshiped as a promise of the sun’s return.”—The Encyclopedia Americana. The first foundation was jasper, the sec… Many people celebrate Christmas despite knowing its origins. Bible verses about evil women Scripture lets us know to stay away from evil women. Man had to be an entity entirely separate from God. If you regularly fill your mind with wholesome thoughts, you can more readily dismiss wrong desires. Let’s find out. Referrals Why not? What, then, is this verse saying? The Bible shows that we offend God if we try to worship him in a way that he does not approve of.—Exodus 32:5-7. Audio download options He was wrestling with the Lord and with his own bitterness and resentment toward David. Copyright © 2021 Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society of Pennsylvania. 1. They are greedy, rebellious, unsubmissive, wicked, adulterous, gossiping, slandering, and sexually immoral women. God invites us to acknowledge our pain. Ecclesiastes 12:14 For God shall bring every work into judgment, with every secret thing, whether it be good, or whether it be evil. First, there is “evil” in the sense of “calamity,” “disaster,” “misfortune,” or “hardship” – in other words, those aspects of existence in this world that we consider “bad” because they hurt us or inconvenience us in some way. If God isn't the source of evil, what can the Bible possibly mean when it tells us that "an evil spirit from God" came upon King Saul (I Samuel 18:10)? That is to say, we distort the Bible and do ourselves a profound disservice by minimizing the existence of suffering. Share Most people who call themselves Christians in America will be thrown into hell. However, both the ancient origins of Halloween and its modern customs show it to be a celebration based on false beliefs about the dead and invisible spirits, or demons.—See “Halloween history and customs.”. Did God create evil? Celebrating Jesus’ birthday: “The early Christians did not celebrate [Jesus’] birth because they considered the celebration of anyone’s birth to be a pagan custom.”—The World Book Encyclopedia. Evil is real. His response was unfortunate. Let’s take a closer look at this passage. While the Bible doesn't speak directly to our modern celebration of Halloween, it does have plenty to say about the supernatural and fear. And because he saw it pleased the Jews, he proceeded further to take Peter also. SOME PEOPLE SAY that control by the Devil is a hoax, while others dread being possessed by evil spirits.What do you think? The Bible does mention two individuals celebrating birthdays: the Egyptian Pharaoh in Joseph’s time (Genesis 40:20) and King Herod in Jesus’ time (Matthew 14:6; Mark 6:21). Bible verses about exposing evil It absolutely saddens and disgusts me by the amount of fake Christians in Christianity. What Does the Bible Say About Christmas? But didn't God create free will? Without a joyful spirit of festivity the Disciplines become dull, death-breathing tools in the hands of modern Pharisees. There are two different words for “evil” used in the pages of the Old Testament. Praise God in his sanctuary: praise him in the firmament of his power. Doesn't that make Him responsible for our sins? Otherwise, there could be no such thing as relationship or love. And doesn't that make Him the ultimate source of evil? Answer: Many people make the mistake of reading what the Bible says in Exodus 20:13, “You shall not kill,” and then seeking to apply this command to war. The Bible does not give the date of Jesus’ birth, nor does it say that we should celebrate his birthday. What about Isaiah 45:7? Church leaders likely chose this date to coincide with pagan festivals held on or around the winter solstice. Christian Research Institute. However, the Bible does not support that claim. First, there is Ezekiel 18:23, “’As surely as I live,’ declares the Lord God, ‘I take no pleasure in the death of the wicked, but rather that they turn from their ways and live.’” Focus on the Family has a staff of pastoral counselors who would love to speak with you over the phone. Bible verses related to Celebrating Birthdays from the King James Version (KJV) by Relevance - Sort By Book Order Psalms 118:24 - This [is] the day [which] the LORD hath made; we will rejoice and be glad in it. So whether you are looking for an encouraging verse before you go out trick-or-treating, or an inspiring passage to celebrate the harvest season with church families, this list has got you covered! When the Lord says (in the King James Version), “I make peace, and create evil,” the Hebrew word employed is ra’ah. Some people say no. As The Westminster Confession of Faith puts it, the Lord “freely and unchangeably ordain[s] whatsoever comes to pass: yet so as thereby neither is God the author of sin, nor is violence offered to the will of the creatures, nor is the liberty or contingency of second causes taken away, but rather established” (Chapter III, section 1). What the Bible Says About the Origin of Evil, 8605 Explorer Drive Colorado Springs, CO 80920-1051, Tough Love in Adult Relationships: What It Is, What It’s Not, and How to Use It, Grandparents Threatened to Either Support Transgender Grandchild or Be Cut Off, How to Find Counseling Support for Teen With Sexual Identity Issues. It's in the Bible, Revelation 21:11, & 18-20 NIV. Proverbs 6:12-16 - A naughty person, a wicked man, walketh with a froward mouth. What Are the Keys to Understanding the Bible? On the contrary, it tells us over and over again that He alone is good (Mark 10:18). Portions of God's glorious heavenly city, the New Jerusalem, will be constructed from crystal. They argue that man's free will is the source of evil. Now let’s move on to your final question. Bad wives and evil women in the Bible have done great damage such as lead Solomon astray, betray Samson, and order the killing of John the Baptist. A feast was established in memory of this event (Christ’s birth) in the fourth century. PRIVACY POLICY, https://assetsnffrgf-a.akamaihd.net/assets/m/502013126/univ/art/502013126_univ_sqr_xl.jpg. Answer: Most words in the Bible that are translated “lust” mean “a passionate desire.” Strong desire can be either good or bad, depending upon the object of that desire and the motive behind it. December 25: There is no proof that Jesus was born on that date. \"Now about that time Herod the king stretched forth his hands to vex certain of the church. As McClintock and Strong’s Cyclopedia states: “The observance of Christmas is not of divine appointment, nor is it of NT [New Testament] origin.”. If He creates ra’ah, or “calamity,” it is always for a good and righteous purpose within the all-embracing scheme of His eternal and sovereign plan. And he killed James the brother of John with the sword. consults ghosts or spirits, or calls up the dead.” The Hebrew word for this type of “evil” is ra’ah. As your question implies, the real issue is not “How could God create evil?” It’s “How could God create another self separate from and independent of His own Self?” This is the real miracle of Creation, especially the creation of mankind. The possibility of love between man and God springs directly out of man ’ s )! 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