Articles
Be Like Children in Understanding
I am currently studying a textbook from a college course I failed to take. The textbook is "Scheme of Redemption," written by Robert E. Milligan. He was president of the College of the Bible at Kentucky University during the 1800s. Brother Milligan worked with J. W. McGarvey and Moses Lard, notables of the Restoration Movement. His book was designed to teach the scheme of redemption as revealed and taught in the Holy Scriptures. The chapter that motivated this article was "The Origin of Evil."
Brother Milligan's explanation and study of Genesis 1-3 is thorough and thoughtful. He challenges the speculative doctrines concerning the Fall of Man. By raising and answering questions, students are led to think critically about the events in the garden. Was there death in the garden before Adam and Eve sinned? How did Adam and Eve comprehend the concept of death? What did Adam and Eve think would happen if they sinned? Where did the Serpent come from, and what was he like before the first sin? After raising and answering the questions, he concludes: "What ought now to concern us is the great and important practical question, How we may severally be saved from the effects and consequences of our own personal transgressions."
The Postmodern Age challenges every text. That is not unique to history. For centuries, theologians have debated and speculated about the origin of sin and the fall of humanity. The Preacher asked, “Is there a thing of which it is said, “See, this is new”? It has been already in the ages before us.” (Eccl. 1:10) When Milligan wrote, rationalists argued the argued the Bible was a man-made text and should be treated as such. Milligan taught biblical texts originated with the Holy Spirit. The biblical text's purpose is to restore God's relationship with people. The Bible reveals God's scheme for redeeming people from sin and the clutches of Satan.
There are many speculative questions about sin and its effect on humanity. Augustine and Pelagius argued whether man has free will. Denominations are divided on this question. Brother Milligan admitted that it was a "confessedly difficult and intricate subject." He gave the following advice to the young.
"But I wish now, in conclusion, to caution all young persons, and especially all young preachers, against the danger of being led into public controversy on this speculative subject. Such discussions can never result in much good, and they may result in much evil." Milligan reminds students, "No man need, therefore, feel any concern or anxiety about the sin of Adam and its effects on his posterity. To remove all the bitter fruits and consequences of this first transgression is the peculiar and exclusive work of the second Adam." Milligan reminds us the redemption of man from sins is the work of the second Adam, Jesus Christ (1 Cor. 15:22).
Milligan honed in on a particular point we would do well to remember. "And besides all this, it may be well to remember that while many so-called preachers of the gospel are wrangling about theories and questions that serve to gender strife and malice rather than godliness, thousands for whom Christ died are going to perdition. Think of these things and then let the love of Christ constrain you to do as Paul and the other Apostles did. 2 Corinthians v.11-15."
How can I avoid useless speculation? Jesus taught the apostles, “Truly, I say to you, unless you turn and become like children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven” (Matt. 18:3). We may wish we could answer every speculative question to our satisfaction. We cannot. Children learn to trust their parents while developing understanding. The Psalmist taught, “O LORD, my heart is not lifted up; my eyes are not raised too high; I do not occupy myself with things too great and too marvelous for me” (Psalm 131:1). The Psalmist understood peace of mind comes through trust in God. By not occupying himself with "things to great and marvelous for me" he “calmed and quieted my soul, like a weaned child with its mother; like a weaned child is my soul within me” (Psalm 131:2). How can one let go and trust God? “O Israel hope in the LORD from this time forth and forevermore.” (Psalm 131:3). The Psalmist trusts, “The secret things belong to the LORD our God, but the things that are revealed belong to us and to our children forever, that we may do all the words of this law.” (Deut. 29:29 ESV) Those who let God be God and "humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven” (Matt. 18:4).
Peace comes not through speculation but through focusing on and trusting what God has revealed.
