Hypocrisy in the Human Race
Hypocrisy is sufficiently prevalent in the human heart that the Apostle Paul can say generally, whether to Jew or Gentile: “Therefore thou art inexcusable, O man, whosoever thou art that judgest: for wherein thou judgest another, thou condemnest thyself; for thou that judgest doest the same things” (Rom 2:1). Perhaps the earliest hypocritical act was Adam’s attempt to transfer the blame to Eve in the Garden of Eden (Gen 3:12). Thomas Watson mentions “the cloven hoof of hypocrisy” as part of the image of Satan borne by ungodly men.
Satan’s minions delight to abuse the people of God with language that more aptly describes themselves. “Art thou he that troublest Israel?” was the question asked by the chief troubleter of Israel (1 Ki 18:17-18). The “hatred” underlying the “hate-crime” legislation is principally in the hearts of the legislators against the law of God. Those most vehement in denouncing “discrimination” often freely practise it against males, whites, Christians, and so on; and those advocating “diversity” invariably exclude biblical Christians from the groups that can be tolerated. None are more bigoted than those who readily use the word “bigotry”. African slavery is condemned as an appalling affront to human dignity, as indeed it was, and yet how many of those taking the lead in denouncing it are the friends of abortion, which if anything is even worse.
There will be many at the Day of Judgment to whom Christ can say: “Out of thine own mouth will I judge thee, thou wicked servant” (Lk 19:22). Hypocrisy is not far from every one of us. “Happy is he that condemmeth not himself in that thing which he alloweth” (Rom 14:22).
DWBS
“Men, Brethren, and Fathers”
“Men, brethren, and fathers” was the salutation with which Stephen began his speech to the Council of the Jews (Acts 7:2), and Paul used the same words in opening his defence before the Jews at the temple many years later (Acts 22:1). Presumably it is from these words that the custom arose in Scottish Presbyterian Church courts of starting speeches with “Fathers and brethren”.
In a sermon on the text, “The father to the children shall make known Thy truth” (Is 38:19), Thomas Boston observes that God has ordained that teaching and learning are to be essential parts of human life, with those who teach being “fathers” and those taught being “children”. Furthermore, “as there is no perfect and absolute equality among men, but some who are inferior in one respect to others may be superior to them in another respect”, so men must retain a readiness to learn as well as to teach. Moses, the ruler of Israel, was willing to learn from his father-in-law Jethro (Ex 18:24) and Apollos, who was “mighty in the scriptures”, from Aquila and Priscilla (Acts 18:24-26). In addressing their Jewish brethren in the terms that they used, Stephen and Paul showed that they were not usurping a position over them, but were speaking in a humble spirit, and were ready to be instructed, if anyone was able to do that. If Stephen and Paul, filled with the Holy Ghost as they undoubtedly were, had such a spirit, then how much more should we.
DWBS
Neanderthal Man
Following last month’s comment on the teeth of the Neanderthal man found in Jersey, research by Dr Robert McCarthy, Florida Atlantic University, on a piece of bone discovered in France and claimed to be 50 000 years old, has suggested that Neanderthals had a high-pitched voice with severely limited range. This is in line with the common perception that people from this supposed era were grunting “cavemen” with a limited vocal range.
This, however, contrasts with research done by Professor Stephen Wroe, University of New England, on a hyoid bone found in Israel which was subjected to 3D x-ray imaging technology. (The hyoid bone is a small U-shaped bone situated centrally in the upper part of the neck which provides an anchor point for the muscles of the tongue and those in the upper part of the front of the neck. This bone is not connected to any other and is the foundation of speech and found only in humans and Neanderthals.) The results of Wroe’s research showed that the Neanderthal hyoid was basically indistinguishable from our own and was used in exactly the same way. Furthermore, genetic analysis of the Neanderthal genome has shown that the form of FOXP2 gene associated with language learning in modern humans matches the Neanderthal gene.
Having a dominant hand is uniquely human, and evidence shows that Neanderthals were predominantly right-handed. Moreover, skeletons have been discovered which showed crippling injuries which had healed, showing the person had been cared for during their incapacity. The burial of their children was done with particular care; they even planted flowers round graves. This was an organised and caring society of people.
As more evidence is unearthed, the image of a shambling grunting brute of limited intelligence and emotional ignorance is gradually being shown for the evolutionary myth that it is. All humans, including Neanderthals, are descended from Adam and Eve. Instead of archaeologists and palaeontologists trying to force everything into their evolutionary hypothesis, they would be wise to look to the Word of God. “For whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning, that we through patience and comfort of the scriptures might have hope” (Rom 15:4).
FRD