The Christian "Rope" Theory

Despite having the solid truth of the scripture, it is possible for myths to worm their way into common Bible teaching.  I do not know the motives of those who do so at the first, but the human tendency to parrot stories without critical thought is prevalent.  As a kid I remember being told in Sunday School God was unapproachable in holiness.  This was illustrated by the chief priest wearing bells on his robe so other priests could hear him beyond the veil in the most holy place in the temple.  I was told a rope was tied to an ankle so if there was a prolonged silence (because the priest had offended God and been struck dead!) his corpse could be hauled out without endangering anyone else.  Perhaps you have heard a similar tale?  You might be interested to learn there is no scriptural evidence to support this idea and much which contradicts it.

This morning I read the scripture where God laid out in great detail the clothing of the high priest.  In Exodus 28:33-35 it reads, "And upon its hem you shall make pomegranates of blue, purple, and scarlet, all around its hem, and bells of gold between them all around: ³⁴  a golden bell and a pomegranate, a golden bell and a pomegranate, upon the hem of the robe all around. ³⁵  And it shall be upon Aaron when he ministers, and its sound will be heard when he goes into the holy place before the LORD and when he comes out, that he may not die."  Ministering unto the LORD is a sober business, and God gave commands to what the priest was to wear from the top of his head to the soles of his feet.  God did not always explain why each item was significant, but it would be foolish to add or omit what God commanded.  The Priests carefully followed each command as carefully as a scribes were trained to copy the Torah letter by letter, for their lives depended on it.

In observing the text the alternating pomegranates and bells were important, and when the High Priest moved the bells would make a sound.  God's command was not that the High Priest continually make noise with the bells, but when he walked into the most holy place and out from the presence of the LORD the bells sounded.  The bells were not for the benefit of those outside but the one who ministered.  There is also no suggestion the priest would be struck dead on the spot, for the passage says, "...that he may not die."  I do not know of a single place in scripture where a priest was struck dead as he ministered in the Temple.  I remember King Uzziah was struck with leprosy when he sinned in offering incense in the holy place and was a leper until his death (2 Chron. 26:19).  Zacharias was struck mute in the Temple for his unbelief when he was met by the angel Gabriel who spoke of the son which would be born to his wife (Luke 1:20-22).  There were a lot of shady things done by wicked men who defiled the Tabernacle and Temple, yet I cannot recall one of them who was struck dead in the Temple.  People were struck dead many times in scripture for their transgressions, don't misunderstand.  My point it is a gross misrepresentation to portray God as One who slays His sanctified ones, flawed though they certainly are.  Wasn't the blood of the sacrifice graciously provided by God to cover sin?

There are other reasons why the "rope" theory is without merit.  All the articles of the Temple were to be cleansed and sanctified.  God was very specific about the composition of fabrics, types of wood used, the intricate thread and dye used in the ephod, ingredients for bread and incense, and articles of gold and silver.  Of what materials was this "rope" to be made and how was it to be sanctified?  Would not wearing foreign material tied around the leg in the most holy place be reserved for priests with a death wish?  The picture created is a group of priests listening to the tinkling priest beyond the veil, even as the servants who waited until they were embarrassed outside King Eglon's summer chamber.  Can you imagine the High Priest praying in silence before the Ark of the Covenant and suddenly there was a terrific yank on his ankle?  It would be funny if it was not so ridiculous.  The Levites would have a quick conference in hushed tones:  "We'd better give him a few minutes.  Maybe he's only mostly dead."

As followers of Jesus Christ, it is important we do not parrot teaching or men's interpretations of dubious origin.  A parrot is able to mimic sounds, but these are spoken without understanding.  Praise the LORD He has given us the Holy Spirit, His everlasting Word, and brains to think!  There is a lot I do not understand and questions I cannot answer.  I do not know why pomegranates were chosen over bunches of grapes, or why the bells and pomegranates were in an alternating pattern.  But the Law tells us plainly the bells were important, for refusing to include the bells would cost the High Priest his life.  If those little bells were so critical, how important is it to speak clearly the words of life, not diluting or corrupting them with men's assumptions or commonly used illustrations.  May God open our eyes to rightly divide His Word of truth, and to faithfully hold it forth to impressionable hearts.

God's Word (without apology)

Last night at youth we discussed impact of our worldview in interpreting scientific evidence.  A participant in the conversation bravely asked something like, "Can you be a Christian and still believe in evolution?"  Though many young people in our group go to Christian private schools, belief in Darwinian evolution is largely believed and advocated by teachers and students alike.  I explained God has allowed a wide latitude of beliefs and practices among His people, and a belief in evolution does not strip anyone of their position as a follower of Christ.  The grave concern I have for all who do so is their willingness to substitute the ideas and philosophies of men for the plain Word of God.

Evolutionary thinking is not the problem here.  The issue at stake is the authority of the Bible.  I have never heard anyone use the Bible to remotely prove their case for evolutionary theory - because evolutionary theory did not arise from the scripture.  Still some make room for it, explaining away plain passages as metaphorical in the first 11 chapters of Genesis.  IF it is God's Word, let it be God's Word without apology.  Let the Word of God speak for itself, even if all the learned men and women disagree with it.  If the Bible contains the words of life, woe to us if we deny them!  There are deep philosophical and personal reasons for people to deny the existence of God and the veracity of God's Word, but let no follower of Jesus be named among them.  This kowtowing to oppositions of science (1 Timothy 6:20) is a disgrace to God and does Him dishonour.

Can you be a genuine Christian and believe in evolution?  Sure, just like you can be a born-again Christian and a scientist.  Following Jesus and a keen interest in science are not mutually exclusive, for God is the One revealed by scripture who made men with minds who have freedom to choose.  Yet there is an erosion in the church and in Christian schools where evolution is no longer a theory, select portions of the Bible explained away as myths and fables, and God is not really necessary.  Brothers and sisters, humanistic and naturalistic philosophy and the denial of scripture has been a virtual millstone which has dragged countless down to hell, and I will (God help me!) stand on the divinely inspired Word of God without fear.

Luke 3:28 (written by a doctor, by the way) traces the ancestry of Jesus Christ all the way back to Adam, the man God created from the dust of the ground and breathed into a living soul.  Paul spoke several times of Adam, as did Jude.  This is clear evidence one cannot intelligently chalk Adam's existence up to myths and fables - whilst claiming the Bible is the Word of God!  Again, the issue isn't evolution, the age of the universe, the moral morass which seems to plague society, or the use of figurative language:  the core issue is a devaluing of God's Word where men (men who profess Christ) twist and distort the Bible to accommodate themselves.  The world doesn't care for the Bible anyway:  why change it to suit their unbelief?

The God of Life

I recently saw a trailer for an upcoming movie titled "Life" which seemed cliche:  scientists go to Mars seeking "life" and initially celebrate after discovering it, but it turns out this form of life is a deadly threat to humans.  It struck me as amusing how man's quest for "life" beyond our planet is not only found in science fiction films, but is the aim of many scientists today.  I don't know what is crazier:  the fact we haven't found living organisms on other planets or the fact the earth is absolutely teeming with them.

Pretty much everywhere on the earth, life is found flourishing.  Trees, grass, mammals, bacteria in the dirt and in the air, from the deep places in the sea to the highest mountains, in birds which soar above the clouds or human beings in aeroplanes, life on earth is everywhere.  Places completely unsuitable for human life are packed with other living creatures quite at home.  Look inside both living and dead things and there is an abundance of microscopic life beyond measure.  Life on our planet gives rise to more life.  There has never been a known case of non-life producing life.  Creation must have a Creator, and it logically follows a Living Being is responsible for all the life we see.

Yesterday I saw a video of a man named Robert Lang who once worked for NASA as a physicist but now uses his math savvy and skills as an origami artist - folding intricate designs out of paper.  He is able to fold paper to replicate the clear likeness of animals and insects after solving complex mathematical equations.  His designs have also been used in advanced technology in aerospace and the automobile industry.  When I see those folded bits of paper into familiar three-dimensional objects, I know they are the product of an intelligent mind, quality materials, and skilled hands.  Beautiful and intricate as they are, however, they are virtually nothing compared to the complex living creatures they resemble.  To create a living creature which can reproduce offspring according to its kind, grow, speak, or have instincts unique to a species is infinitely more complex than patterns composed of dried pulp.

When I saw those intricate origami shapes, I wondered in amazement:  how can people hail Robert Lang a genius because of his incredible designs and mathematical prowess folding paper (and I applaud his immense talent), yet deny the existence of God?  Doesn't all life inspire awe in the One who created atoms, DNA, chromosomes, living creatures, our earth and atmosphere, and things too small or far for our amazingly designed eyes to see?  No three-year-old child could understand or possess the dexterity to perfectly execute the simplest of Lang's designs, though having a keen mind and functional hands.  The mathematical odds of the life we have on earth just "happening" are beyond astronomical.  The Bible says the "heavens declare the glory of God," and He is the God of life - the One who gives eternal life to all who trust in Him.

The Pool Cue Lesson

Years ago, God used a piece of wood to convict me of my lack of faith in Him.  When I bought a pool table second-hand, a few old cues were included by the seller.  One of the cues was warped to the point it was not worth repairing.  As I went to throw it away, however, I was impressed by the solid feel in my hand.  This wouldn't be a bad club, I thought to myself.  If someone broke into my house, I would feel capable of defending myself with this in my hand.  So I discreetly stashed my improvised personal defence system in my bedroom.

It wasn't long before I started thinking:  hasn't God promised to defend me and my family?  Was it possible I was trading divine protection and safety for my own strength?  Wouldn't it be better to do my part to responsibly secure the home with locks and lights and entrust myself to His care?  My club wouldn't do me any good if I was asleep, but the God of Israel does not slumber or sleep.  A club offered limited protection against a gun in the hands of a desperate thief.  If I cried out to God couldn't He strike an intruder with blindness as He did the men of Sodom or make people with evil intentions hear sirens and flee like the Syrians outside the walls of Samaria?  There is a limit of my strength and skill to fight, but there is no weakness in my God.  Strengthened with faith through remembering my God, the club went in the bin and I slept peacefully.

Do you believe God can protect you and your family, believer?  Or have you exchanged the divine protection God provides with reliance on your ability to shoot with precision or swing a club in the dark?  Psalm 118:6-8 says, "The LORD is on my side; I will not fear. What can man do to me? ⁷  The LORD is for me among those who help me; therefore I shall see my desire on those who hate me. ⁸  It is better to trust in the LORD than to put confidence in man."  If fear of man or government control is our motive in arming ourselves, we may be displaying a lack of confidence in God.  Isn't He the one who sets up kings and deposes them?  Hasn't Christ commanded if His disciples are persecuted in one city they should flee to another (Matt. 10:23)?  He did not tell them to hunker down in compounds but to make disciples of all nations.

The only weapon I have in my house today is the Word of the Living God, the Sword of the Spirit:  the Bible.  It cannot bludgeon trespassers or make thieves flee, but it reveals the character and power of my God who loves and protects me.  Its pages are packed with instances of God miraculously saving His people.  Thieves can break in and steal, and murderers can kill and destroy.  But if I am God's and He is mine, I can joyfully entrust myself to His protection.  I am an overcomer through Jesus Christ, and those who do His bidding God can employ as His battle-axe and weapon of war (Jer. 51:20).  Our fight is not against flesh and blood or governments but against spiritual powers of darkness which can only prevail when we rely on our strength and wits instead of the power of God.  Praise the LORD for His protection, for our Good Shepherd will faithfully keep His flock forever.