The Bible On Trial

Threats or Promises~

A few days ago a U.S. Senator made threats against two specific Supreme Court Justices, if they didin't vote on an issue before the SCOTUS they way he demanded. The Chief Justice excoriated this Senator, and said that all SC Justices would vote for or against any issue before the High Court simply based on the Law and the merits. This is as it should be. This Senator was WAY out of line, and we will have to wait to see what happens to him (probably nothing).

When I was young my mom would tell me to do somethng, and if I didn't do it she would state that if I didn't do it there would be a commensurate punishment. She then would emphasize that demand by saying, "This is not a threat, it's a promise!"

There is a huge difference between a threat and a promise, in that a threat is often not carried out, because it is spoken in the heat of the moment, and without due consideration for the consequenses. A Promise, on the other hand, is almost always given as a future fact. An example of a promise is the 'Wedding Vows'. 

Laws are demands placed on a body of people that state that an activity is either 'lawful' or 'unlawful', with a future reward or punishment tied to that activity. Laws contain both 'threats' and 'promises'. 

When God gave the LAW to His Kingdom at Sinai (His Covenant of the Kingdom-the 10 Commandment) He gave the instruction that the people must choose as a body to be obedient to those Commands. If they did there was a Promise of a glorious reward AND an ignominious fate. God gave Israel a clear instruction:

 "I call heaven and earth to witness against you today, that I have set before you life and death, the blessing and the curse. So choose life in order that you may live". Deut 30:19.

This was NOT a threat, it was a Promise. That Promise still applies today. So Choose Life!