"It" is quiz with only ONE multiple choice question. So easy! Ready? Six Bible quotations follow. Some words are bolded for emphasis. Please read the verses before taking the one question quiz below them.
A. "The LORD tests the righteous, but the wicked and the one who loves violence His soul hates." (Psalm 11:5)
B. "How precious is Your lovingkindness, O God! Therefore the children of men put their trust under the shadow of Your wings." (Psalm 36:7)
C. "These six things the LORD hates, yes, seven are an abomination to Him:" (Proverbs 6:16; read on in Proverbs chapter 6 if you want to see what they are)
D. "The LORD your God in your midst, the mighty One, will save; He will rejoice over you with gladness, He will quiet you with His love, He will rejoice over you with singing." (Zephaniah 3:17)
E. "But this you have, that you hate the deeds of the Nicolaitans, which I also hate." (Revelation 2:6, Christ speaking. Cf. verse 15)
F. "He who does not love does not know God, for God is love." (1 John 4:8)
Now the single question. In light of the six Bible citations, choose which of the following four statements best expresses what the Bible as a whole teaches. Choose one: 1, 2, 3, or 4.
1. The verses emphasizing LOVE (B, D, and F) are true. God is good, all the time...all the time, God is good, period! This is a good example of how the Bible has been edited over the centuries. Verses A, C, and E are obviously not genuine. Of course the loving God does not "hate" anything or anybody!
2. The verses emphasizing HATE (A, C, and E) are true. Just look at the state of the world! It is filled with all kinds of misery caused by humanity — against humanity and against other forms of life and against the earth itself. If the love passages were true, wouldn't God do something about that? Innumerable, devastating natural catastrophes have occurred and probably will continue to occur. God is angry and hateful.
3. There is some truth in all the statements. After all, the Bible is only a human writing like other books. The verses reflect the diverse experiences and thoughts of alleged giant killer David, Zephaniah who was taken for a prophet, wise Solomon, and John the apostle (or of people claiming to be these Biblical figures). All these statements are subject to the private interpretation of each reader, who might find life application or inspiration from other ancient religious texts and myths, or from the arts and sciences, as well as from the Bible.
4. All the statements are true, and they are non-contradictory. The entire Bible is the cohesive, inspired, infallible, and authoritative word of God. God is the God of unfathomable love. God is the God of consuming wrath. By comparing these verses with one another, always considering context and the whole counsel of God in Scripture, our understanding increases along with a satisfied assurance of their truthfulness.
The quiz is self grading. May it help us all to pray and do according to two other Bible passages:
"Examine me, O LORD, and prove me; try my mind and my heart." (Psalm 26:2)
"Let us search out and examine our ways, and turn back to the LORD." (Lamentations 3:40)