I've noticed a tendency, in most Bible studiers, to categorize characters into "good guys" and "bad guys."

While the authors of the Bible DO use storytelling techniques to communicate historical truths, we do need to be careful of overgeneralizations of characters into good and bad categories.

When we aren't, there are a few pitfalls we can stumble into:

1. We don't study deeply into moments when "good characters" do less than good things.

2. We refuse to admit that the actions of "good characters" are actually bad and end up justifying evil.

3. We might not notice when stereotypically "bad" characters do good things.

4. We feel cognitive dissonance when we're told that certain characters are "good" but we read about them doing awful things, thus, disenfranchising the biblical text.

5. We feel the need to "play teams" with biblical characters, forgetting that the Bible is more concerned about GOD'S goodness and our discerning of it through people stepping in and out of alignment with His will and way, than it is about individual character's generalized goodness.

Instead, we need to be okay with the fact that Biblical characters are people. As flawed, if not (at times) more so, as you and me.

This will help us process complex individuals better, ensure we're looking through a human lens at.... humans, and keep our mind's focused on discerning good and evil through God's eyes rather than the categories we set up based on our feelings about certain characters.

Email: truthbetoldbiblepodcast@gmail.com

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TruthBeToldYouTube

Logo: Matt Hernandez

Music: Acoustic Indie Folk Years By MarkJuly

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Many Christians believe Elijah was taken directly to heaven in a chariot of fire—but does the Bible actually say that?

In this video, we examine Jesus’ own words that “no man has ascended into heaven,” the overlooked letter Elijah sent to King Jehoram after the chariot event, and the Hebrew meaning of “heaven” as it often refers to the sky or atmosphere.

When all the evidence is placed side by side, the traditional assumption about Elijah may not hold up.

This isn’t about attacking belief—it’s about interpreting Scripture honestly.

📖 Let’s take a closer look at what the Bible really says.

Email: truthbetoldbiblepodcast@gmail.com

Logo: Matt Hernandez

Music: Acoustic Indie Folk Years By MarkJuly

#faith #religion #spirituality #faithful #spiritual #religious #Christian #Christianity #Jesus #Christ #JesusChrist #God #bible #biblestudy #biblical #Elijah #Kings #prophet #chariotoffire #heaven #hell #heavenandhell #heavenandearth #soteriology #death #whathappensafterdeath #Enoch #holybible #scripture #truth #hope #love #spirit #church #catholic #protestant #fyp #fypyoutube

As part of God's Law, He determines that, in order to verify the truth of a matter in court, it must be brought before the leaders by the mouth of two or three witnesses. This would ensure that no single, jealous or angry party testifies falsely, wrongly condemning an innocent person.

In establishing the covenant with Israel, God appears to follow this by calling two witnesses of His own - Heaven and Earth.

The question this episode seeks to answer is, without eyes or ears to witness or a mouth to testify, how are Heaven and Earth valid witnesses, and what EXACTLY (or WHO exactly) are they witnessing about or against?

Email: truthbetoldbiblepodcast@gmail.com

Logo: Matt Hernandez

Music: Acoustic Indie Folk Years By MarkJuly