Temptation or Testing
Posted: Sun Jul 09, 2017 5:01 pm
I am prompted to ask a question because some are wondering why the lack of discussion on the forum. but also because I am still working around my question for quite a while, with no clear answers.
In an earlier post the discussion was raised about the difference between temptation and testing, and generally concluded with saying that temptation indicated the desire to do something wrong, and testing the challenge to do something right. Then someone asked at what point is this determined. This was not answered as near as I could tell but left hanging. It has kept me busy wondering.
When Jesus was tempted in the wilderness to turn the stones into bread, it was reported as a temptation and the answer clearly given by Jesus was 'No'. Not long after, Jesus went to a wedding feast and when the host ran out of wine, was put on the spot to do something about it. At first he hesitated, not surprisingly, since he had so recently refused to turn stones into bread. But he soon responded and the result was that he turned water into wine. This is not a whole lot different from turning rocks into bread as far as my unscientific mind and the process of miracles is concerned. But the question is - what made one a temptation and the other a 'test'?
At what point in our swamp full of alligators do we consider that this situation is a test and not a temptation, or vice versa?
If we consider that the devil used the formula "If you are the Son of God, turn these stones into bread", then I am further reminded that Peter used this same formula when he saw Jesus walking on the water. "If you are the Son of God, bid me come to you on the water."
A further question arises. In the Lord's prayer, we say "lead us not into temptation..." but we are told elsewhere that God does not tempt us, so why are we asking God not to do it? Does this have anything to do with the issue at hand being initially neutral, but taking on a moral stance when we contemplate our alternatives?
Graeme
In an earlier post the discussion was raised about the difference between temptation and testing, and generally concluded with saying that temptation indicated the desire to do something wrong, and testing the challenge to do something right. Then someone asked at what point is this determined. This was not answered as near as I could tell but left hanging. It has kept me busy wondering.
When Jesus was tempted in the wilderness to turn the stones into bread, it was reported as a temptation and the answer clearly given by Jesus was 'No'. Not long after, Jesus went to a wedding feast and when the host ran out of wine, was put on the spot to do something about it. At first he hesitated, not surprisingly, since he had so recently refused to turn stones into bread. But he soon responded and the result was that he turned water into wine. This is not a whole lot different from turning rocks into bread as far as my unscientific mind and the process of miracles is concerned. But the question is - what made one a temptation and the other a 'test'?
At what point in our swamp full of alligators do we consider that this situation is a test and not a temptation, or vice versa?
If we consider that the devil used the formula "If you are the Son of God, turn these stones into bread", then I am further reminded that Peter used this same formula when he saw Jesus walking on the water. "If you are the Son of God, bid me come to you on the water."
A further question arises. In the Lord's prayer, we say "lead us not into temptation..." but we are told elsewhere that God does not tempt us, so why are we asking God not to do it? Does this have anything to do with the issue at hand being initially neutral, but taking on a moral stance when we contemplate our alternatives?
Graeme