If we suppose that marbles come in only two colors -- black and white -- and we see a box labeled "Marbles," what could that box contain? There are only three possibilities.

• All white marbles
• All black marbles
• A mixture of black and white marbles.

In any one box, only one of these three possibilities can be true. Once we know the truth, the other two possibilities automatically become false. The truth however cannot be determined by looking at the box; we must examine the marbles. It is not possible to have two true positions in one box.

I am persuaded that, by using this logic, we could resolve many controversies that exist in, and in some cases divide, churches. Unfortunately, another existing piece of logic confuses things. That logic states that a thing is either black or white; there are no gray areas. This logic, which is also true, has been applied improperly. This logic is true when considering a single marble, but it is not necessarily true of a box of marbles. For example, a man and a woman becoming one flesh is lawful in marriage (white marble), but the same act is unlawful when it involves a third party (black marble). Each marble is either white or black, having identified the white marble, this individual now concludes that all marbles are white, since becoming one flesh is either white or black, and his conclusion fits the black or white logic. Thus a controversy is born, and this individual prepares to defend a position that is logically false for a collection.

Consider a second example, "Thou shalt not kill": some take the position that capital punishment and slaughtering animals are killing; therefore, both are forbidden. The problem is that they have removed but one marble. The same Old Testament that says "thou shalt not kill" also says "Whoso sheddeth man's blood, by man shall his blood be shed... " (Gen 9:6). This eliminates the position that all killing is unlawful. The position not eliminated is that the Bible teaches that killing is lawful under certain conditions, and unlawful under other conditions. The law-abiding person must determine the conditions and act accordingly.

In each case, the matter is either lawful or unlawful; there are no gray areas, but if there are many teachings in scripture, then we must examine every teaching to determine its color. It may well be that a specific topic is all black, or all white. For example, stealing is all black; there are no scriptures that say it is righteous. The first marble, the last marble, and all marbles in between are black.

There are some telltale signs that proper logic is not being used.

1. Not dealing directly with an opposing passage, but trying to "overwhelm" the passage with other scriptures.
2. Suggesting extreme hypothetical cases to take away the force of an opposing passage, since a scripture cannot be found.
3. Insisting that the logic is black or white; there can be no middle ground.
4. Considering as gray a mixture that contains both black and white, instead of allowing each to retain its own color.
5. Accusing others of taking the middle of the road.
6. Having a pet scripture and claiming that it overrides, or takes precedence over, all other scripture.

We've already discussed two examples -- killing and becoming one flesh -- but there are others.

• 1 Cor.7:10,11 ".. Let not the wife depart from her husband ... and let not the husband put away his wife"
  Matt. 19:9 "And I say unto you, Whosoever shall put away his wife, except it be for fornication, ... "
• 1 Tim 2:12 "But I suffer not a woman to teach"
  Titus 2:3-4 "The aged women likewise, ... That they may teach..."
  Col 3:16 "...teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, ..."
• 1 Cor 14:34 "Let your women keep silence in the churches..."
  Eph 5:19 "speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, ..."

The evidence shows that the boxes contain both black marbles and white marbles. Let us stop arguing the all position and get to the business of determining when each of these actions is lawful and when it is unlawful.

Look carefully at the above examples. If we take the position that everything is black or white, the Bible contradicts itself.

• "Thou shalt not kill;" yet, there is the command to shed the blood of the murderer?
• "Do not put away;" yet, one can lawfully be put away.
• "I suffer not a woman to teach;" yet, she is commanded to teach.
• "Let your women keep silence;" yet she is commanded to speak.

Only by recognizing that a box can contain some black and some white marbles can we remove these contradictions. If your logic leads you to argue a position that logically is false, or causes scripture to contradict itself, I urge you to find some other logic. ***

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I will not attempt to explain John's article, but I do want to add some thoughts. Whenever we talk about Bible issues, (such as those John used as examples), to reach proper conclusions, we must look at ALL the Bible says about the subject. If we do not consider all the information, the conclusion reached is flawed. This mistake is common among people who reach false conclusions on a number of Bible topics -- faith only, baptism, eternal security, grace, works, bible obedience, and a host of others. Many times, all we need do is "read the next verse." When there appears to be a contradiction in your understanding of a Bible subject, go back and study some more; and it will become clear. --KG