CHURCH SOCIAL CLIQUES

“For if a man comes into your assembly with a gold ring and dressed in fine clothes, and there also comes in a poor man in dirty clothes, and you pay special attention to the one who is wearing the fine clothes, and say, "You sit here in a good place," and you say to the poor man, "You stand over there, or sit down by my footstool," have you not made distinctions among yourselves, and become judges with evil motives?” 

(James 2:2-4, NASB).

Have you ever been in a local Church where when you observe the place, you see the young around the young, married couples around married couples, the elderly around the elderly, the rich hanging around the rich, and the poor hanging around the poor, etc.? What’s more is that after being in this Church for a short while, you will notice a certain prominent group of people, particularly a family who have a strong influence within the congregation. They are the ones running the show in that local Church. After being in this congregation for awhile, you notice you don’t fit in with any of the groups there. And because you don’t conform to the way things are in that Church, you feel alienated and left out in the cold. You also notice that preferential treatment is given towards those in the congregation who are either wealthy or are popular. 

WHAT’S WRONG WITH THE SETHITE VIEW?

“The Nephilim were on the earth in those days, and also afterward, when the sons of God came in to the daughters of men, and they bore children to them. Those were the mighty men who were of old, men of renown.” 

(Genesis 6:4, NASB).

I am not entirely convinced on the idea that the "sons of God" in Genesis 6:4 were only human men. Some Christians are under the assumption that "sons of God" can never refer to angelic beings, even fallen ones. If that is the case, then consider Job 38:7 where angels are referred to as the "sons of God." One thing Job does make clear that the "sons of God" along with Satan presented themselves to God. The passage in Job 2:1 which reads, "Again there was a day when the sons of God came to present themselves before the LORD, and Satan came also among them to present himself before the LORD." (KJV). Notice the phrase "sons of God" here refers to "angels" (see the NIV). These are not mere "men' presenting themselves to God. Now we are not told if these "divine beings" (ISV) are fallen or unfallen angels. Now to argue that the "sons of God" mentioned in Genesis 6:4 refers to human "men" is reading into the text what isn't there. The context makes it clear that a distinction is given between the "sons of God" and the "daughters of men." According to the Sethite view we are to believe the "sons of God" in this text were men from the godly line of Seth. Meanwhile, nowhere in the text, nor in Genesis 6 are we told from what line the "sons of God" were from, nor are we told from what line the "daughters of men" are from? It is assumed these women are from the ungodly line of Cain. Where is that stated in the passage? Furthermore, why does Genesis chapter 6 specify that "giants" (Heb. Nephilim) were borne from this union, when this is never mentioned elsewhere in Genesis, nor anywhere else in the Bible? Doesn’t it make better sense to allow the passage to interpret itself, instead of reading into the text what is not there? It sounds to me those who hold to the Sethite view are humanizing the passage to force it to fit their interpretation. 

Lord, there are times when we your children do not agree on certain controversial passages from your Holy Word, grant unto us patience and understanding with one another. Most importantly grant unto us a humble heart that desires nothing but the truth of your Word and not our preconceived notions about it. Lord Jesus, give us a teachable heart to the precious truths of your Word, in Christ name, Amen.