Before diving in, it’s important to consider all secular and Christian scientific sources carefully, with Scripture remaining the final reference point against which everything should be weighed. Now… for my answer to “Was Noah’s Flood Regional or Global?” Both Are Correct So here’s why I say both answers are correct. Scripture describes a single unified landmass (Eden), and modern geology also recognizes an early unified continent they call Pangaea. While Scripture and science use different language and frameworks, the overlap is striking: both describe an earth that began as one connected landmass rather than many separated continents. Eden/Pangaea was that. One BIG ol’ chunk of region. And at the same time, yes, the whole Earth was flooded. So both can be true at the same time. The Real Debate Behind This Question The debate I ran into that sparked this article actually boiled down to a different question entirely: whether Noah and his family were truly the only survivors after the flood. Many who argue for a regional flood do so because they believe other human groups lived outside the flood zone and survived. That assumption is what actually drives the debate. How you read and answer that question can fundamentally change how you read the rest of the Bible and your belief in God’s Word, especially once you get into some of the more, shall we say, stranger stories out there about that time frame in our history. If someone concludes that Scripture is mistaken about who survived the flood, it becomes easier to treat other clear statements as flexible or symbolic rather than authoritative. So I went to Scripture to reexamine exactly what the Bible tells us about the Earth, the flood, and the survivors. From Genesis 7:23: “Every living thing on the face of the earth was wiped out; people and animals and the creatures that move along the ground and the birds were wiped from the earth. Only Noah was left, and those with him in the ark.” This verse is central to the debate because it directly states the outcome: only Noah and those with him survived. What “Face of the Earth” Means It’s important to note that the Old Testament writers may not have understood the Earth the way we do today, but God did. And the meaning of phrases like “face of the earth” doesn’t depend on ancient cosmology. It depends on how God uses the language. From the beginning, Scripture presents a consistent use of these terms. The wording isn’t accidental; the Hebrew vocabulary is deliberate, and understanding it helps clarify what the text is describing. We see this in Genesis 6:7: “I will destroy man whom I have created from the face of the earth…” The word for “earth” here is adamah — land, ground, soil. In this context, “face of the earth” refers to the land surface where living creatures dwell, consistent with how Scripture uses the phrase to describe the visible surface of the earth and the presence of life upon it. Some notice this isn’t the word erets, which refers to the whole planet, but that’s because “face of the earth” is describing the land surface itself. (Remember that phrase; it matters later.) He is wiping out every creature that lives on land, including birds. This definition becomes important when we look at what exactly was destroyed in the flood. The Idea Of One Landmass Now let’s go back a few chapters to Genesis 1:9: “And God said, ‘Let the water under the sky be gathered to one place, and let dry ground appear.’ And it was so.” It’s the word one that stands out here. The Hebrew word is echad, meaning: one, single, first, alone, unity. I’m highlighting that word because it supports the idea that Genesis describes a single, unified landmass. I want to clear this up as well. They did indeed know what the number one meant. Genesis 1:5 “And there was evening, and there was morning — the first day.” The word translated first here is also echad. Now the awesome part is that it doesn’t matter whether you believe the creation days were a literal 24-hour time period or not. It’s still the first, number uno. Just to see how this word is used elsewhere, we can look at other examples. Exodus 1:15–16 “to the Hebrew midwives, one of whom was named Shiphrah” Joshua 23:10 “One of your men puts to flight a thousand.” 1 Samuel 1:24 “with a three-year-old bull, one ephah of flour,” Jeremiah 52:1 “was twenty-one years old when he became king,” Same word. Same numerical meaning, demonstrated in proper contextual usage next to other numbers. These examples show echad consistently means a literal ‘one,’ which strengthens the reading of Genesis 1:9 as describing one landmass. This brings us back to Genesis 1:9 “Let the water under the sky be gathered to one place, and let dry ground appear.” Taken together, these passages show the land remained unified from creation until after the flood. Also, we don’t see any division of land on the Earth until ten chapters later, after the flood. “And unto Eber were born two sons: the name of one was Peleg, for in his days was the earth divided; and his brother’s name was Joktan.” Genesis 10:25. Some interpret this division as political or linguistic, but I’m focusing on the possibility that it refers to a physical division of land. Was There Enough Water? A common argument against the flood in general is whether there was even enough water to begin with. Genesis 1:2 says, “And the earth was without form and void, and darkness was upon the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters.” I’m pointing to Genesis 1:2 because it shows the earth originally had enough water to submerge everything before land appeared. Notice something important here. At this point, we don’t see land yet. And this is where the “face of the Earth” phrase comes back in with contextual understanding for the phrase “face of the waters.” Both phrases describe the visible surface covering the earth, whether water or land. We don’t see dry land until Genesis 1:9, and then we are told the waters were gathered, and dry land appeared. What makes this verse remarkable is that the Hebrew word translated as appeared means: see, saw, seen. The land didn’t suddenly come into existence at that moment; it became visible. Things were molded and moved around until God saw the dry land. If there was enough water in the beginning to cover all the land we have now, then there was enough to flood an entire single landmass. The flood wouldn’t require new water, just a return to the earth’s original water coverage. In fact, that would have been easier. Even if you do believe continents existed before the flood, no one knows how high any mountains actually were at the time. The Hebrew word translated mountain can also mean hill or hill country. The word is used interchangeably with various topographies. This uncertainty makes it impossible to use modern mountain heights to argue against the flood’s scope. Where Science And Faith Agree Refreshingly, both secular and religious sources generally agree on one thing: Eden/Pangaea existed. This matters because the idea of a unified landmass isn’t just biblical; it’s also supported by geological research. The debate isn’t whether it existed. The debate is about when and how long it took for the continents to drift apart. Aside from the very obvious shape of the continents, there is significant geological evidence supporting it. Examples of some sources: Compelling Truth (Religious) USGS (Secular) Answers in Genesis (Religious) The Origin of Continents and Oceans (Secular) These sources simply show that the existence of a unified landmass isn’t controversial. As I said earlier, it’s not debated that it happened. Only the when and how. Science is incredibly useful for helping us understand certain aspects of the Bible. Science can help illuminate parts of Scripture, but Scripture provides the authoritative framework for understanding events like the flood. Why This Debate Matters I’ve seen many divisions among Christians who say it was “just a regional flood,” with the emphasis on other survivors. In this context, ‘regional flood’ usually means the flood didn’t reach every human population, implying other groups survived. At first glance, that phrasing might not seem like a big deal, but it creates serious problems for believers and nonbelievers alike. It opens the door to questioning God’s statement that only Noah and his family survived. Once someone reinterprets a clear statement like this, it becomes easier to reinterpret other straightforward passages. And once that door is opened, the discussion shifts from understanding the event itself to questioning whether Scripture should be taken at its word. Doubt rarely stays isolated; it tends to spread to other parts of Scripture. Once you begin doubting certain parts of it, the next question becomes: where do you draw the line? Do you accept the parts that are easy to explain but set aside the harder ones, or step outside the Bible for answers that aren’t supported by Scripture? Or do you accept Scripture as a whole, as truth, even when some things remain difficult to fully understand? That’s why the straightforward reading matters — it preserves the clarity of what Scripture says happened. Scripture is clear about what happened before, during, and after the flood, and who survived it. One event: one unified landmass was flooded, and only Noah’s family survived. © 2026 Jane Isley Sources & Credits: Image credit: Fama Clamosa, CC BY‑SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons. Peter 2:5 & Hebrews 11:7 Biblehub.com; Fountains of the Deep Biblehub.com; Face of the Earth Northwestern Now: New Evidence for Oceans of Water Deep in the Earth Nature: Hydrous mantle transition zone indicated by ringwoodite included within diamond Institute for Creation Research: Catastrophic Plate Tectonics Press Ctrl + P (Windows) or Cmd + P (Mac) to print this article or save it as a PDF.

Churches Silencing Abuse Survivors Recently, a church in Tennessee, Fellowship Bible Church went to court to maintain a non- disclosure agreement that silenced the parents of a child who was sexually abused. The church states on their website: “Join a welcoming church family committed to following Jesus and helping others do the same.” The attorney representing the church, Allan Hall, is also a member of a Bible-believing church, volunteers at a homeless shelter, and has served as director of the shelter. The church lost, and the survivor and his family are thankfully free to disclose their experience and find the healing the church and attorney tried to deny them. How Churches Rationalize Silence Somewhere there is a huge disconnect when a church and a Christian attorney can work to silence the parents of a survivor of child sexual abuse. This silencing is known to be destructive, and John 10:10 says “The thief comes only to steal, kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life and have it abundantly.” What is happening here? I have not interviewed the church leadership or Mr. Hall, but am willing to grant that they most likely conduct themselves honorably and even with love in other ways. However, they appear to be able to rationalize silencing these parents. Perhaps they said to themselves, with positive self-talk, “You’re a good person.” Or: “These people suing to disclose sexual abuse would disturb our good ministry.” None of us can know what the church leaders were thinking. What they said to the Tennessean was, "We respect the family’s privacy and will continue to do all we can to honor them in this matter." They really did say they were trying to honor the family by going to court to keep an NDA in force that silenced the parents. Accountability Done Right Broadmoor Baptist Church made a very different choice. On their website, there is a document entitled ‘Addressing Our Past’ that describes the abuse of a minor by a former youth leader. The church chose to support the survivor and offered to pay her legal expenses for breaking her NDA with him. In Luke 4, Jesus announces to the world that he is anointed to set people free. Jesus did this, at a cost. Broadmoor Baptist Church did this, at a cost. Fellowship Bible church tried to bind a child survivor’s parents to silence. The mother involved in the Tennessee case said (The Tennessean), “I read the Bible, I know what it says the rules and responsibilities of the church are,” she said. “It’s to protect the sheep. To lay down their lives for the sheep. I feel like, in a way, I have stepped into a place that the shepherds of the church should have done in the first place.” Integrity Beyond Good Intentions There is an important lesson for all of us here. Integrity, obedience to the word of God, and basic human decency are limited to what you cannot rationalize. That means engaging in some tough thinking that holds on to truth, even when it is not comfortable. It means keeping a clear conscience every day, before the scandal strikes. In I Timothy 1:18-19, Paul gives his son in the faith an important word: Timothy, my son, I am giving you this command in keeping with the prophecies once made about you, so that by recalling them you may fight the battle well, holding on to faith and a good conscience, which some have rejected and so have suffered shipwreck with regard to the faith. © Robert Leland, PhD NDAFreeCampus Also By Robert Leland: 📖 Biblical Teaching on the Misuse of NDAs: Part 1 — What Scripture reveals about silencing, reconciliation, and speaking truth. 📖 Biblical Teaching on the Misuse of NDAs: Part 2 — Church leadership, faithfulness, and why institutional rationalization contradicts God's standards. References: The Tennessean. "Tennessee Court Rules Against NDA in Child Sexual Abuse Case." June 5, 2026. Roy's Report. "Now the Victims Can Speak Out: Tennessee Court Rules Against NDA in Child Sexual Abuse Case." Leland, Bob. "What the Bible Says About the Misuse of Non-Disclosure Agreements (NDAs)." Medium. Images StockCake. "Trapped in Glass." Accessed [current date]. https://stockcake.com/i/trapped-in-glass_1020536_1001721 Press Ctrl + P (Windows) or Cmd + P (Mac) to print this article or save it as a PDF.

Church Leadership and the Cost of Silence NDA misuse goes against the Bible’s teaching on Church leadership, faithfulness and integrity. It frequently involves a rationalized ‘institutional thinking’ and represents hypocrisy by ministries that may be doing good in other respects. NDA misuse looks so very different from the bible’s teaching on leadership. 1 Timothy 3:2 Therefore an overseer must be above reproach, the husband of one wife, sober-minded, self-controlled, respectable, hospitable, able to teach. 1 Timothy 3:7 Moreover, he must be well thought of by outsiders, so that he may not fall into disgrace, into a snare of the devil. Christian leaders must not only be gifted, they must be of good character, and be well thought of because of their actual lifestyle, not because they are covering up their own or others’ behavior with NDAs. Once a leader starts using NDAs, it raises questions about their character. Overlooking character flaws and covering them up with NDAs to protect a popular or charismatic preacher or powerful leader is contrary to the Bible’s clear teaching that character is essential. Servant Leadership, Not Seized Authority I Peter 5:2-3 shepherd the flock of God that is among you, exercising oversight, not under compulsion, but willingly, as God would have you; not for shameful gain, but eagerly; not domineering over those in your charge, but being examples to the flock. Leaders should care for and seek the best interests of those under their care, not do harm by silencing them with NDAs. They should lead by setting a good example, rather than being domineering and emphasizing control by fear and intimidation. Luke 4:5-8 And the devil took him up and showed him all the kingdoms of the world in a moment of time, and said to him, “To you I will give all this authority and their glory, for it has been delivered to me, and I give it to whom I will. If you, then, will worship me, it will all be yours.” And Jesus answered him, “It is written, “‘You shall worship the Lord your God, and him only shall you serve.’” Jesus was offered power and money. Think of all the good he could have done. And all he had to do was bow down and worship the father of lies. He could have rationalized, ‘It’s not the best thing, but …’ Instead, he said, ‘It is written’ and that settled who he was going to worship. He didn’t have to think about it. When NDAs are misused to silence people whose experiences might damage an institution’s reputation, this places power, position, and fundraising above the people and the integrity of the institution. This requires living a lie and worshipping the father of lies, who has very bad intentions toward all. NDA Misuse vs. Biblical Integrity James 3:17 But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, open to reason, full of mercy and good fruits, impartial and sincere. The wisdom from above is pure, with no moral compromise. It does not need to be rationalized. It is full of mercy and good fruit, not harm. Sincere means ‘without wax’, which was used to cover up flaws. The wisdom from above is sincere, the opposite of using an NDA to cover-up wrongdoing. Matthew 5:16 In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven. Jesus says to do good works, and people will see it and give glory to God. This is the opposite of harming people and hiding it with an NDA so people will think well of you. 2 Peter 1:5-8 For this very reason, make every effort to supplement your faith with virtue, and virtue with knowledge, and knowledge with self-control, and self-control with steadfastness, and steadfastness with godliness, and godliness with brotherly affection, and brotherly affection with love. For if these qualities are yours and are increasing, they keep you from being ineffective or unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. The message is to grow in integrity, character, and love, which will make you effective. If these qualities are abandoned, to silence people with NDAs to manage the reputation of the organization or leader, that effectiveness can be lost. God's Truth Over Institutional Loyalty Exodus 20:1-3 And God spoke all these words, saying, “I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery. “You shall have no other gods before me. Our loyalty should always be to God first, and not a leader or organization. When an institution demands silence, they are asking people to violate their conscience and relationship with God. Exodus 20:16 You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor. NDAs require omission, and sometimes overt misrepresentation of fact. Omission requires falseness and can be considered a form of perjury in a court of law. I Thessalonians 5:22 Abstain from every form of evil. This includes not silencing people with NDAs, which means harming them, and maintaining a falsified reputation. Photo by Lorin Both on Unsplash When Institutions Rationalize Compromise Institutional thinking seeks to preserve image, status, and power, and rationalizes following 'standard practice' rather than the Bible. Organizations frequently respond to critical disclosures with officialese statements that make their decisions sound like prudent leadership. Silencing someone who has been hurt with an NDA is considered an informed business decision that is standard, rather than something unethical and destructive. I Kings 12:26-28 And Jeroboam said in his heart, “Now the kingdom will turn back to the house of David. If this people go up to offer sacrifices in the temple of the Lord at Jerusalem, then the heart of this people will turn again to their lord, to Rehoboam king of Judah, and they will kill me and return to Rehoboam king of Judah.” So the king took counsel and made two calves of gold. And he said to the people, “You have gone up to Jerusalem long enough. Behold your gods, O Israel, who brought you up out of the land of Egypt.” Jeroboam had taken ten out of twelve tribes of Israel away from Rehoboam, and was worried they would turn back if they worshipped at the temple in Jerusalem, where Rehoboam was king. Rather than trust God, he engages in ‘institutional thinking’ where a leader thinks about maintaining their position, authority, or reputation, rather than thinking about what God wants. ‘It's not the best thing, but …’ This kind of rationalization is behind most uses of NDAs, and the cover-up response to abuse in churches and Christian organizations. Whoever the king took counsel with gave him very bad advice. Rachael Denhollander is a Christian attorney and the first woman to go public about the abuse of Larry Nassar. She advises: Pastors, if you are working with attorneys that suggest NDA's, you [are] getting counsel and guidance that is not asking what is right, good, or true. You need new counsel that will tell you the law accurately, but challenge you to do what is right. The Cost of Rationalization John 11:50 Nor do you understand that it is better for you that one man should die for the people, not that the whole nation should perish. Here, Caiaphas rationalizes killing one man, Jesus, to protect an organization. Another example of ignoring biblical truth to protect an organization. In contrast, the good shepherd leaves the 99 (the organization) to protect the one (the individual). Mark 7:10-12 For Moses said, ‘Honor your father and your mother’; and, ‘Whoever reviles father or mother must surely die.’ But you say, ‘If a man tells his father or his mother, “Whatever you would have gained from me is Corban”’ (that is, given to God)— then you no longer permit him to do anything for his father or mother, This ‘standard practice’ legal maneuver to avoid caring for a parent goes against God’s clear command. Rationalizing NDAs by calling them standard practice ignores what God has said. I Kings 15:30 Saul replied, “I have sinned. But please honor me before the elders of my people and before Israel; come back with me, so that I may worship the Lord your God.” After Saul disobeys God and Samuel tells him his kingdom is taken from him, Saul asks Samuel to walk with him (for others to see) to worship YOUR God. God is no longer Saul’s God, but he wants the people to still think well of him. Saul seeks to preserve his image by giving a false impression. He still loses the kingdom. Silencing and Hypocrisy in the Bible Matthew 23:37 “O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the city that kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to it! How often would I have gathered your children together as a hen gathers her brood under her wings, and you were not willing! Stoning the prophets was done to silence them and stop them from speaking the truth, especially speaking truth to power. NDAs silence those who could effectively speak to correct and reverse an organization’s misconduct. V.P. Scott Lamb at Liberty University began raising objections to Liberty’s mishandling of sexual assaults. He was fired, and Liberty attempted to silence both him and the survivors with NDAs. Liberty was fined $14M for violating the Clery Act, which requires accurate reporting of violent crime, such as sexual assault. Whitewashed Tombs: Appearance vs. Reality Matthew 23:27-28 Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you are like whitewashed tombs, which outwardly appear beautiful, but within are full of dead people's bones and all uncleanness. So you also outwardly appear righteous to others, but within you are full of hypocrisy and lawlessness. They looked good on the outside, because what was wrong was hidden. NDAs used to manage a reputation can create a good public image, when the reality behind the scenes is wrong and destructive. Continue Your Reading: This is Part 2 of a two-part series on biblical teaching regarding the misuse of NDAs. In Part 1, I explore what Scripture reveals about silencing, reconciliation, and speaking truth. Biblical Teaching on the Misuse of NDAs: Part 1 Also by Robert Leland: 🔗 When Positive Self-Talk Tells You It's OK to Silence Church Abuse Survivors — How churches rationalize silencing survivors and why institutional silence contradicts Scripture. Author: © Robert Leland, PhD NDAFreeCampus Scripture Attribution Unless otherwise indicated, all Scripture quotations are from The ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved. Sources Legal Services Board (UK). "The misuse of NDAs: Call for evidence themes and summary of evidence." February 2024. Chan, A. L., Nichols, B. J., Daub, A., & Crossley, A. D. "Assessing the Impact of Non-Disclosure Agreements and Forced Arbitration Clauses on Survivors of Workplace Sexual Harassment and Discrimination." Clayman Institute for Gender Research, Stanford University, July 2024. Can't Buy My Silence. "Story 90." Press Ctrl + P (Windows) or Cmd + P (Mac) to print this article or save it as a PDF.

What Scripture Reveals About Silencing Through Confidentiality Agreements The Bible is surprisingly unsilent about the misuse of NDAs to silence people. NDAs that protect confidential information such as intellectual property, donor lists, or counseling records are legitimate. NDAs are misused when they prevent individuals from disclosing their lived experience, especially sexual abuse, discrimination, retaliation, bullying, and other misconduct. Much NDA misuse is based on rationalizations that do not consider biblical teaching or the harm done by silencing people. “I need to protect the reputation of my organization, which is doing good work.” “Our attorney is recommending an NDA.” “The insurers require us to use NDAs.” In order to make good, responsible, and humane decisions, it is essential to have a clear picture of both right and wrong related to NDAs and the damage they do. The reader is asked to keep in mind that personal integrity, obedience to the word of God, and human decency are all limited to what we cannot rationalize. Jesus said one of the most important commandments is to love your neighbor as yourself. This may be the most important principle to keep in mind when thinking about NDAs. Fundamental Ideas: The value of a person. Jesus brings abundant life and sets people free. Love your neighbor as yourself. Choose truth over rationalization. Every Person Has Worth Genesis 1:27 "So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them." Both men and women are created in the image of God and have incredible worth. Harming a person by silencing them to protect the reputation of a leader or organization violates this principle and denies their worth as a person. Although women are created fully in the image of God, they are more likely to be silenced by an NDA (Can’t Buy My Silence/Speak Out Revolution survey)1. Two statements that align with this principle: The first core value of NDAFreeCampus: Value of a person over the reputation of an institution. The first fundamental canon of the National Society of Professional Engineers Code of Ethics: Engineers, in the fulfillment of their professional duties, shall: Hold paramount the safety, health, and welfare of the public. NDA misuse harms both the individual and the public. Photo by Ammar Sabaa on Unsplash Community Heals What Silence Damages Genesis 2:18 Then the Lord God said, “It is not good that the man should be alone; I will make him a helper fit for him.” God puts us in families and communities. Relationships of all kinds help humans meet a basic need for connection that He has designed into us. NDAs isolate people so they cannot share significant life experiences with friends, family, or colleagues at work, or even within a support group. This isolation short- circuits the healing that family, friendship, community, and support groups are intended to provide. Love Does No Wrong to a Neighbor Romans 13:9 For the commandments, "You shall not commit adultery, You shall not murder, You shall not steal, You shall not covet," and any other commandment, are summed up in this word: "You shall love your neighbor as yourself." Romans 13:10 Love does no wrong to a neighbor; therefore love is the fulfilling of the law. Many of the Ten Commandments are summed up by loving your neighbor, and love does no wrong to a neighbor. Silencing through NDAs is known to harm people. In one study, 93% of people who signed NDAs reported negative mental health consequences.1 Individuals who have signed NDAs have also spoken of the harm done to them: “I wanted to speak out. And I was reminded—I signed an NDA and not to speak, not to disclose what happened.… I was already down. I was already devastated.”2 “I just kept [my feelings] in… [to] myself and just [thought] about it at home, but it felt like it was kind of ... consuming my mind.”2 “I think back a lot to the beginning. I never would have agreed to be silenced if I knew the long-term impact it would have on my health, my personal relationships, and the safety of others. It should be over by now; I should have healed and moved on with my life. The reason it isn’t over, is because I was silenced.” 3 Love sets people free and helps them find healing. NDAs and silencing harm people. They violate this fundamental commandment to love our neighbor, and instead do them wrong. This commandment should not be set aside by rationalizations like ‘NDAs are standard.’ Jesus Brings Abundant Life John 10:10 The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly. NDAs steal people’s voices and their capacity to be honest and forthcoming in their relationships and networks. They cause and compound harm by preventing people from sharing significant and often painful events or warning others, which allows abuse to continue in an organization. An NDA prevented Trey Carlock from telling even his own family about the childhood sexual abuse he had experienced. The NDA caused him to lose hope that he would ever be free, and he took his own life. NDAs can kill. In contrast to the death—of voice, hope, and connection—that NDAs bring about, Jesus brings abundant life. Jesus Sets People Free Luke 4:18-19 The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim liberty to the captives and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty those who are oppressed, to proclaim the year of the Lord's favor. Jesus sets people free. He offers forgiveness to all who believe in him and sets them free from judgment and bondage to the past. He sets free the poor and oppressed, who are harmed and held captive by the powerful. He sets people free from addiction, hate, and harmful belief systems. Binding people to silence with NDAs is completely opposite to what Jesus himself is doing. Photo by Aditya Saxena on Unsplash Repentance and Restitution Luke 19:8-9 And Zacchaeus stood and said to the Lord, “Behold, Lord, the half of my goods I give to the poor. And if I have defrauded anyone of anything, I restore it fourfold.” And Jesus said to him, “Today salvation has come to this house, since he also is a son of Abraham. Something has gone wrong in your church, and someone has been hurt. Do you act ‘with an abundance of caution’ to protect the church's finances and reputation? As a dishonest tax collector, Zacchaeus had cheated people. Now he voluntarily repays those he cheated fourfold without anyone having to file a lawsuit or sign a settlement agreement with an NDA. In response to his genuine repentance, Jesus says that salvation has come to his house. Zacchaeus is an excellent model of repentance and making restitution for any church or organization where people have been harmed. For example, Broadmoor Baptist Church sided with a survivor of sexual abuse by a former youth pastor, publicly accepted responsibility, and offered to pay her legal expenses for breaking her NDA with him. Nothing Stays Hidden Luke 12:2-3 Nothing is covered up that will not be revealed, or hidden that will not be known. Therefore whatever you have said in the dark shall be heard in the light, and what you have whispered in private rooms shall be proclaimed on the housetops. Jesus says those who believe that they can use NDAs to hide embarrassing information will be disappointed. Jesus states clearly that everything will be known and known publicly. NDAs did not ultimately hide the actions of Bill Cosby, Roger Ailes, Harvey Weinstein, Ravi Zacharias, Kanakuk Kamps, and many others. Speak for the Voiceless Prov 31:8-9 Open your mouth for the mute, for the rights of all who are destitute. Open your mouth, judge righteously, defend the rights of the poor and needy. King Lemuel recites the good advice given to him by his mother. Whatever power to speak we have, we should speak to defend those without power. To enable the voices of the silenced to be heard. To defend the poor and needy, rather than enable the powerful to silence them with NDAs. Renounce Hidden Things II Corinthians 4:2 (NASB) but we have renounced the things hidden because of shame, not walking in trickery nor distorting the word of God, but by the open proclamation of the truth commending ourselves to every person’s conscience in the sight of God. We renounce the cover-up of shameful things with NDAs and speak the truth openly. Reconciliation Over Silence Matthew 5:23-24 So if you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother has something against you, leave your gift there before the altar and go. First be reconciled to your brother, and then come and offer your gift. Jesus places a high priority on reconciliation. Silencing with an NDA does not represent reconciliation; it represents an abuse of power and failure to reconcile. Seek Forgiveness and Healing II Chronicles 7:14 if my people who are called by my name humble themselves, and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and heal their land. NDA misuse occurs far too often in the church. Those in the church who misuse NDAs can stop this harmful practice, seek forgiveness, and free those who are silenced. Our Testimony Overcomes Revelation 12:2 And they have conquered him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony, for they loved not their lives even unto death. We overcome by the word of our testimony. USAF Captain Ashton Alarcon, who had been sexually abused at Kanakuk Kamps, and at age 14 refused to sign an NDA, testified before the Texas State Senate. At age 19 he went on a short-term mission with his mother to Hungary. At the end of this trip, he felt the Holy Spirit ask him to share his story. “I told him no, that I was upset with Him and that if he wanted me to share my story, someone was going to have to come and ask me.” Someone did ask, and he said yes. “Little did I know the impact that that would have the next day. I stayed up all night thinking about how am I going to translate this into another language. The pastor also stayed up all night and couldn’t sleep, of that church that we were with. When I showed him my story, what I had written, he told me that this is the exact message that we had been praying for. That there had been generations of sexual abuse within Hungary. Generations. So when I got up and told my story, he said that never has his church been filled with people asking for healing, speaking out, that had never shared with anybody, that they had not seen anybody who has come forward about this, has healed from abuse like this.” Jesus heals and sets people free. NDAs bind people to silence and prevent healing. Continue Your Reading: This is Part 1 of a two-part series on biblical teaching regarding the misuse of NDAs. In Part 2, I explore what churches and organizations must do to stop NDA misuse, repent, and restore those who have been silenced. Biblical Teaching on the Misuse of NDAs: Part 2 Also by Robert Leland: 🔗 When Positive Self-Talk Tells You It's OK to Silence Church Abuse Survivors — How churches rationalize silencing survivors and why institutional silence contradicts Scripture. Author: © Robert Leland, PhD NDAFreeCampus Scripture Attribution Unless otherwise indicated, all Scripture quotations are from The ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved. Sources Legal Services Board (UK). "The misuse of NDAs: Call for evidence themes and summary of evidence." February 2024. Chan, A. L., Nichols, B. J., Daub, A., & Crossley, A. D. "Assessing the Impact of Non-Disclosure Agreements and Forced Arbitration Clauses on Survivors of Workplace Sexual Harassment and Discrimination." Clayman Institute for Gender Research, Stanford University, July 2024. Can't Buy My Silence. "Story 90." 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Randy DeVaul, MA (pastorintheword@gmail.com), is a pastor, Bible teacher, speaker, and author. He is also a retired 40+ year safety professional and EMT/BLS instructor/responder. He lives in central Florida, where he lives with his wife of more than 33 years. His ministry to senior adults has recently expanded with adding his weekly messages on YouTube (Randy DeVaul - YouTube) and Spotify (ForEVER READY SAM | Podcast on Spotify). In his pastoral teaching role, he invests in helping followers of Christ walk the Christian life as God intended, with Bible-centered teaching and practical life examples. He chairs the Spiritual Life department of the church’s Bible institute, where he teaches courses that equip believers for practical, everyday discipleship. He founded Pastor in the Word (Pastor in the Word - Home), for which he is available to assist pastors and churches with preaching, teaching, and conducting themed workshops and seminars on the Christian life. Randy holds both an MA and BS degree from Liberty University, majoring in Cross‑Cultural Studies with minors in Aviation and Sociology. Before being called to his current role, his ministry background includes missions work, young adult and singles ministry, and the forming of a thriving senior adults ministry. Beyond the church, Randy has served as a Rapid Response Team Chaplain with the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association/Samaritan’s Purse, ministering primarily to first responders in communities facing crisis. Throughout his safety career, he has written dozens of articles, conducted over 600 national webinars, served as a safety expert for a national attorney firm, and served on federal and state legislative and training teams. He has held global leadership roles with Fortune 100 companies. Randy is the author of four workplace safety books, home safety books, and seven Christian Life series books, available on Amazon (Amazon.com: Randy DeVaul MA: books, biography, latest update) in addition to over 100 Christian Life articles at Randy DeVaul, MA – Medium. Want to read more from Randy? Here are a few places to start: Building Biblical Relationships in Daily Life Hallelujah: The Ancient Word of Praise That Still Echoes Today The Purpose of Jesus’ Miracles: What His Works Reveal About God

It’s very common for people who have either walked away from God in the past or have always known He’s there but never quite reached out to take His hand to feel as though when they finally want that connection, they aren’t deserving of it. They question, or even fully believe, that they are beyond God’s reach because they didn’t say yes at first. That's where flesh and spirit collide. That’s your flesh doing that to you, and that's satan getting right up in there, wreaking havoc, and taking advantage of those fears and doubts. He thrives on that conflict. I could quote you a ton of verses (and I will eventually include a few key ones at the end), but sometimes you just need to hear from another Christian that they, too, have battled those same thoughts, fears, and demons. See, I wasn’t born a Christian; in fact, I was born completely human. Glorious flaws and all. But here’s the thing: God knew about all that, my flaws, my choices, and even my stupidity, long before I did anything. I walked away at one point, I’ve token practiced my faith, and just basically been a full-blown human that has messed up countless times. Yet…..Here I am, worthy, forgiven, loved, and a valued child of Christ. Think about that for a moment, I'm a sinner, yet beloved. We are all given the breath of life, a precious and beautiful gift that no one else can even come close to giving us. He was the first to ever love us. Sometimes it’s almost impossible for us to comprehend (or even believe) that there is such a thing as unconditional love, automatic worth, and forgiveness for everyone. It’s a us problem going on. It’s how we perceive the world that can get in the way of believing and feeling His unconditional love, and just how worthy and valuable we are to Him. We do that, and satan loves to take that for one hell of a roller coaster ride on us, especially if we are in the midst of this battle. That’s spiritual warfare at its worst. Satan is going to fight tooth and nail to keep you doubting your worth, your value, and God’s forgiveness. He’ll use whatever is out there in the world to keep spreading that and infecting your mind with even more doubts. Here’s something you may never have been told, but need to hear. We don’t see what God sees; we see through human eyes, not divine eyes. Because we can’t fathom the intensity of his unconditional love, the most profound way God demonstrates that for us is that we are all born with free will. To be given the gift to choose of our volition is the truest form of love, respect, and worth that God can show us. That free will is an open invitation to come back to Him at any time. You can come home no matter your past. Satan is always going to be there, sometimes in the background waiting to pounce or right up in your face, “love” bombing you. Tell him to shut it and flee from you. If you are having doubts that He will welcome you back, that doesn’t disqualify you from anything. I have battled that doubt, and I have had satan swamp me with intrusions and nastiest out there in the world to try to take me down and away from God. Stop having conversations with satan. When you feel those doubts coming on, you turn them around and control them. Start talking to God instead. Stand there in the middle of your living room if you must, and open your mouth and talk to God. Tell Him what you are doubting, fearing, or worrying about. There is absolutely nothing you can say that He hasn’t heard. Want to know what to do with satan when he’s throwing everything at you? You resist. And he will flee from you in Jesus’ name, because even if you are having doubts, those doubts do not disqualify you from the armor of God and the strength you have in Him. Nothing in your past will ever close that door to God. “Therefore repent and return, so that your sins may be wiped away, in order that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord;” Acts 3:19 “But God, being rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, even when we were dead in our wrongdoings, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved),” Ephesians 2:4–5 “And he said to them, "Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men.” Matthew 4:19 “For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.” Romans 6:23 “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” 1 John 1:9 “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.” John 3:16 © Jane Isley

I was recently reminded of an ongoing,  and frankly absurd , theological argument that baffles me to no end because it’s literally split churches: Will a person go to heaven if they aren’t water baptized? I had a conversation with someone who was adamant that a deathbed acceptance of Christ, without baptism, meant nothing. According to them, that person would still be going to hell. They said the heart alone was worthless without water baptism, it didn’t matter when they accepted Christ, that baptism was a must, no matter what to enter heaven. People genuinely believe this. Not only believe it, but preach it, sometimes even shouting it. I’ve been in their presence to witness this first hand. So, do I believe a person who accepts Christ but isn’t immersed in water will still go to heaven? Absolutely,  and I’ll argue that till my last breath. Because no person has the right to remove God’s grace from anyone. The Thief We know one of the men crucified next to Jesus mocked Him, but the other recognized who He truly was. And what did Jesus say to that man? “Truly I say to you, today you will be with Me in Paradise.” We also know this man wasn’t baptized before he died. The usual argument I always hear is that he was under “old covenant laws” and, therefore, exempt from the requirement of water immersion. But here’s where that collapses. Jesus died before that man did. That’s where the discussion went south fast. They got angry, actually accused me of lying, and when I directed them to John 19, instead of pausing to reconsider, they doubled down and refused to read John, and then they claimed Jesus must have made a one-time exception for this man. I don’t know about their Bible, but mine doesn’t show Jesus making exceptions for anyone. He holds everyone equally accountable. It’s good ,  great, in fact,  to defend your beliefs. But when Scripture clearly challenges your position, maybe back the heck down a bit. This person was defending his opinions and feelings at that point, not God. Things to Consider Works don’t get us into heaven. Period. Never have, never will. When you turn baptism into a mandatory requirement for salvation, you’ve made it a work and that's a big no-no. Scripture absolutely shows the importance of baptism. If you can do it, you should. It’s a powerful outward demonstration of your new life in Christ. But there is no Biblical command that says you must be baptized to pass those pearly gates. Look at this verse: “Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned.” Mark 16:16 Notice what it doesn’t say? “Whoever does not believe AND isn’t baptized will be condemned.” Paul also speaks about baptism in Romans 6:3–4, Galatians 3:26–28, and Colossians 2:11–12, as an outward sign of conversion, not a ticket to heaven. And logically, you can’t make something required if it’s not always possible. Think About This A year ago, I listened to the church I attend online sometimes and my heart was crushed. A young man and his girlfriend both gave their lives to Christ at 17 years old. They planned to be baptized together on the next baptism Sunday which was just two weeks away. But he was tragically killed in a car accident days before. Are we seriously saying that the God of mercy said, “Sorry, son. You gave your heart to Me, but you didn’t make it to the water tank”? Or consider a young boy I know who is in a wheelchair and can’t be fully immersed for medical reasons. Is he denied heaven too? Because, according to this “work” parameter, he’s not properly saved. Also, for that matter if I hadn't of been baptized before 2025, I could never be because I have medical equipment surgically placed in my body that can not be immersed, would God grant me any less grace then? Another thing I want to point out, because I got curious about the matter while writing this. What about prisoners? They have the religious right to be baptized, but the process can take months for approval ,  and some prisons don’t always have baptismal tanks or anything similar I learned. They’re drenched with water from bottles. So are they out too? Please. Make this make sense. I was always taught that God’s grace is sufficient ,  beautiful and merciful. Has that been edited out of people’s Bibles? Let’s Be Honest We have a Father who forgives murder, adultery, theft, lies, and wipes our slate clean. “I have swept away your offenses like a cloud, your sins like the morning mist. Return to me, for I have redeemed you.” Isaiah 44:2 And you’re gonna tell me and others that a lack of water will keep someone out of heaven? Come on! Let’s stop twisting grace into legalism. Let’s stop pretending that human rules can limit divine mercy. Because the cross was enough. “Now it was the day of Preparation, and the next day was to be a special Sabbath. Because the Jewish leaders did not want the bodies left on the crosses during the Sabbath, they asked Pilate to have the legs broken and the bodies taken down. The soldiers therefore came and broke the legs of the first man who had been crucified with Jesus, and then those of the other. But when they came to Jesus and found that he was already dead, they did not break his legs.” John 19:31–33 © Jane Isley Want more content like this? Explore more articles in Rethinking Doctrine. Press Ctrl + P (Windows) or Cmd + P (Mac) to print this article or save it as a PDF.

I handed him a Raspberry-Lime Spindrift and sat on a bench across from him. The sun beat down on my too-white-for-August arms and legs. I closed my eyes and delighted in the warmth, releasing the tense goosebumps from my air-conditioning-chilled body. Funerals are rarely fun. But funerals are often a time to reflect. For some reason, the man in the casket, who was here with us living and breathing last week, will never crack open a Spindrift while cracking a joke at the same time. His days on earth were numbered, and so are mine. Small talk ensued with my Spindrift Buddy. Funerals connect us with people we rarely see, an unplanned family reunion of sorts. But not everyone is used to being around me. I speak the way I write. I am not ashamed of the Gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes. References to God and prayer and thanksgiving easily flow from my tongue, because they are in my mind and in my heart. “From an overflow of the heart, the mouth speaks.” (Luke 6:45) I actually don’t remember what I said that shifted our friendly conversation, but I do remember my Spindrift Buddy’s response. “When I was a believer, I used to see things the way you see them, but now that I am an unbeliever, I understand things from a different perspective.” I stared at him in awe. He had somehow flipped the narrative on how I see the world completely upside down, making it appear as if unbelief is the superior side of Christ! I had grown up without Jesus and became a believer as an adult. This man had grown up with Jesus and stopped believing as an adult. We each know what it is like to both believe and to reject Jesus as Lord. Only one of us can be right. Intrigued, I began asking questions. If you don’t mind my asking, what led you to stop believing in Jesus? I started reading about other religions and came to realize that all religions are simply man’s attempt to create a fictitious story about what happens to people after they die. Hindus believe their soul are reborn into a different body. Muslims believe their soul ends up in Barzakh, awaiting judgment. Jehovah’s Witnesses believe there is no immortal soul, and the dead person exists in God’s memory to be resurrected, not in heaven, but on earth. Buddhists believe they are constantly reborn into a different body until they finally reach Nirvana, perfect peace. Christians can’t figure out what they believe. Some think you need to complete a bunch of sacraments to go to Heaven. Others think you need to be baptized. Still others think you earn brownie points by going to church and performing good deeds. Others think you need to repent of your sins and accept Jesus as your Lord and Savior to go to Heaven. There’s no way of knowing which one is right. I finally realized it’s just a farce, all of them. So now that you’re on the other side of faith, how do you reconcile eternal questions like, ‘What happens to you after you die?” Nothing happens after you die. Nothing? Nothing. There is nothing after this life. So are we just a collection of molecules, randomly thrown together in such a way that we can think and eat and breathe and deliberately move, but none of it has a purpose? Yes. So if there is nothing after life on this earth, if you do not have an eternal soul, then what is your purpose in life? My purpose in life is to make the most I can with the time I have here. I want to take care of the earth for future generations. I don’t understand why we should care about the earth and future generations if there is no purpose to life on earth. We want to leave the earth in good condition so future generations can enjoy what we have been able to enjoy. For example, I want to be cremated. We are wasting precious land resources by burying the dead. If we simply cremate the dead, we don’t need to use up our natural resources. You’re obviously hard-working. You’re very successful. You’re an upright citizen. If there is no purpose to your life, then why are you living like there’s a purpose? You are adhering to some sort of moral code. Where did that moral code come from? I just live doing what I think is best. I work hard. I treat people fairly. I don’t know that my morality came from anywhere; it’s just the way I like to live. Don’t you think it’s a gamble? The Bible says we need to repent of our sins and believe in Jesus as our Lord and Savior, and we will be saved. But you see, I don’t believe in the Bible. But what if you’re wrong? Does the thought not keep you awake at night? When your ashes are being spread in the various places you have designated, if you do have an eternal soul, where will it be? If there really is a god, I believe he would look at my life and be pleased and take me to Heaven, if there really were to be such a place. So you would end up in Heaven based on what? Based on what I think. I went home in a bit of a tizzy, committed to praying daily for my Spindrift Buddy. Did I say the right things? Did I speak enough truth into his life? Did my questions cause him enough discomfort to ignite a spark to send him on a journey of discovery? How can someone think truth into existence? I scanned my bookshelves, attempting to find the perfect book to send to him. Tim Keller’s The Reason for God? J.I. Packer’s Knowing God? Lee Strobel’s The Case for Christ? Any of these would have been wonderful, but I had Amazon send him C.S. Lewis’ Mere Christianity. Why? Because I opened Lewis’ book to chapter 8, ‘The Great Sin’. “There is one vice of which no man in the world is free…I do not think I have ever heard anyone who was not a Christian accuse himself of this vice…Pride leads to every other vice… It is the complete anti-God state of mind…Whenever we find that our religious life is making us feel that we are good, we may be sure that we are being acted on, not by God, but by the devil.” (Mere Christianity, C.S. Lewis) How many in this world are living life like my Spindrift Buddy? Hard-working, nice, and convinced that if there is a god, they will go to Heaven because they’re good? God’s Word tells us otherwise. “For all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God.” (Romans 3:23) “The wages of sin is death.” (Romans 6:23) “If you confess with your mouth, ‘Jesus is Lord’, and believe in your heart God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.” (Romans 10:9) “For God so loved the world, he sent his only begotten son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish, but have eternal life.” (John 3:16) Don’t gamble with eternity. Repent and believe today. © Tessa Lind First published in Pursuing Perfection on Substack by Tessa Lind, tessalind.substack.com

God’s Heart Is Not Condemnation I know many don’t know this, believe this, or even want to slow down enough to understand this. When this topic comes up, anger and mistrust often flare up before critical thinking even has a chance to begin, especially in light of real church abuse, blatant lies, and misinformation blaring in our ears every day. I acknowledge and empathize with the hurt, mistrust, and mixed messages flooding out there. But I do not condone the radical abandonment of critical thinking when it comes to something this important. What I want to do here is slow the conversation down and explain why hell is not something God forces on anyone, but is, in fact, tied directly to human response and therefore is an optional choice made by mankind. I present the information; how it is received is up to the reader. “The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. Instead he is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.” 2 Peter 2:3 The Source of the Confusion A significant amount of confusion surrounding this topic comes from the fragmentation within Christianity itself. Over time, multiple divisions, interpretations, and traditions have developed, some faithful to Scripture, others heavily shaped by cultural or institutional influence. In some cases, hell has been used as a tool for fear, manipulation, or control. In others, it has been minimized or denied altogether. This inconsistency has contributed to widespread misunderstanding. Because of this, it is necessary to return to Scripture itself rather than inherited assumptions. It should be a serious conversation, but not a traumatic or abusive event. What Scripture Says About God’s Intent “For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.” John 3:17 Scripture is clear and always has been that God’s heart is not toward the condemnation of mankind but toward its redemption. What people like to get hung up on is the act of responding to Christ and following Him. The Role of Human Nature and Response People want to do what they want to do; that's human nature. We see it everywhere. The ones that fight back and see Scripture as restrictive simply do not understand it or take the time to study it without a lens attached to their eyes. In any country or culture, there are laws. Doing something will result in a consequence. That's not really fought on or debated, and part of me wonders if that is because it is run and supported by humans and generally removed from anything to do with God. Either way, bad stuff equals consequences. That is the same for God. Sin equals death; that's the truth, and that is what is known, but a large part of the issue is how it is taught. Some church leaders skirt the full truth and add in their opinions, others use it to manipulate their congregation, or appease their congregation, and others teach that hell doesn’t even exist. Like I said, I can empathize with confused people, but it is still on them to be responsible, to step back from the mainstream and determine for themselves what Scripture says. Despite popular belief, it is very possible to be Biblically grounded and read Scripture without any preconceived notions, if you so choose. Personal Responsibility Cannot Be Removed To claim that God arbitrarily sends people to hell completely removes all weight of any personal accountability, which is a lot of what is happening. Many things are leading to this, not just one thing, but it still comes down to personal responsibility and exercising critical thinking. Judgment (hell) has been reframed as something imposed externally rather than something aligned with the choices of mankind. Hell simply is an optional choice, not a forced one, so is the salvation offered. It is a personal choice by the person, not a forced decision. “Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because they have not believed in the name of God’s one and only Son.” John 3:18 The language here is vitally important to understand. Condemnation is not God’s desire, but a result of rejection. We all know cause and effect, you push a pencil and the pencil moves, you drink water, and you get hydrated, you flick a marble, it rolls etc…. You do something, and there is an effect. The important part to remember is that choice is yours and yours alone. I can give you water, but you can choose if you drink it. God offers salvation and heaven, but you choose if you accept it. Free Will and God’s Patience If you choose hell, then God will honor that choice because we are all given the free will to choose. Does He want that? No, that is why Jesus came and died for us; that is why, like in 2nd Peter, He is being patient with us. If God wanted to rush this and be done with the world’s crap, He would. But He’s not, He keeps waiting because He does not want anyone to perish. Hell is the locational consequence of rejecting God. You don’t want to be there with Him? Then you won’t be, that's your choice, not His, and not any other person's. It will be exactly what you wanted: the permanent absence of God’s love and mercy. He is not going to bring you to heaven if you do not want to be there. I know I sound harsh and maybe even a bit blasé about the whole topic, but this is not a new topic in this world. It is not as difficult to understand as some would like to believe, it is not a grey area that may or may not have a few different possibilities for answers, it’s a yes or no answer that can’t be redefined away, it can’t be changed by the ever changing narratives out there and it simply boils down to a persons choice, one that God will respect because it is what that person chose. © 2026 Jane Isley. Want more content like this? Explore more articles in Rethinking Doctrine.

Most people assume the first sin in the Bible happened in the Garden of Eden. But what if rebellion began long before Adam and Eve ever touched the fruit? How often have Adam and Eve been blamed and their genders dragged through the mud for the mess of the world? Maybe it’s time to consider another culprit, one that gets far less credit for being the kindling to this fire, not that Adam and Eve were blameless in what they did, but let’s get to the source that caused everything. In The Garden Let’s start at the beginning. Genesis 2:17 says, “but you must not eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, for when you eat from it you will certainly die.” So here, we can tell that evil was already present. Not created in that moment, but the possibility of human rebellion already existed. The warning was given before the fall ever occurred. Do we know which day this happened? Nope. Does it truly matter to us? Also nope. All we need to know is that it was already there when God placed Adam in Eden. I’m not bound and determined to analyze the Bible for that specific day; we’re not told because it isn’t significant to us. I’ve seen far too many people argue and get angry over this very detail. What matters is that it was already there when God placed Adam in Eden. And if evil was already present before Adam and Eve ever touched the fruit, then someone had already chosen rebellion. The First Sinner It was satan, he was the one who sinned first, and we know he corrupted 1/3 of the angels with Him by reading Revelation 12:3–10. Before humanity fell, pride had already taken root. So maybe it’s time to hold him accountable for whatever idiotic thing he tried to pull on God and stop blaming one gender over the other. The fall was not a competition between Adam and Eve; it was the continuation of a rebellion that had already begun, and satan is feeding off of those human comparisons. But I digress. Let’s get back on track. The Bible doesn’t explicitly say the word “pride” when describing satan, but we have numerous passages that use plenty of other highly descriptive and point-blank words that tell all about his prideful nature. “He must not be a recent convert, or he may become conceited and fall under the same judgment as the devil.” 1 Timothy 3:6 There are two other passages in the Bible directed at two kings that are also believed to be a parallel description of satan's fall, which are Isaiah 14:12–15 and Ezekiel 28:11–19, due to the details involved in each passage. Do I believe these two verses are explicitly about satan, no, but that's not the point. They are directed at those kings, but the passages contain imagery and language that some interpret as potentially referring to satan, or at least, a figure who embodies rebellion and pride. At the very least, they show us the consistent pattern: self-exaltation leads to downfall. Direct Connection As you can see in 1 Timothy, “conceited” is the word used. I go based on this verse primarily because there is a more direct connection between satan and pride here. In English, conceited means “having too high an opinion of oneself.” (1)In Greek, the translation actually comes out as “having been puffed up.” (2) “tuphoó” is the Greek word used, which means “(figuratively) to inflate with self-conceit” (2) “to inflate with self-conceit: — high-minded, be lifted up with pride, be proud.” (3) The imagery is striking, pride is not simply confidence; it is inflation. It is the swelling of self beyond its rightful place. The other two verses describe prideful and arrogant kings, and that personality glitch in both of them leads to their downfalls. We Are Called To Be Humble “For those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted.” Matthew 23:12 “Pride goes before destruction, a haughty spirit before a fall.” Proverbs 16:18 Look where that's going to land, satan and many others, one day. “And the devil, who deceived them, was thrown into the lake of burning sulfur,” Revelation 20:10 Pride is not all that it is cracked up to be; there is a mighty fine line between doing a great job at something and feeling good about it while balancing that with the understanding and recognition that God is the source of your abilities and opportunities out there. We should be doing those things to glorify God, not ourselves. The danger is subtle. Pride rarely announces itself. It creeps in quietly, in credit we think we deserve, in recognition we crave, in influence we want to protect. We Know Enough Even if we are never directly told what satan did, we know enough through Scripture and history to see his stain of pride on mankind and what he initiated all those years ago in the garden. We can see (those of us who are in Christ) satan’s hand in inflating egos, the gross vanities, the arrogance, the entitlement, the power, and the corruption it is causing. And if we are honest with ourselves, we can also see how easily our own hearts drift in that same direction. Pride is a very slippery slope, but if you humble yourselves before the Lord, satan has less and less of a foothold in our lives and this world. So perhaps the better question is not: “Did Adam sin first, or did Eve?” The better question is this: Where is pride taking root today? Because rebellion did not begin in the garden. It simply spread there. © Jane Isley Sources: (1) merriam-webster.com (2) biblehub.com (3) www.equipgodspeople.com