When you hear someone say, "Everything happens for a reason," they are saying that there is a CAUSE. "The reason I am sad is because of this..." "I got fired because..." "My wife and I are disconnected because..." Anytime someone says because, or gives a reason, they are saying there is a CAUSE!
DOCTRINE #13: CAUSALITY
Every specific cause results in one specific effect. The cause is the HOW/WHY and the effect is the WHAT. However, there are many possible causes that could result in the same effect. The same WHAT can have more than one HOW/WHY. Causality is a God-given principle, not a man-made principle.
Question: Do you believe God wants you to focus on the cause or the effect?
Next Doctrine: Doctrine #14
Table of Contents
If you need it, here is the support from the Word of God...
SCRIPTURE
"6 But let him that is taught in the word communicate unto him that teacheth in all good things.
7 Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap.
8 For he that soweth unto his own flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth unto the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap eternal life.
9 And let us not be weary in well-doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not." (Galatians 6:6-9)
(Sowing is the cause and reaping is the effect. This passage shows that someone who does not believe in cause and effect is deceived and mocks God.)
"17 Even so every good tree bringeth forth good fruit; but the corrupt tree bringeth forth evil fruit.
18 A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit." (Matthew 7:17-18)
(Jesus used causality in this example. A child could understand this point. Jesus was saying that the tree was the cause and the fruit was the effect.)
"1 As snow in summer, and as rain in harvest, So honor is not seemly for a fool.
2 As the sparrow in her wandering, as the swallow in her flying, So the curse that is causeless alighteth not." (Proverbs 26:1-2)
(A curse will not randomly occur, there is a cause. The cause of honor is from someone being honorable (wise). The effect of people being fools is that they behave foolishly (absence of wisdom).)
"22 Yet, behold, therein shall be left a remnant that shall be carried forth, both sons and daughters: behold, they shall come forth unto you, and ye shall see their way and their doings; and ye shall be comforted concerning the evil that I have brought upon Jerusalem, even concerning all that I have brought upon it.
23 And they shall comfort you, when ye see their way and their doings; and ye shall know that I have not done without cause all that I have done in it, saith the Lord Jehovah." (Ezekiel 14:22-23)
(God specifically stated we ought to be comforted when we know God works according to causality. We ought to be comforted in knowing that our actions caused God to respond to us, and the way He responds to us is not random.)
"29 And David said, What have I now done? Is there not a cause?
30 And he turned away from him toward another, and spake after the same manner: and the people answered him again after the former manner.
31 And when the words were heard which David spake, they rehearsed them before Saul; and he sent for him." (1 Samuel 17:29-31)
(King David was focused on finding the cause. He was one of the greatest kings of all time, and this was right before he killed Goliath. David understood causality, and when he was treated poorly without a stated cause he intentionally looked for the cause!)
"46 And about the ninth hour Jesus cried with a loud voice, saying, Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani? that is, My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?" (Matthew 27:46)
(Jesus asked God WHY. Jesus was looking for a cause from God. Do you ask God why you are going through the situations you are going through, or do you supply your own reason?)
"1 But Saul, yet breathing threatening and slaughter against the disciples of the Lord, went unto the high priest,
2 and asked of him letters to Damascus unto the synagogues, that if he found any that were of the Way, whether men or women, he might bring them bound to Jerusalem.
3 And as he journeyed, it came to pass that he drew nigh unto Damascus: and suddenly there shone round about him a light out of heaven:
4 and he fell upon the earth, and heard a voice saying unto him, Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me?" (Acts 9:1-4)
(Jesus asked Saul/Paul for the cause for why Saul/Paul was persecuting Jesus. Jesus was looking for the cause and looking for Saul to name the cause.)
"4 Whosoever therefore shall humble himself as this little child, the same is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.
5 And whoso shall receive one such little child in my name receiveth me:
6 But whoso shall cause one of these little ones that believe on me to stumble, it is profitable for him that a great millstone should be hanged about his neck, and that he should be sunk in the depth of the sea." (Matthew 18:4-6)
(Humility like a child is a cause and being the greatest in the kingdom is an effect. Jesus looks at our causes. If you cause a little one to stumble, you are better off at the bottom of the sea. Your actions determine how Jesus will respond to you.)
"25 But this cometh to pass, that the word may be fulfilled that is written in their law, They hated me without a cause." (John 15:25)
(Jesus stated that He was hated without a cause. The peoples' lack of understanding and wisdom led them to kill Jesus. Does our generation act the same way as these people?)
"25 Smite a scoffer, and the simple will learn prudence; And reprove one that hath understanding, and he will understand knowledge.
26 He that doeth violence to his father, and chaseth away his mother, Is a son that causeth shame and bringeth reproach.
27 Cease, my son, to hear instruction Only to err from the words of knowledge.
28 A worthless witness mocketh at justice; And the mouth of the wicked swalloweth iniquity.
29 Judgments are prepared for scoffers, And stripes for the back of fools." (Proverbs 19:25-29)
(If you look at the entire Book of Proverbs it was written according to causality. We do not randomly become wise, get understanding, or acquire knowledge.)
"4 Whoso is simple, let him turn in hither: As for him that is void of understanding, she saith to him,
5 Come, eat ye of my bread, And drink of the wine which I have mingled.
6 Leave off, ye simple ones, and live; And walk in the way of understanding.
7 He that correcteth a scoffer getteth to himself reviling; And he that reproveth a wicked man getteth himself a blot.
8 Reprove not a scoffer, lest he hate thee: Reprove a wise man, and he will love thee.
9 Give instruction to a wise man, and he will be yet wiser: Teach a righteous man, and he will increase in learning.
10 The fear of Jehovah is the beginning of wisdom; And the knowledge of the Holy One is understanding.
11 For by me thy days shall be multiplied, And the years of thy life shall be increased.
12 If thou art wise, thou art wise for thyself; And if thou scoffest, thou alone shalt bear it.
13 The foolish woman is clamorous; She is simple, and knoweth nothing." (Proverbs 9:4-13)
(Correcting a scoffer will result in him hating you. Correcting a wise man will result in him loving you. Not every effect is from the same cause. Here's an example: Not everyone who hates you after being corrected is a scoffer and not everyone who loves you after being corrected is a wise man; they could be something other than a scoffer or a wise man. Just because someone loves you doesn't make them wise, and just because someone hates you doesn't make them a scoffer. This example is a complex causality Doctrine that we will be discussing later in the blog.)
The entire Bible was written according to causality. Causality is a God-given principle. Man does not want to believe in causality because he wants to be able to do what he wants without being responsible.
Causality will be misinterpreted if the causes are seen as effects and/or the effects are seen as causes. If we flip cause and effect we will be deceived. Animals and the devil know about causality; they have knowledge. Man wants to ignore it, but God wants us to embrace causality because we have a responsibility to plant and He can help produce good fruit!
