Subject: I just started reading the Bible and.... |
Bible Note: Pete, you are getting a little free with your quotes of mine, but that is OK, it helps to state your case, and helps me to know your thoughts. I will not be strict with you, but in trying to straighten it out, I will say that when you said, "Your argument of time and culture as a reason God allowed rogue family members to be killed goes against God's nature" that: No, I did not say anything was a reason that 'God allowed rogue family members to be killed' The thought I tried to convey was God ordered that he must not only be strongly resisted, but also punished by the law of the land. Stoning to death was a cruel way to die, but it was the law. The adulterous woman brought to Jesus was about to be stoned to death, but she received a reprieve through the grace of our Lord. That is where the differences of time and culture come in. No, it does not go against God's nature. God often killed people in the OT for what we might call 'minor infractions'. For example, look at 2 Sam 6:3; 6:6 and 6:7. So they set the ark of God on a new cart, and brought it out of the house of Abinadab, which was on the hill; and Uzzah and Ahio, the sons of Abinadab, drove the new cart. ...And when they came to Nachon's threshing floor, Uzzah put out his hand to the ark of God and took hold of it, for the oxen stumbled. Then the anger of the LORD was aroused against Uzzah, and God struck him there for his error; and he died there by the ark of God. God killed Uzzah, who thought he was doing a favor when the ark teetered, Uzzah reached out his hand to steady it and God took his life on the spot. Can you now See it? Another example is Lot's wife, in Gen 19:26 But his wife looked back behind him, and she became a pillar of salt. God killed her for looking back. What did you say about God's nature? Again, we are living in a completely different culture than in OT times. In a different country, over 2400 years ago, things were way different. We are living now in a new Covenant with God, the Covenant of Grace. Just because God does not wipe people out for minor infractions in our lifetime does not mean it never happened, it did. It continued in the NT, in acts 5:3, 5:5, 5:6, But Peter said, "Ananias, why has Satan filled your heart to lie to the Holy Spirit and keep back part of the price of the land for yourself? Then Ananias, hearing these words, fell down and breathed his last. So great fear came upon all those who heard these things. And the young men arose and wrapped him up, carried him out, and buried him. And in 5:10, his wife who was his accomplice in the lie, walked in and suffered the same fate. Then immediately she fell down at his feet and breathed her last. And the young men came in and found her dead, and carrying her out, buried her by her husband. Now, really Pete, Ananias and Sapphira sold a possession, and lied about the price they received and were killed without trial. Are you still standing on the grounds that no one would ever be killed for trying to sway a family member into idolatrous practices, because it is against God's nature? How about a single angel wiping out 185,000 assyrians in one night? (2 Kin 19:35) That should change some people's perception of nice, gentle golden-haired angels, should it not? In the Old Testament God appears overly harsh but His reason could likely be to demonstrate the exacting requirements of the Law. This also demonstrates the need for grace that would eventually be manifested on the cross. In the relative comfort of our modern society much of this violence seems reprehensible yet we can conclude that this harsh requirement was a necessary legality to instill obedience. I really hope your comprehension of God's character and propensities is growing, and you are not just becoming more thoroughly confused. (o: In His service and yours, keliy |