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Bible Questions and Spiritual Discussion
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Help me understand...
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Hello guys!
I have been debating these things in my head - I'm not necessarily new to the Bible/Christianity, but this is the first time I have actually considered myself a believer. I frequently questions things in life, as well as the Bible. So many some of you can enlighten me.
I live in NC; if you have been watching the news and/or are from NC there has been a piece of legislation that recently passed called Amendment One. The amendment (from what I understand), nullifies any form of partnership except for marriage - this reaches across sexual orientation lines into common-law marriages, domestic partnerships, etc. Gay marriage was already illegal.
Of course, if the word gay and marriage are said in the same sentence, some people suddenly get religious again! These people (right or wrong) typically quote things from the OT, inserting that homosexuality is sin, God destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah, etc; etc. which got me thinking...
A lot of things that we would consider horrible, by today's standards, like: selling your daughter to slavery, stoning a woman who didn't scream while being raped, putting to death those who work on the Sabbath, etc. etc.
So, I can wrap my mind around that - God says, "you must purge the evil from among you". I get it, you don't want bad people around, breeding, etc. Albeit, the consequences are pretty harsh, and seem unfair sometimes...
But why the contrast in the NT? Why does God, who originally wants these people put to death, now rejoice when someone repent for their sins? I've always been taught that God doesn't really "change" his mind... but I don't know... Sort of seems that way to me.
For me the OT is basically a: "you get one chance; mess up and die"; NT is: "You can be a tax collector by day and prostitue by night, but God loves you". Has anyone else had trouble wrapping their minds around this? I don't expect to understand everything, but am I missing something?
Furthermore (going back to Amendment One), is it right to pick and choose what is acceptable/unacceptable based of how it affects our lives? Homosexuality seems just as bad as working on the Sabbath, cutting your hair, BEING raped, etc? Not saying we should condone that, but why isn't anyone in an uproar over that?
What I've told myself is that some of what I am reading/hearing is cultural - I can't remember the story from start to finish it but Gideon decides to take it upon himself to sacrifice his daughter, in the name of the Lord, even though (as Brian mentioned) in never said "God told Gideon to sacrifice his daughter to him". Do we have to look at it that way?
Sorry for the length. Just lots of curiosity!
All the best!
Matt
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Matt Blackmon 05/10/2012 16:02 |
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Craig from Illinois
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05/10/2012 22:24 |
Matt,
You're not alone in your frustration. This is a great observation but I think there are answers. BTW, I love how you have written out your thoughts in a clear and logical format.
I've got a lot going through my mind in regards to your post. However I am not ready to spend hours fashioning a response. All I can say about this now is that I commend your bravery to ask this question. You're supposed to sit there, shut up and take what the Bible says as infallible. Good for you that you found a safe place to raise your questions and hopefully get some well-rounded replies from very devote, loving and intelligent friends.
I am looking forward to the responses!
Craig
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Mike Mead
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05/11/2012 10:49 |
God had His reasons for all of what He ahd penned. I have cautioned others about reading the scripture with 20/20 vision. Read teh 20 verses preceding the one in question and the 20 following if they are there. Read in context. More often than not, the verses quoted, when read in context, do not mean what the person intends. Tis is true for anyone. I.E. the verse about the woman who does not cry out. When read in context you understand that this takes place in a populated city where help is available. The real implication is that if she accuses of rape and has taken not defensive action, screaming, then she is considered a willing participant. Israelites were obligated to help a woman in need when she cries for help. That's why when the offense occurs outsideof a city and no one is around to hear or intervene, there is no punixhment for the woman. The Old testament was about a lot more than judgment. The best example I can think of is Ezekiel 33:11 "Say to them, 'As I live!' declares the Lord GOD, 'I take no pleasure in the death of the wicked, but rather that the wicked turn from his way and live. Turn back, turn back from your evil ways! Why then will you die, O house of Israel?' God has always been more interested in repentance than wrath.
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Ted C
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05/11/2012 11:54 |
Matt, I've grappled with the same types of questions. Two things really helped me. First was understanding that in the Old Testament there was a literal physical war for a literal physical seed - Christ was going to come from the line Abraham through David. The first prophecy of this is in Genesis 3:15, "And I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your seed and her seed; He shall bruise you on the head, and you shall bruise him on the heel.” The nations Israel encountered were into things that literally decimate populations through disease, murder, dispertion, etc. God had to preserve His people to preserve the message, the foreshadowing and the eventual reality of Christ's death and resurrection on the Cross, and Him shedding His Blood to pay for our sins. The second thing that helped me was understanding that the death penalties in the Old Testament still describe the spiritual reality of sin. When I sin and defile my conscience, in a very real way the good and whole me ceases to exist and I am replaced by a guilty, shallow, troubled me. To sin is to violate the Image of God, and because we are made in that image, sin destroys us. Very literally in the spiritual sense. And finally God judges each person impartially and justly. We don't know that every soul from a church makes it into heaven. We also don't know that every soul from a heathen tribe doesn't. Sometimes God sovereignly takes a person's life through direct action. Other times He allows man's authority and the consequences of man's actions to be the reason. Ultimately all death is the result of sin. Romans 5:12-14a "Therefore, just as through one man sin entered into the world, and death through sin, and so death spread to all men, because all sinned— for until the Law sin was in the world, but sin is not imputed when there is no law. Nevertheless death reigned from Adam until Moses, even over those who had not sinned in the likeness of the offense of Adam..." I know those aren't perfect explanations, and for now we see through a glass dimly. Still I hope this helps.
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