From: Adrian Teo (ateo@whitworth.edu)
Date: Wed Dec 18 2002 - 16:56:08 EST
Perhaps the problem only arises when one views the Bible in parts,
instead of a complete whole. I think it was St. Augustine or one of
the Fathers who said something to the effect that the NT is concealed
in the Old, and the OT is revealed in the New. Revelation, even in
the Bible, appears to be progressive. The Israelites' understanding
of God and His ways appears to be less complete than that of the NT
writers, but the NT writers formed their understanding from and based
on the OT material handed down to them. Both, together as a unity,
powerfully reveals the wisdom and character of God.
Blessings,
Adrian.
-----Original Message-----
From: RFaussette@aol.com [mailto:RFaussette@aol.com]
Sent: Wed 12/18/2002 8:47 AM
To: burgytwo@juno.com; asa@calvin.edu
Cc:
Subject: Re: Infant murder in I Sam 15
In a message dated 12/18/02 11:28:37 AM Eastern Standard Time,
burgytwo@juno.com writes:
> The issue is NOT whether God can do -- whatever -- that is
agreed upon. The
> issue is whether (or not) in this particular case God did
command the
> murder of innocents. Those who insist that He did so may, indeed, be
> correct. But that position suggests an attribute of God
which makes loving
> Him difficult. It also suggests that the killing of
innocents in our day
> (nuke all IRAQ?) may be justified.
>
>
The entire Book of Job is God punishing an innocent man. The
key to the Book
of Job is Job's repentance at the end. Just before Job
repents he asks God
why? and God says (I paraphrase) because I am God. I only see God's
compassion for those who obey God's Law. Even among the
Israelites, those who
abandond the Law are punished.
You also might want to consider; in the ten commandments when
you see the
word 'neighbor' does it mean Hebrews only or all men? I think it means
Hebrews only. how else could they have embraced those
commandments and then
gone on to massacre Canaanites?
I don't see a compassionate god in the OT. I see Him in the
NT. In the OT I
see a righteous God. The killing of innocents is never justified.
On another tack, be careful of that word love. whenever I
see it, it could
mean agape, self sacrifice, surrender or submission. Loving
God is submitting
surrendering to Him as Job did because you have no other choice.
rich
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