Fw: Fw: Situation Ethics in the Bible
Brian Dean bridean@worldnet.att.net
Sat, 7 Mar 1998 21:51:09 -0500 (00889347069, 19980308024307.AAA18644@briandea)
----------
From: Ron Criss <roncriss@hotmail.com>
To: bridean@worldnet.att.net
Subject: Re: Fw: Situation Ethics in the Bible
Date: Saturday, March 07, 1998 6:45 PM
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>From: "Brian Dean" <bridean@worldnet.att.net>
>To: <roncriss@hotmail.com>
>Subject: Fw: Situation Ethics in the Bible
>Date: Wed, 4 Mar 1998 21:57:11 -0500
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>MIKE
>One problem with the Bible's morals is that it seems to contrad-
>ict it's theology. I would like to hear your honest thoughts
>about this.
>
>Some related ideas:
>
>(1) God never changes, there is neither any variableness nor any
>shadow of turning (which contradicts the verses that say he "re-
>pents" and changes his mind about things)--Jesus Christ the same
>yesterday, today, and forever--unless his mood changes?
>
>Did the same God that says "Love thy enemies" and who ostensibly
>cannot change his character also be the one who said, "Kill all
>of the people, women and children" countless times during the
>blood thirsty raids on Canaan?
>
>(2) The Morals taught by God in the Old Testament are *different*
>than the ones in the New Testament. How is that possible if
>God's character never changes? Don't your morals *define* your
>character?
>
>(3) Why is it moral to steal from the Egyptians and lie to the
>people who were helping you? (The Jews asked to borrow their
>stuff and just stole it and never returned it). That's a real
>good example for Sunday school children. You can only justify
>this by implying "situation ethics"--it's "okay" to steal some-
>times if the situation demands it--therefore, not even the BIble
>uses moral absolutes.
>
>(4) In one case the Bible says that God hates a lying tongue, but
>God causes people to believe in lies, and sends out spirits from
>heaven to lie to people. So if a Christian wants to lie, he or
>she can always justify it using the verses of Scripture. Also,
>Rahab the "slut" lied and she was honored in Hebrews 11.
>
>The Bible's God does not obey his own absolutes, if we are to im-
>itate him, then why should we?
>
>Again, is it "okay" to lie in certain situations? The Bible
>clearly shows that God thinks so.
>
>
>Always remember the fact that the Jews commited "ethnic cleans-
>ing" in Canaan, killing man, woman, and child. They performed a
>holocaust of their own in the time of Joshua, and they thought
>that their God justified them in doing so.
>
>
>That only shows how imagining that God is on your side is likely
>to make you far *less* moral!
>
>
>Why couldn't Christians today imagine God was telling them to
>kill "pagan" children? After all, it's in the Bible and GOd never
>changes.
>
>I think Jesus was being used in part as a vehicle to rescue Jews
>from the barbaric ethics of the OT.
>
RON
The nation of Israel was created and nurtured by God in an environment
that was extremely violent. I would compare it to that of the Sioux
indians in North America. Within their own tribes they practiced virtues
that were nearly Christian. They valued generosity to the point where
some people gave away everything they had. Stealing was virtually
unheard of. But when they bumped up against neighboring tribes all rules
were dispensed with. Lying, cheating, violence were acceptable. They,
just as the ancient Israelites, could not call on the police to defend
them, or expect government welfare to provide food and clothing.
Violence and aggression were the only means of survival. Similarly, if
the Israelites, a very small nation in the midst of greater nations who
treated them just violently, had not responded with violence they would
have been eradicated. And God had big plans for Israel.
We have a right to defend ourselves. Only in comparatavely recent times
have we been able to have the luxury of attempting to love our neighbors
and our enemies. Loving your neighbors and friends, as practiced by the
Sioux, is not so difficult. Loving your ENEMIES is the real challenge.
Can you think of any other religions that have preached that?
Pax!
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