by jimwalton » Sun May 18, 2014 4:20 pm
The Bible portrays the decisions of God has having a justification for the action. There was always a moral reason for God doing what he did. As anyone who signs a contract is aware, there are benefits for compliance and negative consequences for defiance. Since the Bible is the record of God's contract with humanity, one would expect rewards and punishments for compliance and defiance, but all in lines with the stipulations of the contract. Sometimes, given the situation, we see God act with precision and decisiveness, and at other times he is remarkably patient and merciful. But if he was ALWAYS merciful, we'd think he was weak. If he was ALWAYS harsh, we'd think he was cruel. If you were in your house or dorm, and a group of armed men came into to rape all the women, kill all who were there, and rob you all blind, you'd really be hoping that someone would come in from the street and take them out and rescue you all. When God does just that, he gets faulted for having done "a lot of killing." When you read the texts carefully you read many warnings, much patience, and opportunities for mercy before God moves in. But if he never did, we'd think he was the most awful because he never did anything; then when he does, we think he is the most awful because he does. Sounds like incongruous thinking. This is a large topic, though, so let's talk more.
The Bible portrays the decisions of God has having a justification for the action. There was always a moral reason for God doing what he did. As anyone who signs a contract is aware, there are benefits for compliance and negative consequences for defiance. Since the Bible is the record of God's contract with humanity, one would expect rewards and punishments for compliance and defiance, but all in lines with the stipulations of the contract. Sometimes, given the situation, we see God act with precision and decisiveness, and at other times he is remarkably patient and merciful. But if he was ALWAYS merciful, we'd think he was weak. If he was ALWAYS harsh, we'd think he was cruel. If you were in your house or dorm, and a group of armed men came into to rape all the women, kill all who were there, and rob you all blind, you'd really be hoping that someone would come in from the street and take them out and rescue you all. When God does just that, he gets faulted for having done "a lot of killing." When you read the texts carefully you read many warnings, much patience, and opportunities for mercy before God moves in. But if he never did, we'd think he was the most awful because he never did anything; then when he does, we think he is the most awful because he does. Sounds like incongruous thinking. This is a large topic, though, so let's talk more.