Board index ‹ Morality

[Kanye]

Christians, if God’s morality is eternal, how do you reconcile these bible verses as just?

“One day a man who had an Israelite mother and an Egyptian father came out of his tent and got into a fight with one of the Israelite men. During the fight, this son of an Israelite woman blasphemed the Name of the Lord with a curse. So the man was brought to Moses for judgment. His mother was Shelomith, the daughter of Dibri of the tribe of Dan. They kept the man in custody until the Lord’s will in the matter should become clear to them. Then the Lord said to Moses, “Take the blasphemer outside the camp, and tell all those who heard the curse to lay their hands on his head. Then let the entire community stone him to death. Say to the people of Israel: Those who curse their God will be punished for their sin. Anyone who blasphemes the Name of the Lord must be stoned to death by the whole community of Israel. Any native-born Israelite or foreigner among you who blasphemes the Name of the Lord must be put to death.” ‭‭Leviticus‬ ‭24:10-16‬ ‭NLT‬‬

“Suppose a man has intercourse with a young woman who is a virgin but is not engaged to be married. If they are discovered, he must pay her father fifty pieces of silver. Then he must marry the young woman because he violated her, and he may never divorce her as long as he lives.” ‭‭Deuteronomy‬ ‭22:28-29‬ ‭NLT‬‬ (some translations say rape)

“The people gathered at Jerusalem in late spring, during the fifteenth year of Asa’s reign. On that day they sacrificed to the Lord 700 cattle and 7,000 sheep and goats from the plunder they had taken in the battle. Then they entered into a covenant to seek the Lord, the God of their ancestors, with all their heart and soul. They agreed that anyone who refused to seek the Lord, the God of Israel, would be put to death—whether young or old, man or woman. They shouted out their oath of loyalty to the Lord with trumpets blaring and rams’ horns sounding. All in Judah were happy about this covenant, for they had entered into it with all their heart. They earnestly sought after God, and they found him. And the Lord gave them rest from their enemies on every side.” ‭‭2 Chronicles‬ ‭15:10-15‬ ‭NLT‬‬

[jimwalton]

> Lev. 24.10-16

This law is casuistic (hypothetical situations to teach principles). It is tied to the circumstances of the context and is not a general law. God's name is a representation of His Person, and blasphemy was the worst offense and immorality possible. An attempt to destroy God was worse than anything one could do to a person. Blasphemy that would affect the future destiny of others, possibly even generations, and by extension masses of people was far worse than any affront against an individual. If human wellbeing is the focus of morality (a claim I have often heard from agnostic, non-Christians, and atheists), then to allow an action that could cause the eternal non-wellbeing of many is reprehensible.

> Deut. 22.28-29

You have to understand the economic culture of the ancient Near East. A man finds a young girl and rapes her. If he gets imprisoned, fined, or executed, she is still "damaged goods" for the rest of her life. She will probably never marry, never be economically secure, and be ignored and despised. Not fair, but that was their culture. Instead, the Bible provides for her. If the father and daughter agree to it, the rapist must marry her and provide for her all her life, without the possibility of divorce. If that's not what the father or daughter want, they can demand payment for the harm done, and she is then legally treated as a virgin. Her wellbeing underlies the legislation.

> 2 Chronicles 15.10-15

The influence of individuals to lead people away from God is the most dangerous kind of influence. It does not just result in temporary suffering, grief, pain, or loss, but has eternal consequences. It is the most insidious evil possible. In Matthew 10.28, we find that horror that only extends to the body is evil, but horror that extends to the soul is the worst kind of malevolence. Our souls are eternal.