Does God Condone Murder of Whole Villages, Is Jesus a Thief and a Liar?, “Contradictions” In the Bible…
Response to comment: [I paraphrase] "I won't worship an unjust god who says to murder whole villages of people, not to mention kill: false teachers, witches, fortune tellers, unchasted women, gays, brats, overweight people, people who will not listen to Christians, and even children for making fun of a bald buy. And, Jesus is a liar (John 5:31 vs. John 5:18) and a thief (Luke 19:29-36) have a nice day."
People who do not know God cannot understand why He would command His children to kill wicked people. God's standard for His followers is a high one. It is called holiness. God is the giver of life and He has every right to take life. The damage that wicked people cause future generations is immeasurable (e.g. Abraham choosing his own way over God's way and the resulting generations who menace the world still today).
What you call murder God, calls sparing His children some grief in the future. But unfortunately, His children disobeyed Him time and time again. Murder is the unjust taking of innocent life. God does not murder. The lives he commanded His children to take were not innocent.
"For My thoughts are not your thoughts, Nor are your ways My ways," declares the Lord (Isa 55:8, NASB)." If you would like to know God and be healed (Jn 5:6), you will have to respond to the light and knowledge that He has given you. "For everyone who does evil hates the Light, and does not come to the Light for fear that his deeds will be exposed (Jn 3:20, NASB)." If you practice truth and come to the light more light will be given to you (Jn 3:21). Fools hate knowledge (Pv 1:22). Just because you get away with sin now, it does not mean that payday someday, is not coming: "Because the sentence against an evil deed is not executed quickly, therefore the hearts of the sons of men among them are given fully to do evil (Ecc 8:11, NASB)."
If we reach out to Jesus, He will reach out to us (Mt 7:7). Try singing to the Lord. He likes that (Ps 149:1). Seek His kingdom and His righteousness (Mt 6:33). You will not be disappointed (2 Cor 5:17). God knows what you've done so you may as well tell Him about it (Eze 21:24, Rv 2:2). He wants to save you (2 Pt 3:9).
God really is worthy of our worship (Rv 5:12) and good in every way (Rv 15:3). Christians are hated because they remind people of God's goodness and our not-so-goodness. People hate and resent Christians because they are afraid. They are comfortable where they are and Christians give them new ideas. With these ideas, men can run or fight. Most choose to run or fight. Few make it to life (Mt 7:14). You can receive life if you will surrender to God (Ro 6:16). Surrender to Jesus.
Don't fear man but fear God who can destroy both soul and body (Mt 10:28). Hell is not merely torment but it is destruction. Someone once described it like this: a sparrow flies pass a tall building once a year to sharpens its beak. When the building has worn down, one day in eternity has passed. Eternity is a long time. Choose wisely (Jos 24:15).
If you trust Christ, confess Him before men (Mt 10:32). Those who deny him or turn back will not be saved. A public confession for Christ is essential. There is not point going around pretending that you are a Christian if you are not. If you confess Him before men, He will confess you before His Father. He expects you to think and act like a Christian. Do not follow the masses in doing evil (Ex 23:2). If God gives you life, tell others about it.
Whatever it is that causes a problem between you and God, He expects you to pick it up, carry it and deal with it (Mk 8:34). If you do not, you are not worthy of Him. Is it a job, fear of being fired? Is it a friend, someone you will loose? Is it your family? The enemies of Christians will be in their own households (Mt 10:36). If you compromise in any way with God, you will loose your life. If you loose your life for His sake, you will gain it (Mk 8:34). He promises to take care of you (Mt 6:26).
Christians are hated because they tell people the truth and people despise the truth (2 Ti 2:15). Your faith will bind you or divide you from others. Jesus did not come to bring peace but a sword (Mt 10:34). He loved you enough to die for you even though you hate Him for it (Ro 5:8). You will die without Him (Ro 6:23). But He promises that if you accept Him, He will accept you (Ro 10:13).
He has given all that He can give (Jn 3:16). He
has proven His love. "God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we
were still sinners, Christ died for us (Ro 5:8, NASB)."
Those who crucified
Jesus could not bring a charge against Him (and they were the best at bringing
charges against individuals). He was charged with claiming to be God and the
Messiah that they had hoped for (Mk 15:2). His claim is either true or it is
not. Read John and 1 John. J. Vernon McGee Commentaries on these passages:
Lk 19:29-34 Jn 5:31-32 and Jn 5:18.
Response to comment: "Jesus stole a donkey."
Lk 19:29-34 Commentary:
And it came to pass, when he was come nigh to Bethphage and Bethany, at the mount called the mount of Olives, he sent two of his disciples,
Saying, Go ye into the village over against you; in the which at your entering ye shall find a colt tied, whereon yet never man sat: loose him, and bring him hither.
And if any man ask you, Why do ye loose him? thus shall ye say unto him, Because the Lord hath need of him.
And they that were sent went their way, and found even as he had said unto them.
And as they were loosing the colt, the owners thereof said unto them, Why loose ye the colt?
And they said, The Lord hath need of him [Luke 19:29–34].
I see no point in reading a miracle into this incident, although many people do so. I believe this is a normal, natural situation. Probably when our Lord was in Jerusalem previously He made arrangements with some friends to use these animals the next time He came to the city. His friends agreed to let Him use the animals at the time of the Passover Feast. The owners of these animals were expecting the Lord and had them tied outside for Him. He told His disciples what to say in case anyone asked, so that they would know the Lord had sent them on this errand. The important thing in this passage is that Jesus asserts His authority, “The Lord hath need of him.” McGee, J. Vernon: Thru the Bible Commentary. electronic ed. Nashville : Thomas Nelson, 1997, c1981, S. 4:335.
Can you imagine going to hell because you think Jesus stole a donkey? "Why are you here?"
"I thought Jesus stole a donkey." I can
think of what you'd call yourself for all eternity.
Response to comment: "Jesus is a liar...a contradiction in the Bible (Jn
5:31-32 vs. Jn 5:18)."
Jn 5:31-32 Commentary:
If I bear witness of myself, my witness is not true.
There is another that beareth witness of me; and I know that the witness which he witnesseth of me is true [John 5:31–32].
The Scripture teaches that in the mouth of two or three witnesses a thing is established. “I bear witness of myself”—that would not stand up in court. But “There is another that beareth witness of me.” The witness He is referring to here is not John the Baptist. They would immediately think that is the one to whom He is referring, but He makes it clear that He is not referring to a human witness at all.
McGee, J. Vernon: Thru the Bible Commentary. electronic ed. Nashville : Thomas Nelson, 1997, c1981, S. 4:398-399
Jn 5:18 Commentary:Therefore the Jews sought the more to kill him, because he not only had broken the sabbath, but said also that God was his Father, making himself equal with God [John 5:18].
These men never let up until they folded their arms beneath His cross.
McGee, J. Vernon: Thru the Bible Commentary. electronic ed. Nashville : Thomas Nelson, 1997, c1981, S. 4:396
You forgot to charge Jesus for failure to pay taxes. King’s sons did not pay taxes. But I’ll add the charge, then refute it. J. Vernon McGee responded this way:
Mt 17:26 Commentary:
Peter saith unto him, Of strangers. Jesus saith unto him, Then are the children free [Matt. 17:26].
Jesus is trying to show Peter that just as the royal family is exempt from tax, so He, as the Son of God, would not be obligated to pay for the support of God’s house.
Notwithstanding, lest we should offend them, go thou to the sea, and cast an hook, and take up the fish that first cometh up; and when thou hast opened his mouth, thou shalt find a piece of money: that take, and give unto them for me and thee [Matt. 17:27].
His method of getting the tax money was certainly novel, to say the least. Now our Lord demonstrates that He has recovered all that Adam lost. The creatures were obedient to Him. The fish as well as Peter followed His command. I believe that God had given to Adam the same dominion over all creation, but he lost it at the Fall. “And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth” (Gen. 1:26). In the Transfiguration we see man restored to his original purpose. In the episode of the tribute money we see man restored to his original performance.
God's ways are higher than our ways (Isa. 55:9) not lower.
Text originally posted at EvilBible.com