Question for you bible scholars out there...?

Question

In another thread, a Christian poster insisted that I was "quoting the bible out of context"....so can someone PLEASE tell me under WHAT context would:

1.) Selling your children into slavery or beating slaves to death (Exodus 21:20-21),

2.) Commanding (or committing) acts of genocide (1Samuel 15:2-3),

3.) Inflicting infinite punishment for a finite transgression (Matthew 25:46),

4.) Discriminating against the handicapped (Lev. 21:17-23), or

5.) Forcing a woman to marry her rapist (Deut. 22:28-29)

would EVER be considered moral, righteous, or just?

I HAVE read the entire passages, kiddies -- which is why I think you're biblegod is a bloodthirsty, egomaniacal monster! And if YOU have read the passages as well, you're being presented with a unique opportunity here -- to explain the context of these passages and show all the Doubting Thomases out there how these stories AREN'T really about genocide, bigotry, and inhumanity; and how these laws really ARE consistent with your god of mercy and compassion.

Remember: it was YOUR church that set up the doctrine of the Trinity -- which means that Jesus is also the wrathful, warmongering Yahweh that slaughtered millions in a deluge with one hand while he was curing the lepers and feeding the five thousand with the other....

Sorry if I forgot to cite the bit about selling your daughter into slavery; it's Exodus 21:7.....

Answer 1

1)Exodus 21:20,21 And in case a man strikes his slave man or his slave girl with a stick and that one actually dies under his hand, that one is to be avenged without fail. However, if he lingers for a day or two days, he is not to be avenged, because he is his money.

The law was given in detail to cover almost any circumstance that could happen. Slavery then, was comparable to working for a company, only the slaved lived on the premises of their owner.

Imagine you had a few acres with a farm, and you had a decent house for your workers. One man, would go and drink wine all day, under a tree, instead of working in the field. You pay for his room, food, clothing, etc. So, after a while, you lose your temper and strike the slave.

This scripture says that if you kill your servant, the servant is to be avenged..you're in trouble now..But if he lives, you do not have to pay a fine, why? because you are still losing money while the slave does not work.

2) The Amelekites were being judged for the sin of trying to destroy Israel when God was bringing Israel into the promised land. Exodus 17:8-14.

1Chronicles 16:22 Do not you men touch my anointed ones, And to my prophets do nothing bad.

The land of Canaan was a beautiful land, that was filled with people who were extremely morally corrupt, and God had decided to give this land to his people. Many were worse that Sodom and Gomorrah. God used the Israelites to execute his judgment on the Canaanites. Later when Israel fell into similar deeds, God used the Babylonians and the Persians to discipline the Israelites.

Answer 2

Soleil Noir,
I think that you may have been out of context, but the poster was at the same time, finding a quick way out of answering something that would take way too long to answer. So the fair thing to do was try to summarize the thing.

"1.) Selling your children into slavery or beating slaves to death (Exodus 21:20-21),"
There is nothing in that verse about selling children. Nothing. It was about beating a slave. Those that could afford slaves could have slaves, it was the way it was. Are you asking because you think that slavery is wrong?

You know, I was going to answer you on all this but there are two things that stop me.

1) People like you don't really want to know anything. You just want to make everything in the Bible seem ridiculous. But you are too shallow to get on with your life.Maybe it's so that you can justify not looking for a job while your wife works, or you are still living with mommy and daddy.

2) It is important that you realize that people thought differently in other times. Political Correctness and Laws against slavery weren't even a twinkle in the eyes of their founders, But I think that you expect them to think like they are living in 2006 AD. If that's what you think, you need to read about times past, otherwise called history. Just shut up, and read some God damned history. You think like a little boy.

Answer 3

Unfortunately, I'm not a Bible scholar but I recognize a few statements...funny, aren't Xians the ones 'taking it out of context' when they say it was a sign of the times or it was voluntary (slavery being the same as indentured servitude that lasted 6-7 yrs) In my copy of the 'good book', Exodus says it's ok to beat the slave until he can't get up for a few days b/c it's your property but there's some kind of fine for actually killing him.
I know there's a statement accredited to JC that commands you 'love your neighbor as yourself'...even at that time, I don't think anybody willingly would do any of this-marry your family's murderers or your rapist, enter into any kind of work force that OKs beating...
besides, if God/JC is omniscient, why does it matter what age or when something is said or done?

Answer 4

1. There is nothing about selling children in that scripture. It is saying that if you beat your servant (not slave) and kill them, then you will be punished. It is talking about the punishment for killing your servant. It is not telling you to do it.

2. Yep. God commanded the destruction of a city and everyone in it.

3. It is not talking about a finite transgression. It is talking about people who did not live their life in service to God who will end up in everlasting punishment.

4. It was a standard set for the priests and sons of Aaron. They were still allowed to worship as they wished and attend the ceremonies. They just weren't allowed to be the leaders.

5. It was a different culture back then. Once a woman was no longer a virgin, she would never find a husband. This law was actually a punishment for the man and a reward for the woman. It is hard for us to understand that because our mentality is completely in disagreement with that logic, but that is how it was back then.

If you think your morality is above God's...OK. I tend to have the belief that His wisdom, righteousness and morality is way beyond my understanding. I will trust that His ways are correct and my ways are evil. However, you cited things from the law of the OT. That was in place for a reason...to teach the Jews that living under a law like that was difficult and not ideal. The true way to God was through grace. They would receive that 2,000 years later through Christ.

You people crack me up. God commanded his people to go to war. So what? It was against people like these terrorists that you need to completely wipe off the face of the earth instead of coddling them and appeasing them with liberalism. You should pray that He commands the same thing today. Ever see the videos of the Muslims brainwashing their children to hate non-Muslims and want to kill them? What do you think these children are going to grow up doing? It's called 9/11. It's not isolated incidents. The entire culture thinks that way. You're a fool if you think they want peace.
Take your liberal nonsense and self righteousness somewhere where people are too gullible to know any better.

Answer 5

The medical profession used to use leeches.

Science used to teach the world was flat, and that heavier than air flying machines were physically impossible.

Americans used to support slavery. However, I am not guilty and I am an American, for Americans abhor slavery.

The bible used to teach some of what you wrote, as did many other cultures at the time. This is the 20th century. What you write is not what the Christian religion teaches "Today". The bible is the word of God and is also a historical document. The old and new testament say different things, due to growth and maturity.

Why not just say, the bible says to love god with your whole heart and to love others as you love yourself. Challenge Christians to live up to that, that's all.

Answer 6

I think anyone who reads your question and looks up the passages will immediately see how you take things out of context.
How you get beating a slave to death out of ""If a man strikes his male or female slave with a rod and he dies at his hand, he shall be punished" is beyond my understanding.
How you get discrimination in # 4 out of God's teaching on His holiness that only the healthy were allowed to enter the Holy place is a stretch.
# 5 you think it is wrong for God to make a man accountable for what he does. You think our society is right when a man gets a woman pregnant and then just leaves her with a child to fend for herself and assumes no responsibility. I think you have problems not the bible
#3 Sin is against an eternal God so how can you say that it is finite?

Answer 7

The bible can no longer be directly applied to any world culture today. Especially those of countries such as America, Canada, Mexico, Britain, Scotland, Latvia, etc.


Those who follow the Bible strictly often contradict themselves. They try to find loopholes that do not exist. That is because much of the Bible is now obsolete in today's society.


We live in a different world. Even from 150 years ago, with the Emancipation Proclamation, we live entirely different lives.




all I can say is, if you love Jesus you're doing all right :). Just don't listen to the church.

Answer 8

Slavery was ended in the western world thanks largely to the efforts of evangelical Christians like Lord Shaftsbury. Christians worldwide work hard to protect the rights of the disabled.
We should not judge Jewish society 3000 years ago by the standards of the 21st century. The New Testament law of loving your enemies supercedes the Torah for Christians.
Ultimately, I question whether you have the right to judge your Creator:

`Shall a fault finder contend with the Almighty?` Job 40:2

Answer 9

You are taking it out of context. You, as so many do, are taking verses that are part of a story, and focusing in on the one sentence that is in our views are outlandish/ immoral, etc.
Instead of doing that- read the whole story behind the sentence,
and also you have to understand the Bible is a story of man and God. Man, as we all know, is not the most kindest creature ever created.
So, when it says to treat your slaves right- the Bible is not saying slavery is okay- Jesus did after all come to make all free- at least in their spirits, but if you are going to have slaves ( again in that time frame of history ) treat them right.
It also tells us to love one another, have mercy and be kind to strangers.
Why aren't you picking out any of those verses-
Instead of focusing on the Old Testament- focus on Jesus and His love at Calvary.

Answer 10

Or what about my personal favorite...Luke 22:35-38 The part where the Non violent Jesus tells his Diciples to do what ever they can to obtain a sword...now I know some religious person is gonna say that its a metaphor for something stupid like, he ment the sword of Righteousness or something like that....but Right after...if I remember correctly a roman gaurd was attacked and cut with this sword of Righteousness....What up with that...I get ya dude...Trust me....And don't you find it weird that only certain people can look at the bible for what it really is?