Why is incest allowed in Christianity?

Question

read the bible and you will see that there's many stories of incest in there, like Lot and his 2 daughters (Genesis 19:32-35), Judah and Tamar, his daughter in law (GENESIS 38: 15-18), Reuben and his step-mother (GENESIS 35:22), brother and sister (2 Samuel 13:5-14 ), Absalom with his mother (2 SAMUELS 16:22 ) and many others.

these stories are mentioned in the bible with details. Even Prophets committed incest according to the bible, so what kind of holy books is that, so that's why we as a Muslims believe that this bible has been altered, i mean be reasonable, could the almighty God said such things, hell no!!, i swear to God if was a Christian i would be ashamed to read it or make my children read it, how could you, seriously?GROSS, so i'm not amazed when i hear that a Christian made an incest because your bible teaches him/her that

Answer 1

From a general point of view, your logic is in error. For one, there are also many stories of idolatry and crimes more grievous than incest: do you suppose that Christianity allows those as well? By no means!

The examples you have given are incomplete with respect that you have omitted the circumstances / end results (The more complete quotations are provided for better understanding), while your remaining allegations to the "prophets" are questionable, as you are unable to quote those (for if you are in depth to take examples from Genesis and 2 Samuel, surely your zeal will seek to find the specifics towards the sin of these "prophets") Now to the ones that you have mentioned:

With regard to Lot and his daughters, (Genesis 19: 30-38):
- This reflected the depravity that Lot's daughters have learned from living in Sodom and Gomorrah, if we are to ignore the fact that Lot was an unwitting victim. The Ammonites and the Moabites are to eventually become the enemies of God's people, just as depraved as the people of Sodom and Gomorrah, and eventually destroyed.

With regard to Judah and Tamar, (Genesis 38: 1-30):
- Judah refused to fulfill his responsibility to Tamar by allowing his last son to marry her (this custom is part of Middle Eastern tradition, which was eventually put as part of the Law). What Tamar did was to expose Judah's sin of failing to fulfill his obligation...

With regard to Reuben and Bilhah (Genesis 35: 22)
- Jacob condemned this event, as seen in Genesis 49: 3-4. The fact that the priestly line, the kingly line, and the double portion was given to other sons (Levi, Judah and Joseph, respectively) affirmed this.

With regard to Amnon and Tamar (2 Samuel 13: 1-22)
- This was rape, something that the Bible doesn't commend regardless of relation. When David refused to judge his son for such a sin, Absalom took it to his own hands...

With regard to Absalom and his father's concubines (2 Samuel 16: 21-23)
- Aside from the fact that there is no mention that any of the concubines are blood-related to Absalom, this was done as a political move to cement his coup d'etat. Needless to say, this only compounded his sin and eventual punishment.

The fact that the Law was only established during the time of Moses (long after the time of Genesis) would reflect that the regulations against incest were only codified after most of your examples were listed. Even so, these were judged accordingly,...

Incest is clearly not permitted in Christianity. If you would read the entirety of Leviticus 18, you would find that verse 6 is the regulation against incest, and verses 7-24 describe mostly the specifics against incest (as well as one verse against homosexuality and one verse against bestiality, but that is a different topic altogether). 1 Corinthians 5: 1-2 condemns not only the man who has slept with his father's wife, but the church of Corinth for not judging this sin...

With such, the allegations you have put forward to Christianity permitting incest are founded out of ommission / exclusion... This does put doubts on the faith that certain Christian groups practice, to which God will judge them for their sin, but for the most part, Christianity clearly condemns incest.

Answer 2

The Bible is an accurate record of historical events. Just because an event happened does not mean God approved. From the context it is very obvious that Lot's daughter's incest was not approved of. Rueben lost his birthright because of his incenst. Abosolom was exiled and later killed. People sin, and the Bible records those sin (when needed for the history to make sense) and the punishment that follows them.

That is one of the great proofs that the Bible is accurate and reliable. If the stories were false or edited, all the sins would have been removed and everybody would be perfect.

Pleae note that both Old and New Testament have laws againt and condemn incest on several occasions. People just never seem to list those scriptures.

Answer 3

Incest is not allowed in Christianity, what you have just quoted is before Christ. there is a break in the Bible if you have not noticed. Old and New testament. In the Old and New examples where also shown of how not to behave. There were time when God allowed this since He did not want children from the people around, But as you read in to more closely. you see that incest as we think of it was not so. some of there people had only one blood relation, normally the father. As for Lott and his daughters that was incest, since He became drunk, and His daughters had lived in a city that did not know right from wrong. That is the danger which is show to us in the Bible and is happening now as we speak in all our cultures. Even to Muslims who let the teaching wash over their head. God shows us we can make a mistake, and come back and ask for forgiveness. Man and Woman are not perfect and never will be. As Jesus pointed out to the Jewish leaders when the "Woman" was found in adultery, He asked for the first who has not sinned to throw the stone to start what was the right full sentence of the law. He knew their hearts and wrote on the ground, what He wrote we know not. But they put down the stones and walked away, Where was the man who was caught with her? by Jewish law he also should be stoned!
But Jesus said where are your accusers? she said gone Lord. Jesus told her to go and sin no more. You must remember we can not be perfect Christian, Muslim, Jew. We all need forgiveness. even you, I am a sinner by birth and will never be perfect. nothing I do, I can only ask God to forgive, I should have eternal hell when I die, but I asked the one who paid my sins on the cross, the only perfect human that has ever been. To take my sins alone with others and to pay my sentence of death eternal. As a Muslim this is hard for you to understand. and hard sometimes for us. there is no other price. no ritual no may be I will make it. I am saved from the eternal fires of hell. I am more that willing to read the Koran. I have read the Bible so many times. But do not understand all. I understand the hang up you would have. I also Know there is one God one Son and Holy-spirit in one being. you as a human also have 3 in one body it is the law of creation. Body, Sprit, Soul. even water has this. Ice, Water, Steam, but they are still one,
I would of course not be ashamed of a Bible that tells the truth, whether good or bad. Read it again as a person telling you what and what not to do. It is good that you have seen what is bad and are able to judge what is bad. You are part the way of making a good assessment of yourself and asking for forgiveness to God.
May the Lord bless you in your quest for righteousness

Answer 4

That is one way you can tell the Bible is true, it's candor. God never approved of fornication. but, people do it, and the Bible reports the good and the bad things people did for our benefit.

The bible does not teach incest, it reports it, there is a big difference.

No unrepentant fornicators will get into the Kingdom of God..Revelation 22:15 Outside are the dogs and those who practice spiritism and the fornicator and the murderers and the idolaters and everyone liking and carrying on a lie.

That is why we as Christians believe Jesus is God's Son, because we need a new perfect ruler over the earth.

Who will say YES..to Jesus??? Matthew 18: 37b .."I am a King."..(Jesus said)

Answer 5

Genesis is NOT christianity. Genesis is ancient Jewish
The only part of the bible that is about christianity is the New Testament. The old testament is a history of the Jewish peopel. It never ceases to amaze me that well educated, professed chtistians who do not particularly like the Jews would live their lives around the teaching of the old Hebrew religion and Jewish traditions
The Jews are not and never have been Christians and Christians should not live their lives by the teachings of the Jewish religion. Christians should not read the Old Testament at all - it has absulutley nothing to do with Christ --except that Jesus WAS JEWISH and everybody conveniently forgets that

Answer 6

Although as u correctly said the old testament states a lot of occasions of incest- Jesus and the Christian church teaches incest is wrong- many things in the OT were corrected if not totally changed by Jesus's teachings and this is a readily accepted part of the christian faith-many faiths contain things which infact are not part of what is required by a practicing member of that faith- I believe the koran says many things about how ppl should have their hands cut of if they commit adultery or something like that in fact only the most fanatical moslems do such things.

Answer 7

Friend, Bible is not a book of fantasy and inspired by God coz all 66 books talk about the 1 thing " KINGDOM OF GOD" ,and what to do and not to do to be in HIS kingdom .BIBLE details for each and every sin committed and the punsihment encountered by people. Bible condemns immorality .Im a christian and proud to be. There are not all chapters that could be understood by all and at all ages.There are chapters to be read as level of maturity increases. Its a BOOK for all and for all ages. In BIBLE ,its cleary said that u need to get married to only 1 woman and live with her and the church accepts only 1 marriage too and each and every relationship is conserved. I do agree that lot of people misinterprete and mis-use the HOLY rules. BIBLE instructs us on the better way of life and the result of sin committed.
But just to tell that whatever religion we follow ,whatever Holy Book we have :All Gods ask for only one think :Love your neighbour,Respect ,Compassion and humbleness.

Answer 8

The Bible tells us all kinds of things that people did, good and bad, but it no where says that they are right.

By the way, Christianity started with Christ, al the examples you gave happened a thousand years or more before Christianity started.

Answer 9

No wonder you are not a Christian. Because you don't understand it at all. I suggest you read the Bible, not to look for fault, but pray for the Holy Spirit to be upon you when you read, so that God will anoint you and unveil your blinded blinded eyes.

Actually even when people had incest in the old testament, if you read properly, in genesis itself, people suffered when they did that. it was definitely not justified.

the people married between themselves, yes, but sexual immorality was a sin from the beginning.

Lots daughters laid with him (because they wanted to preserve their blood line), and because of that, their decendents suffered.

Rueben laid with Jacob's wife (not his mom) and he received no blessing.

Do not blasphemy if you do not have enough knowledge of it.

Read the Bible and God will reveal His truth to you.

Corinthians 7:2
Nevertheless, because of sexual immorality, let each man have his own wife, and let each woman have her own husband.

Answer 10

Look there mate, I'm a Muslim too, but one part of being a Muslim is not to interfere with what other people believe in, as it's said in the Quraan "you have your religion and belief and I have mine" also still the Bible IS a holy book that you as a Muslim have to believe in, that's also said in the Quraan but that doesn't mean that you follow it as you already have a religion and another holy book to follow, and for your knowledge... a lot of things mentioned in the Quraan are interpreted from the Bible...
Bottom line is everyone sticks to what he/she believe in, you stick to what you believe in and and they stick to what they believe is as long as they want and may God guide them the the right path