Christians, isn't it great to be able to defend the violent and nasty parts of the bible by.......?

Question

1) saying that it has to be taken in context

2) saying that it has to taken in the context of the time it was written

3) saying "oh, but that's the old testament that doesn't count anymore ......... except of course when it can back up our arguments"

4) being able to randomly choose which bits are to be taken literally and which bits are to be taken as a metephor.... as the need arises.

The same excuses could be used for any document

To williamzo....

"3... Do you as an american still back slavery and the mistreatment of indians. YOU are an american so there fore you take accountability but not responsibility"

There are other countries besides America you know !!!!!

Answer 1

Well, in response to the first two,
Yes, it is great.

I take the context of every text I read seriously, whether it is the Bible or Yahoo Answers. I think it makes me a better reader. It allows me to understand the text better, wrestle with issues I have, and be humble before the text. This last point is key- if you do not take the context of a text seriously, you only read yourself into the text.

This does not, however, make reading the nasty parts easier. I don't like, for example, what Paul says about homosexual practices. Context gives me a nuanced understanding of possible interpretations, but it does not change the fact that I disagree with the text!

It actually makes the struggle harder- I can't pretend it isn't there.

peace

Answer 2

1) All texts must be taken in context. It doesn't matter if it is the Bible or the "Origin of Species" by Charles Darwin. Taking a text OUT of context is a deliberate misquote, therefore a con.

2) Historical documents, Bible, Koran, "History" by Josephus, "My Conquests" by Julius Caeser, must be read with at least some understanding of the time and local geography of the author in mind. Otherwise, all you are going to be able to read is "blah blah blah blah, desert, blah blah blah, river, blah blah blah, battle."

3) THIS arguement only applies to OT sacrificial laws and laws regarding the priesthood, plus a FEW cultural applications. Any other time it is used is called "shucking and jiving"!

4) Those books or phrases written literally are taken literally. Those intended as a metaphor are obvious. Again, back to "shucking and jiving". Many prophetic dreams were given in metaphorical form, but were almost immediately interpreted for the knowledge of the dreamer. Back to intellectual honesty.

Is there some serious nastiness in the Bible? You betcha! Rapes, murders, incest, drunkeness, whoring, patricide, infanticide, fratricide, asassinations, war crimes, you name it, we can probably find it. Why? Isn't the Bible supposed to be about knowing God? Well, yes. But God made himself known in human history, not a vaccuum. Humans have done, and are doing, some really nasty stuff to each other. To whitewash all that out of the Bible would make it soooooo unreal it would be embarrassing!

Is there a particular ugly event you want to ask about? Please explain in detail.

Answer 3

This does not apply to ALL Christians a least be fair in your accusations!!!!!!

Response
1 & 2... ANY document has to be interpreted in the time and situation that it was wrtitten in
3... Do you as an american still back slavery and the mistreatment of indians. YOU are an american so there fore you take accountability but not responsibility
4.. As with ANY book you have to understand the differnce NOT as the need arises but as the context demands

Your last statement makes no sense...because these rules SHOULD be applied to any document.

Answer 4

True Christians don't defend anything, God is our defender (Pr 23:11, Is 19:20). When Christians try to explain the Biblical text to you (and some do better than others), they are trying to introduce you to the author of the text. They use Scripture to help them do that. It's that simple.

PS It's really pretty easy to understand context. Like any document, we read it literally. Which doesn't mean there can't be metephors, similies, analogies, etc. We use these figures of speech today, God uses them in the Bible.

When Jesus said, "I am the door/gate", was he saying he was a literal gate? Of course not. He was saying he was the only "door" to heaven, that the only way to the Father was through him! He was expressing a spiritual truth using a physical example.

Answer 5

it somewhat is the VERY reason i'm able to't have faith that the bible appropriately describes who and what god is. If I ought to make up excuses for why God did and ordered such a lot of terrible issues, then it is not the god i might desire to worship or impression others to worship. i'm able to't definitely use those excuses... nor the "despite god does is sweet" excuse. If precise is right and incorrect is incorrect... it somewhat works an identical for people who're all useful... in certainty, the all useful must be held to an superior regular, as they are... ALL useful. there is not any context the place killing finished civilizations is a competent element. there is not any context the place killing finished cities for imprecise wickedness is a competent element. there is not any context the place destroying the inhabitants of the completed planet is a competent element. there is not any context the place killing infants for disobedience is a competent element. there is not any context the place god making a raffle with the devil and permitting the completed destruction of a guy's existence form to tutor a ingredient is a competent element. there is not any context the place reducing the tip of penises off to allow god to comprehend who you're is a competent element. there is not any context the place asking a guy to "sacrifice" his toddler to be sure how lots he loves god is a competent element. i ought to pass on for hours. i merely can no longer justify those issues that god did, or had others do. i'm able to't make up excuses for him. I refuse. somewhat, i elect to have faith that none of that's actual and the classic hebrew mythology is not any different than the different lifestyle's mythology.

Answer 6

We do not have to DEFEND the Bible. It is the inspired, infallible word of God. It is what it is. If you believe some of it, you must believe all of it. There are no metaphors in the Bible - it is all literal. Some may not like what certain parts of it say, but you can't take only the good and leave the bad out. God loves each and every one of us - BUT - He is a jealous God. We are to have no other gods before Him.

Answer 7

We don't defend the Bible, Christians, Don't fall into this trap. The Bible is our sword, not the other way around.....

And to those who say negative things about the Bible and us defending it-
Read it sometime- the whole thing- and then cast your judgment- but to call the Bible a lie would be calling God a lier. And that is just not the case.

Answer 8

The bible doesn't need me to prove its right. All you who try and say the bible is wrong are only reading parts and not the whole thing. Do you remember in English how they told you to do the, Who, What, Where, When, How and Why. Well do that with the bible when studying it.

Answer 9

Actually, we do need to consider the time in which things
were said. As our Creator doesn't change, but we do.
And from one extreme to the other!
But where most people use the argument that things need to
be read in context. It's just an excuse to "explain" OUR argument
away!

Answer 10

And it is used with any document. Ask the Germans about Hitler, and reported history of him.

Anyway, all I say is that if you don't have eyes to see or ears to hear, than you don't understand the ways of God. No matter how I try to give you my take on this or that of the bible, you will be "lost" on the matter.