The Bible's moral code?

Question

I come from a Christian background but I'm not a Christian any longer - although I have friends who are and whom I respect as individuals. But I'm always curious given some of the questionable morality in the Bible - such as the support of slavery, polygamy, and God occasinally commanding in the old testament to slaughter your neighbors - how people read this and see it as divinely inspired moralilty to live by. Some of what's in the Bible is moral, of course, but some of it is pretty monstorous. So my question is this: if you were to literally take the Bible as your moral guide - every word of it as written - what's the worst act (worst judged by today's morality) that you would feel justified in committing - assuming an absolute literalist interpretation of what's written?

Answer 1

Christianity has no moral code. Thanks to Paul they are now a lawless people.

Answer 2

You must study every passage of the Bible "in context". I know you hear this often. But out of context leads to misunderstanding. Slavery has always been a fact of life. For many in the past it was a means of salvation. If they did not have the opportunity to be a slave they would have died of starvation. We can not wash all of the history of slavery through the image we have of black slavery in the early US. That is just not a representative picture.
Now as far as slaughter in the Old Testament, again comprehending the context is imperative. There was a reason for the slaughter. You missed it. If you go back and study it-you will find the reason, and you will see it differently. Remember what the Bible is, and why we have it. I assure that the purpose for the Bible is not to tell you that some were killed for no apparent reason. There is a valuable lesson in each story.

Answer 3

You're asking the wrong questions. If Christianity has been reduced to nothing more than a mere set of rules or moral codes to live by, no wonder you walked away. Christianity isn't about rules, regulations, or principles....it's about a living relationship with the PERSON of Jesus Christ. It's about trusting in His love and goodness and available power towards you, so there is SO MUCH about Him and God's Word than you have obviously never heard.

Don't give up on seeking the truth of who He is - you clearly haven't heard it, since you found it so easy to walk away from it. A true conversion, what the Bible calls "the new birth" isn't something you drift in and out of like a tide of the ocean. It is a permanent heart change where you desire to know and experience more of Him....a desire that doesn't pass away like some fad.

Try looking for a non-denominational, Spirit-filled church that teaches the WORD....not about the WORLD and how we are to behave in it. Christianity isn't about behavior, it's about changed hearts. To say your a "Christian no longer" tells me you never were one in the first place.

Keep searching -

Answer 4

If you were a Christian, then you would already know the answer you seek.

The bible never condoned slavery or polygamy, but God knew men would do those things so He gave rules about them, remember, God gave us free will.

And God never commanded us to slaughter our neighbors, in the Old Testament the ones who were slaughtered were rebellious towards God and law breakers, never a neighbor.

Answer 5

I do not believe you understand God's word correctly. You must read these stories you speak of with the proper frame of mind. We are taught to "love one another, just as I have loved you" in the gospel of John. This is to be the character of the disciple of Christ. He also teaches us "Love our neighbor as ourselves" and that we are to "love our enemies". These words of our Lord do not sound like they came from an unloving God. In order to understand the word of God you must first have received the gift of faith otherwise God's word is foolishness to the man without faith. St Paul teaches this in 1 Cor 2.14. Look that chapter over. It is very interesting. Then if you would like to understand the entire word of God, pray and ask to be forgiven of your sin and that you desire the gift of faith, and then be patient and watch. I am praying right now for you at 6:30 EDST here on the east coast of the United States, that God will bring you into faith. Please do not pass this up. God desperately needs you 'death' and does not want you to suffer death.

Answer 6

I guess when parents do something towards their children and then say 'God told me too'. Abraham got away with it but only b/c the police weren't around theen.
(eye-roll) Todays morals are so low...

Answer 7

Its simply a way for you to see the blessing (of obediance to G-d) or judgment (ignoring G-d). Both are severe.

New Testament allows us to choose between the two.

Which have you chosen?