Christians: Would you obey if your god gave this command again?

Question

"I will not pity, nor spare, nor have mercy, but destroy." (Jer. 13:14) "Now go and smite Amalek, and utterly destroy all that they have, and spare them not, but slay both man and woman, infant and suckling."

Simple question...I'm just wondering about how far Christians would go?

Answer 1

I think that they would do it. If God spoke to them personally, that would validate their beliefs. Who would defy God?

The problem is when the Christians (and specifically Muslims) delude themselves and think that they hear God.

edit: haha @ the guy above me, picking and choosing which parts of the "inerrant word of God" he wants to believe.

p.s. I find it incredibly sad how some Christians say that they would do it. Maybe we do need religions after all, because it seems that some would have no morals apart from what's written in an ancient book. Luckily, God isn't around to give such a command, so at least that base is covered.

Answer 2

I looked it up and it does not say both man and woman, infant and suckling?
but even if it did don't we now do it when man asks us to go to war? When our King, President or some mad man says to war? I would trust more in God then I would a man. Would this be even a Question?
You are wondering how far Christians or someone who just believes in the word will go. Would it be not wiser to as how far a none believer would go? Who would you rather live next to? A man of Satan or a man of God?
I don't understand why people ask these kinds of Questions are they trying to test God or hoping they can destroy God so they can get the go ahead to live any life they dream fit with out free of going to hell? Are they looking for don't worrie its all not real do what you please?
Guess what God already said you can do what you please your choice is solo your own. Have fun, indulge in the Rich's that are the world, you only live once right? Life can't possible last forever can it. E=Mc2 hmmm

Answer 3

Hmmm... sounds pretty barbaric and un-Christian to me. I thought the Bible was the absolute, unerring word of God, free of moral inconsistencies, to be followed verbatim and without question. I suspect this was one of many passages in this diary of violence and oppression that was used to justify the several holy wars and Western imperialism in which entire continents- Africa, Australia, the Americas, and much of Asia- were invaded and pillaged, and those that were not slaughtered or driven from their ancestral homes were enslaved and forced to convert to Christianity. Funny how Muslims are condemned for "jihadism" by a vocal but extreme minority when this sounds pretty similar to me.

P.S.- Based on the bloodthirsty responses of a few people on here, I have to wonder if their faith would be more accurately described as a "cult"... and just who it is that they're praying to at night. Anyone that would murder babies is certainly no relation to the guy described in the first four books of the New Testament.

Answer 4

First off this was directed to the Jews and not the Christians. Secondly the Amalek's had plenty of time to get out of Dodge before over 2 Million Jews descended on them. Third if God so commanded then yes. And when the evil and unbelievers are destroyed at the end of the age we will do that as well.

Answer 5

Actually, I think this question brings up a good point. There have been killers who have claimed that the voice of God told them to kill. Extreme pro-lifers have murdered and committed arson on abortion doctors. Extremists have convinced people that God wanted them to do crazy things like become Branch Davidians or meet a space ship carrying Jesus behind a comet (Heaven's Gate)--by killing themselves so their spirits could get on the UFO!

Most people would consider the Heaven's Gate or Branch Davidian's very extreme. Most would consider those attacking abortion clinics extreme.

The question is, for those who blindly follow a faith, where is the line drawn? If you honestly and truly believe that it is God's wish, then by definition you will follow that wish, correct?

Answer 6

The first part of your question- the verse Jeremiah 13:14 is God talking about how He would not spare Judah and Jerusalem from the natural consquences of their idol worship.

Jer 13:14 I will have them smashed against one another, fathers and sons together, says the Lord: I will have no pity or mercy, I will have no feeling for them to keep me from giving them to destruction. BBE

The second part of your question is actually another verse - 1 Samual 15:3 And this is in a section that is talking about what is asked of Saul to do because of the sins of cruelty and cowardice the Amalekites perpetrated.

1Sa 15:2 The Lord of armies says, I will give punishment to Amalek for what he did to Israel, fighting against him on the way when Israel came out of Egypt.
1Sa 15:3 Go now and put Amalek to the sword, putting to the curse all they have, without mercy: put to death every man and woman, every child and baby at the breast, every ox and sheep, camel and ***. BBE

And this is part of the history of God and the The Amalekites


Exo 17:14 And the Lord said to Moses, Make a record of this in a book, so that it may be kept in memory, and say it again in the ears of Joshua: that all memory of Amalek is to be completely uprooted from the earth.
Exo 17:15 Then Moses put up an altar and gave it the name of Yahweh-nissi:
Exo 17:16 For he said, The Lord has taken his oath that there will be war with Amalek from generation to generation.
Deu 25:17 Keep in mind what Amalek did to you on your way from Egypt;
Deu 25:18 How, meeting you on the way, he made an attack on you when you were tired and without strength, cutting off all the feeble ones at the end of your line; and the fear of God was not in him. BBE

Moses gives the added fact that Amalekites did not attack the Israelite army. Amalek "made an attack on you when you were tired and without strength, cutting off all the feeble ones at the end of your line; and the fear of God was not in him." The truth is that whenever this people group is mentioned they exhibit their two constant chacteristics. The Amalekites attacked those who were too weak to keep pace in the desert. They attacked those in the rear, those in Israel who were too sick, too weak, or too young or too old to protect themselves. Most likely women, elderly, & children.

So the questions that these two sections bring up is 1. Would I stand in the way of allowing natural consequences from affecting someone else. My answer is no if felt God staying my hand. 2. Would I follow what God had asked to bring justice to someone who has perpetrated evil, following the current law of the land. My answer is yes.

Answer 7

Honestly, I am not a church going christian. But if the Lord God told me to do such a thing as that , I would without a question.
The way I see it . He is all knowing. How do I know that a baby in that group of people is the antichrist? I do not. So thats were my faith in God comes in to play.
He has his reasons.
If God told you too would you?, it sounds like you are a doubter

Answer 8

The amalekites would murder their own children to get a financial edge. If they thought their God would increase their crops, they'd kill their babies to make it happen. If you saw a man taking a newborn and slaughtering it, while the rest of the family stood by, maybe you'd be tempted to kill them all.

There was a time when absolutely fairness reigned, and that was this part of the bible. God demanded total fairness. Nothing less. Then, it was fair to slaughter every last member of a race of people who were killing other whole families, and even going so far as to kill their own kids.

Christians keep the old testament as a history of the development of our faith. We do not follow the letter of that law. We are under grace.

That means that when Jesus said, "Love your enemies. Pray for those who despitefully use you. Turn the other cheek," he gave us another way. Now, we're under grace.

Just as Jesus died to wash our sins away and paid for our mistakes, we are to follow his example and face abuse and take it sitting down. We are not to attack those who deserve it. We are only allowed (not commanded, but allowed) to act in defense of self or others, but not to use excessive force.

Will we get it wrong? Yes. We are still human. I'd like to say if you killed my child I wouldn't attack and kill you. I'd like to say I could show Christ's love in every situation. I know I would make a huge effort to do so. It's all I can promise.

Please rethink this idea that everyone wants to go out and follow all the selfish and dangerous rules in the Bible because they claim to believe that the entire Bible is true. That's not the reality for most of us. I am a total Bible believer and I can promise that I will always try to show love to you in accordance with biblical principles relating to grace, mercy, and even truth when you don't like it.

Your question, if meant honestly, was answered honestly. If it was meant just to insult me, it did, but I turned the other cheek. (smile)

Answer 9

the Hebrew tribes opposed the Amalekites, primarily due to Amalek's attacking Israel on their way out of Egypt.

They were a terrorist group of the time murdering children woman and old feeble people, maybe if they had of been utterly destroyed we would not have terrorism today they are descendants of the same people who bombed WTC on 9-11

In Deut. 25:17-19 we read: “Remember what Amalek did unto thee by the way, when ye were come forth out of Egypt; How he met thee by the way, and smote the hindmost of thee, even all that were feeble behind thee,


ME : I don't think I could kill anyone; but in WAR you have to kill or be killed or they take over your country....this was WAR not murder for fun

Answer 10

Oh great story about what God did because he was not obeied. It would be hard to carry that out. But as in the story of Abraham being called to offering his son Isaac we must have faith thst God will provide. Gen. 22:1-19