OK, another serious question from a viewer that must be addressed. He deeply appreciated our messages about the Jewishness of Jesus and this viewer has a deep love for the Bible and the Jewish people. But the section that needs a response is about his desire to evangelize a friend of his. He wrote:
I am wondering how I could reach out to a friend about accepting Jesus . . . there are certain passages in the Old Testament that he may bring up to point out that no “God” would allow such things to happen.
I can explain the passages about Hebrew and foreign servants/slaves under the Law (many of them selling themselves into slavery to pay off debts; I think of them as people in credit card debt today as modern slaves). . . I know we don’t live under law anymore, but many people today like to point out that these rules are barbaric and in turn, so is God.
I would really appreciate your insight on these verses. Thanks for your ministry, may you be blessed.
My answer may not have been as specific as our viewer wished, but I feel pretty strongly about this matter. My response was as follows:
If someone is in a sufficiently lofty position to judge God, they have more power than I would dare diminish or more problems than can be overcome through textual analysis.
From my view, I do not wonder why God wiped out tribal peoples or pagan nations. The better question is why He has not wiped out modern civilizations that disparage His name and character.
If your friend rejects God or the Scriptures that reveal God’s love for mankind, what is his basis for believing anything about God?
It seems to me that God is not barbaric. Rather, we are. We slaughter our own babies before they can take a breath. And given enough time, many of us end up using our breath to curse God.
No, the real wonder is that God loves us anyway and proved His love by sending His Son to pay for our sins–WOW!
Don’t argue with your friend. Pray for him and preach the truth in love. You will never need to make excuses for God.
By the way, you are right on the money about many folks being in slavery to credit card debt. Well said brother!
Shalom,
Randy Weiss
www.crosstalk.org
www.myspace.com/randyweissmusic
4 responses so far ↓
1 Doyle L Wesley, Jr // Nov 9, 2009 at 11:34 am
Amen!!!!!! So very, very well put. I relish your commentaries.
It’s that hardness of heart thing. We can only plant the seed – with some having the ability to do some watering. From there, it’s between that person and the Holy Spirit, huh? Intercessory prayer is a God given tool we should and need to well make use of! I’m also learning the value of availability, humbleness in response, letting the peace of God’s love reveal itself, and keeping in mind how our sinful nature makes us
flee from God (Peter- Luke 5:8; Adam and Eve – Genesis 3:10).
2 WJames // Nov 9, 2009 at 11:26 pm
Judging God: Today Major Hasan was lauded as heroic by an Islamic cleric; today Scott Roeder cited Paul Hill as an American hero. Scott Roeder used Hill to justify his killing of Dr. Tiller.
What we do in God’s name should tell us we’ve made Him in our image.
3 admin // Nov 12, 2009 at 12:32 pm
Keep a pile of seeds and a watering can handy. Then look for good ground for the seeds and sprouts needing water. Leave the rest in God’s hands as it remains His garden.
Shalom,
Randy
4 admin // Nov 12, 2009 at 12:49 pm
With all due resepct W.James, I will publish comments as YOUR comments. You might best speak for yourself when judging God. Nevertheless, I will respond with 3 comments and a question:
!) If you are trying to suggest that Major Hasan was barbaric, I would agree.
2) If you are trying to suggest the cleric who lauded Hasan is barbaric, I would need to know more to comment, although I would lean toward agreeing due to my own biases.
3) If you are suggesting it is barbaric to kill abortion doctors, I am in complete agreement.
4) Do you have an opinion as to whether or not it is barbaric to kill defenseless babies?
In my opinion, here is where your argument crumbles . . . that which Nasan, a cleric, or Scott Roeder may have done in their perversion of God’s name is not a fair depiction of the character of God. It is a perverted depiction of the image of God expressed by people who have done horrible things for which they are to be blamed–not God. I have a different image of God and do not hold Him responsible for the despicable behavior of people who kill babies or those who kill baby-killers.
In my image of God, He is capable of forgiving both. I know because I have killed a baby. I have sought and found forgiveness.
Finally, my honest hope is that you might walk lightly when judging God. Someday you may have to give an account.
Shalom and thank you for your honest, considered opinion.
Randy Weiss
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