RESOURCES — SHORT ARTICLES

 

SHORT ARTICLES BY TOM ELSEROAD
	2020-10-06	Why Is the Bible So Violent?
		Why are passages like Judges 19 in the Bible? And what can they teach us? Here a concubine is killed by sexual molestation and she is cut into 12 pieces, and those human parts are sent to the 12 tribes of Israel. It is important that we read all of the Bible, not just those parts we like. 2Ti 3:16  All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, 2Ti 3:17  that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work. All of Scripture is profitable, and God inspired. This includes the most violent parts. God's presentation of these things in writing in Scripture is not a mistake. The verbal descriptions with divine explanation are not the same as worldly depictions for entertainment. We live in a very soft and easily offended, and emotionally fragile culture. We in America need this message because we do not know what the rest of the world is like. These stories help us grasp what most of history has been like. And most of the world is still harsh. If we saturate ourselves in the whole Bible we will have the mental and emotional ability to come with terms of these central Biblical realities. Those horrors in Scripture are there for a reason. Why is there so much violence in the Bible? Here are 3 reasons. 1. The Bible describes man's darkened heart and society without constraints as “examples” to learn from (1Co.10:11). The book of Judges for example, gave us warnings of how bad Israel had become. Society and the human heart were uncontrolled. The context of the book of Judges contains the following sentence. “In those days there was no king in Israel.” In 2 of those instances that sentence is followed by, “Everyone did what was right in his own eyes.” These signify what happens to a society when evil coming from the human heart runs wild without any control. The point was that there was no king. Everyone did what they wanted without any restraints. The lesson from Judges is very important for us to learn. It shows us what we are capable of. 2. At the Fall of man corruption and futility were applied giving us some idea of the horror of sin against God (Ro.8:20). When sin entered the world (Ge.3) God responded not by judging man but by subjecting him and creation to futility. Rom 8:20  For the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of Him who subjected it in hope. The reason there is such an abundance of violence in the Bible is because there is so much violence in the world. Then we must ask the next question. Why is there so much violence in the world? The Bible is simply documenting what is true. Why did God ordain that the effect of moral evil would be displayed in the horrors of physical evil? Unless man saw his condition displayed physically in others he would not comprehend the extent of his moral evil against God. No one loses sleep over their treason against God. But let their physical body be touched with cancer for example, then their emotions will rise up with moral indignation. Violence and suffering exist in this world as a divine witness to the meaning and outrage of sin against God. 3. Before the foundation of the world, God planned for the violent death of His Son (Re.13:8). Rev 13:8  All who dwell on the earth will worship him, whose names have not been written in the Book of Life of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world. There is this book that existed before the creation of the world. It is called, “the Book of Life of the Lamb slain” All thoughtful Christians know that at the center of our faith is one of the most violent events in the history of the world. Namely, the crucifixion of the Son of God. There is no salvation without this violence. This verse shows us this was God's plan before the foundation of the world. Plus we will sing about this violence forever (Re.5:9-10). Rev 5:9  And they sang a new song, saying: "You are worthy to take the scroll, And to open its seals; For You were slain, And have redeemed us to God by Your blood Out of every tribe and tongue and people and nation, Rev 5:10  And have made us kings and priests to our God; And we shall reign on the earth." God said this is how we know His love (Ro.5:8). Rom 5:8  But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Christ died for us. And we know how He died. There should not be any softening the reality of the gruesome death of Christ. Pastor Tom Elseroad

 

An Evangelical Free Church of America

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