I don’t think you quite understand the division of the New and Old Testament. The Old Testament is punishment for sin. So, according to it, we all deserve to be put under the sword or hard labor. Likewise, if we hide our talent in the soil, the LORD will give our talent as plunder to those who invested.
I mean, the point being, the cultures Israel was at war with, were all like Ted Bundy and Lyndsey Clancy. So, generally, it’s just merciful to kill them, they can do no good. I just think if Jesus were to command those things, there’d be a reason for it. And the reason is, these cultures were just psychopaths. I mean… their DNA was corrupted by so much sin, it couldn’t be redeemed. But, more in line, the Old Testament puts everyone under the sword. So, that’s what Grace is, is redemption from that Sword, and redemption from the infants being dashed to pieces.
Not to mention, there’s just an effect of embracing our violence. It’s in Psychoanalytic schools, the human mind has a lot of psychological problems, and when you purge it with those kinds of things—like the Psalm you quoted—it just makes you healthier. I mean, to fight the battle on the page, is safer than fighting it in real life. You know? It’s why we tell stories. Is there’s dark substance in the soul, that get released when you read that stuff. It’s just better for you. It makes you healthier and more relaxed. I mean, you’re channeling that against good, in essence, where the Bible channels that against evil. Either way, it’s in us. That’s inevitable. Someone’s going to kill babies at the end. That’s just human nature, so we make poetry to help us not kill babies. Because if you didn’t express those forms of anger, you’d commit violence. I mean, just look at what HAMAS did, and how entire swaths of Europeans and Americans are supporting them. And they’d continue to do it. Shamelessly, and they’d still get support no matter how evil they are. Good has to fight back sometimes, and give it right back.
I don’t think morality is just God says. I think there’s logic to God’s morals, and a good chunk of the Old Testament is the ethics of war. I mean, it’s just a fact war sucks. And it’s evil. I think God has to make it evil. He can’t lie to us, and tell us, “Well you know, it’s toy soldiers in a row, being knocked down.” No, war is plunder, murder, killing babies, women, children, old people… it’s that regardless of what war you’re speaking of. If anything, it puts a certain gravity to war, that we should only fight them, when the babies can be risked being killed. If not, there shouldn’t be a war. You know? That’s the gravity of war. It’s not just men killing each other. That’s why the Bible is truthful. I don’t see that in many other documents, beside the Iliad. But, that’s the truth. It’s a perfect logical construction. Either babies may die, or there should not be war.
Well, we don’t know what omniscience is. I don’t pretend to understand that. Why does Jesus say “Do you want to be healed” to the man laying down with his mat? A thousand theologians will make a theology out of it, but God, from my dealing with Him, has a personality. He’s very good, has a sick sense of humor sometimes, but I mean He just is Who He is. I don’t have His mind. I really don’t. I mean, God has humor, when Saul asks David for Philistine Foreskins, David gives him more than what he asked. You know? I think there’s a certain levity about this life, it’s not really that important to God, so He’s not really too concerned about what happens here. He’s more concerned about your eternal state. And there’s evil in this world, and if you’re a king, your job is to kill it. I don’t want to be a king for that reason. The King’s job is to put in prison, and kill and mass murder. That’s what kings do. It’s not something that you want, but that’s also why the Prince by Machiavelli is not for a CEO, but an actual prince.
Like a good example, is when John Hooper is killed by Bloody Mary, I mean, the sequence of events makes me laugh. Really, her whole reign of tyranny is just one sick joke after another, worthy of Monty Python. But, that’s just getting to the sick nature of the human mind. We need that dark substance to be happy.
I don’t think He’s telling you to abandon them. He’s telling you to choose God over them, as some of them aren’t going to make it.
Now I understand. Yes, the culture is about prosperity, and working, and there’s a certain animus in the culture toward Christianity. And your parents told you no, don’t witness. I get that, now. That’s probably the root of your deconversion. Christians worship work, and money, and you know, I’m told every day how I’m a sinner for doing exactly what you got scolded for, but the difference is I don’t care. And my parents, I just don’t listen to them when it comes to that. I understand that, perfectly, and that actually should be against the law, what you’re saying. You should be free to talk about your faith, and HR shouldn’t be allowed to fire you based on that.
I mean, I ask a lot of questions, but ultimately, what keeps me Christian is Jesus. I just feel it’s a good answer. And better than anyone else’s, and far more sufficient than anything I could imagine. That’s why I believe in Him. If you don’t, that’s your decision. And who knows? Maybe you’re a prodigal, and will return to the faith. But, I see this in a lot of people, the confrontation is between God and the things of this world. And you know, the Tares and Rocks are part of a parable for a reason. And a lot of people lose faith because of tares and rocks. You know? You got to be willing to sacrifice everything, hate your family so to speak, to get returns on your investment. And your worldly wealth isn ‘t the mark of your obedience, but rather the shame or lack of shame toward the truth.
I don’t think it’s disrespectful at all. I think they’re good questions, and honest Christians need to wrestle with them, because there may be important lessons in them, that might make sense if we tease it out of them.
I mean, the very first Dogma of the Catholic Church is you can attain knowledge of God through reason. I think there’s a certain strain of Protestantism that just makes the gut reaction God, and that’s what causes witch hunts, and martyrs, and wars. And I think it’s good to understand the WHOLE PICTURE, and really wrestle with it. Because there’s a lot of good insights in those verses you’re picking at, that when turned to their proper sense, start to make it more reasonable. Like I’m trying to do right now.
