Tough Questions!

[Lisa0315]

Calling all Pastors, Prophets, Teachers, and Bible Students! This thread will be used to ask tough Bible questions and see if we can study Scripture to find answers. Ask questions here that perhaps atheists or others have stumped you with.

I will start. I studied this out and the answer was wonderful, but initially it really stumped me.

Why did God condone slavery in the Bible?

Lisa

 

[MrJim]

It's a useful tool of subjugation...

 

[Hentenza]

Great thread, Lisa.

The slavery in Biblical times was very different from the slavery that was practiced in the past few centuries in many parts of the world. The slavery in the Bible was not based exclusively on race. People were not enslaved because of their nationality or the color of their skin. In Bible times, slavery was more of a social status. People sold themselves as slaves when they could not pay their debts or provide for their family. In New Testament times, sometimes doctors, lawyers, and even politicians were slaves of someone else. Some people actually chose to be slaves so as to have all their needs provided for by their master.

On the other hand, the slavery of the past few centuries was often based exclusively on skin color. Black people were considered slaves because of their nationality and many slave owners truly believed black people to be “inferior human beings” to white people. The Bible most definitely does condemn race-based slavery. Consider the slavery the Hebrews experienced when they were in Egypt. The Hebrew were slaves, not by choice, but because they were Hebrews (Exodus 13:14). The plagues God poured out on Egypt demonstrate how God feels about racial slavery (Exodus 7-11). So, yes, God does condemn some forms of slavery. At the same time, God does seem to allow for other forms of slavery. The key issue is that the slavery that God allowed for in no way resembled the racial slavery that plagued our world in the past few centuries.

God Bless

 

[Criada]

Also, the slaves were well treated under the law. And it was only for a fixed term, snce all slaves were freed in the year of Jubilee (Leviticus 25).
So this was a very different system to what we think of as slavery today, or in recent history.
The system also forshadows salvation - we were all slaves to sin, but the cross proclaims our Jubilee!

 

[~*Lady Trekki*~]

If you think about it...given the definition Hentenza just outlined...if you are in debt, you are a slave.

I am owned by Washington Mutual Bank.

 

[Hentenza]

If you think about it...given the definition Hentenza just outlined...if you are in debt, you are a slave.

I am owned by Washington Mutual Bank.

LOL!!!! I am glad that none of todays banks where open back then or just about everyone would have been a slave.

 

[Nicki4Christ]

1. Why all the wars in the Old Testament. Why does God condone killing?

Been asked this before, would like to read some responses. Thanks

 

[Debi1967]

I have the ultimate question asked by atheists

Why do you believe that God exists when it cannot be proven?

 

[~*Lady Trekki*~]

I have the ultimate question asked by atheists

Why do you believe that God exists when it cannot be proven?

My answer is why do you believe in evolution when it cannot be proven?

 

[Debi1967]

My answer is why do you believe in evolution when it cannot be proven?

Actually neither can be scientifically proven but then their next question would be why believe in something that you cannot see for your eyes? See at least with science there is some proof with God all we have is our Faith and o them that is not proof. So how do you prove Faith exists?

 

[Lisa0315]

1. Why all the wars in the Old Testament. Why does God condone killing?

Been asked this before, would like to read some responses. Thanks

I have the answer to that one, but you will have to wait until I get home. I did a study on that one.

Lisa

 

[WalksWithChrist]

What happens to those isolated Amazonian tribes that have never seen a Bible?

 

[Hentenza]

I have the ultimate question asked by atheists

Why do you believe that God exists when it cannot be proven?

Hi Debi,

There are several argument formats that can be used here, however, the existence of God can not be proven NOR dis-proven. And to me, that is the crux. The proof that most atheist demand, that God knock at their door and say "Hi, I am God", is unrealistic and a logical fallacy. If God was to appear to them then why would they need to have faith?

I take it kind of like a court case. What does the preponderance of the evidence show? When you consider the totality of the different arguments, the conclusion is inescapable. The atheists like to concentrate on logical fallacies to attempt to win their arguments. But I tell you what, over 90% of the worlds population believes that there is some kind of God so they are in a minority.

In addition to the biblical argument there are several logical argument formats to use.

1. The ontological argument begins with the definition of God as “that than which no greater can be conceived.” It is then argued that to exist is greater than to not exist, and therefore the greatest conceivable being must exist. If God did not exist then God would not be the greatest conceivable being, but that would contradict God's very definition.

2. The teleological argument argues that, since the universe displays such an amazing design, there must have been a Divine designer. There are countless examples to use, like the complexities of DNA, etc.

3. The cosmological argument argues that every effect must have a cause. This universe and everything in it is an effect. There must be something that caused everything to come into existence. Ultimately, there must be something “un-caused” in order to cause everything else to come into existence. That “un-caused” something is God

4. The moral argument argues that every culture throughout history has had some form of law. Everyone has a sense of right and wrong. Murder, lying, stealing, and immorality are almost universally rejected. Where did this sense of right and wrong come from if not from God?

Each one of these arguments taken by itself is just one piece of the puzzle but, when taken together, they put up a very strong case for the existence of God.

Plus I know for a fact that God exists because I talk to Him every day.

Edited to add: A great resource for the scientific arguments is http://www.reasons.org/

 

[~*Lady Trekki*~]

Actually neither can be scientifically proven but then their next question would be why believe in something that you cannot see for your eyes? See at least with science there is some proof with God all we have is our Faith and o them that is not proof. So how do you prove Faith exists?

Well...that's true. But I've always thought that athiests have more faith than Christians because it's really hard for me to believe I come from an ape. That and a bunch of other things that are so intricate they cannot have happened by chance. Our brains for example. They still can't explain how it works the way it does. It's so complex and multifaceted...it seems quite unlikely that it would come together by accident.

 

[Criada]

Just a useful thought from a science teacher:
In science, one doesn't set out to prove things! One tries to disprove them. A hypothesis is generally accepted until someone comes up with evidence that disproves it, so a new hypothesis is needed....

So - the onus is on these "scientific" atheists to *disprove* the existence of God...
I've a strong feeling that they won't succeed!

 

[LivingLifeHisWay]

I have the ultimate question asked by atheists

Why do you believe that God exists when it cannot be proven?

When you see a painting you know that there must have been a painter. When you see creation there must have been a Creator.

 

[Lisa0315]

What happens to those isolated Amazonian tribes that have never seen a Bible?

I used to think that all Christians believed that they were not accountable. However, coming on this board, I found out otherwise.

I like the Catholic doctrine on this. God gives grace to whom He will. We know that God is good. We know that God is merciful. We know that God is just. We also know that God works in mysterious ways. So, somehow, God WILL be both just and merciful to those who have never heard the gospel or did not have the mental capacity to understand it.

Lisa

 

[monkeypsycho62]

My answer is why do you believe in evolution when it cannot be proven?

Wow.

*runs away in fear of lack of education on evolution*

 

[~*Lady Trekki*~]

Wow.

*runs away in fear of lack of education on evolution*

Ok...as your not a member of this forum your not able to debate. But, I've gotta say that if you think evolution is a proven fact, you need to go back to school.

 

[Lisa0315]

Ok...as your not a member of this forum your not able to debate. But, I've gotta say that if you think evolution is a proven fact, you need to go back to school.

Hey, What he was saying is that nothing can be "proven".

Lisa