Why did God slay so many in the old testament?

[Gary K]

What does your friend think of God overall?

 

[Gary O']

Jeremiah was against the King of Judah going to battle against the King of Babylon

I appreciate this, @dqhall

 

[Gary O']

What does your friend think of God overall?

He has the typical atheist slants

 

[Gary K]

He has the typical atheist slants

Does he see God as the only problem? What does he think of the Philistines, Babylonians, Romans, etc... killing off millions of Isrealites/Jews and when not killing them enslaving them very cruelly?? Are they given a pass in his point of view?

I guess what I'm really asking is how deep does his prejudice against God run?

 

[HIM]

Let's just end this with yer snide remarks.

They are not snide. The Dogmatic comment is the issue. All is dogmatic to the uninspired Christian. All one can do is love them to Christ. No answer will be accepted

 

[Gary K]

He has the typical atheist slants

What does he think of pagan worship practices such as prostitution of women and burning their children to death as a sacrifice to their gods?

 

[Gary O']

I guess what I'm really asking is how deep does his prejudice against God run?

We've had these conversations.
He's relatively deep.......but no biblical scholar.
Usually, when he sees he's losing ground in his argument, his concession is one of 'nice try'
My efforts may very well be in vain.
I write him with a prayer in my mind, for the right words.
But
We all have this power

One of choice

I still pray for him
That's the other power

 

[Gary K]

They are not snide. The Dogmatic comment is the issue. All is dogmatic to the uninspired Christian. All one can do is love them to Christ. No answer will be accepted

Did you mean "uninspred athiest"?

 

[Gary O']

What does he think of pagan worship practices such as prostitution of women and burning their children to death as a sacrifice to their gods?

When I mention these things, he diverts the focus to God and His mercy.....

Then talks about ending his own misery.

It steers me toward God's love, not man's horrific practices.

gets a bit tricky

 

[HIM]

Did you mean "uninspred athiest"?

I don’t see the difference but yes I guess I did Gary

 

[Gary K]

We've had these conversations.
He's relatively deep.......but no biblical scholar.
Usually, when he sees he's losing ground in his argument, his concession is one of 'nice try'
My efforts may very well be in vain.
I write him with a prayer in my mind, for the right words.
But
We all have this power

One of choice

I still pray for him
That's the other power

Does he recognize that the Hebrews were God's chosen people to keep the knowledge of God alive? If he will acknowledge that then you may have an entering wedge to show how God had to keep the Isrealites/Jews alive so Jesus could be born for if His ancestors were all slaughtered there would have been zero chance of salvation for anyone. The entire human race would have been wiped out by the devil.

Not knowing the man it's hard to know what tactic to take.

 

[Gary O']

Backing up a bit;

I really don't wish to prove any points with him.
Or even defend my beliefs.
I just wish to plant seeds of thought, consideration.
Give him something to ponder.
'Come, let us reason together'

 

[Gary O']

Does he recognize that the Hebrews were God's chosen people to keep the knowledge of God alive? If he will acknowledge that then you may have an entering wedge to show how God had to keep the Isrealites/Jews alive so Jesus could be born for if His ancestors were all slaughtered there would have been zero chance of salvation for anyone. The entire human race would have been wiped out by the devil.

Y'know, that's a really good point.

This....I will use.....when and if it comes up again.

 

[Gary K]

When I mention these things, he diverts the focus to God and His mercy.....

Then talks about ending his own misery.

It steers me toward God's love, not man's horrific practices.

gets a bit tricky

That's a game he's playing with you. You need to nail him down somehow as to his actual moral stance on the immorality and bloodthirstiness of the heathen.

Also God knows the end from the beginning so when He takes a person's life he already knows what their choice would be in the end. He is just and He's not going to stop someone from having a choice to choose salvation. Look at who was in the bloodline of Jesus. A Caananite prostitute, Rahab, and a Moabitess, Naomi. God is not prejudiced.

 

[dqhall]

I appreciate this, @dqhall

Archaeologists found Babylonians destroyed Jerusalem:
Ancient arrowheads from the Babylonian destruction of Jerusalem discovered

 

[Gary K]

Backing up a bit;

I really don't wish to prove any points with him.
Or even defend my beliefs.
I just wish to plant seeds of thought, consideration.
Give him something to ponder.
'Come, let us reason together'

That is all anyone can do. The only one who can "prove" anything to the man is the Holy Spirit. He's alone can convince someone to change their mind.

 

[Gary K]

I don’t see the difference but yes I guess I did Gary

Just curious as to your real meaning. Thanks.

 

[Gary O']

Does he recognize that the Hebrews were God's chosen people to keep the knowledge of God alive? If he will acknowledge that then you may have an entering wedge to show how God had to keep the Isrealites/Jews alive so Jesus could be born for if His ancestors were all slaughtered there would have been zero chance of salvation for anyone. The entire human race would have been wiped out by the devil.

@Gary K
This...my brother, is exactly what I was looking for, and am aggravated I didn't already know this.

I won't wait 'til the subject comes up again.
I'm going to run with it.

It's not just a golden nugget.....it's a ROCK!

 

[Gary O']

The only one who can "prove" anything to the man is the Holy Spirit. He's alone can convince someone to change their mind.

That's the intent

 

[Gary K]

@Gary K
This...my brother, is exactly what I was looking for, and am aggravated I didn't already know this.

I won't wait 'til the subject comes up again.
I'm going to run with it.

It's not just a golden nugget.....it's a ROCK!

No need to be aggravated with youself. Know how many decades I've been studying God's word deeply to understand this stuff? Just keep on trusting God and every time you open His word do it prayerfully asking for wisdom, and the God who liberally gives us wisdom will keep His promises.

James 1:3 Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience.
4 But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing.
5 If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him.
6 But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering. For he that wavereth is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed.