Page 642 … The Way we ought to Live
“The Bible also reveals divine commands and principles regarding the way we ought to live.”
Without a doubt, my Friend, this is indeed often the case … Of course, even the most conservative of modern-day Christians must admit that many of the Bible’s laws & edicts are no longer applicable, and that many others can no longer be considered decent or even ethical … In truth, to this very day within its pages (often with astonishing frequency) the Bible authorizes all of the following fully immoral atrocities: human slavery (see Exodus 2:7 & Ephesians 6:5-9) … animal cruelty (see Genesis 9:2 & Leviticus 11:1-47) … the denigration of women (see 1 Timothy 2:12 & 1 Corinthians 14:34-35) … genocide (see Deuteronomy 7:1-2 & Joshua 10:40) … unjust warfare (see Numbers 31:2, 1 Samuel 15:3 & Joshua 4:13) … racism (see Numbers 25:1-13 & 2 John 1:10) … religious intolerance (see Exodus 22:20 & Deuteronomy 13:6-10) … rape (see Deuteronomy 22:28-29 & Judges 21:10-24) … child sex slavery (see Genesis 19:8 & Judges 1:12-13) … and infanticide (see Exodus 12:29-30 & Numbers 31:17-18).
In addition, regardless of whether or not others around us are violating the valid biblical laws that remain, Jesus in the Gospels makes it also quite clear as to how we are to deal with such “sinners” – especially those who are not members of our own church, especially those who have not trespassed directly against us, &/or especially those who are not openly harming others with their misdeeds. And his admonition was as consistent as it was clear:
We are to keep our mouths mostly shut, and our Hearts fully open!
“Let [she] who is without sin cast the first stone … Do not judge, so that you may not be judged … Why do you see the speck in your neighbor’s eye, but do not notice the log in your own? … You hypocrite! First take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly enough to remove the speck from your neighbor’s … You hypocrites! For you clean the outside of the cup [of others], but inside are full of greed and self-indulgence … First clean the inside of your own cup, so that the outside might also become truly clean.” ~ Jesus Christ (John 8:7 + Matthew 7:1-2 + Matthew 23:25-26)
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