Why is God so cruel in the OT?

[essentials]

Why is God portrayed so often in the Old Testament as a cruel tyrant? Cursing and dooming people? I don't understand and I don't want to serve a cruel God, but maybe I'm missing something...

 

[Hitch]

Why is God portrayed so often in the Old Testament as a cruel tyrant? Cursing and dooming people? I don't understand and I don't want to serve a cruel God, but maybe I'm missing something...

Dont worry He put all that history down to writing so folks who dont like Him can find a ready excuse. Do remember, in the New Testament He says he will grind His enemies to powder.

 

[essentials]

Doesn't mean I'm Gods enemy dude-I love what Jesus taught but I just notice a big difference between that and the Old Testament writings (from what I've read at least-I do not profess to be an expert on theology...).

 

[Hitch]

Doesn't mean I'm Gods enemy dude-I love what Jesus taught but I just notice a big difference between that and the Old Testament writings (from what I've read at least-I do not profess to be an expert on theology...).

Rest assured the God of Israel and the God of Sermon on the Mount are one in the same.

 

[Alabaster]

God is the SAME---yesterday, today and forever. He never changes.

What you are noticing is God's justice meted out on the wicked in their lifetime. Since Jesus and the cross, God has chosen to reveal another of His attributes---His GREAT mercy. For the sake of His Son, who bought the pardon of sinners with His blood, God is holding His wrath and justice in reserve while the Kingdom is being built.

We are SO BLESSED to be chosen to be alive at this time on this side of the cross!

Mercy. Grace. God's gift.

 

[essentials]

Alabaster-Thanks for that, it makes sense.

essentials

 

[Alabaster]

Alabaster-Thanks for that, it makes sense.

essentials

You're welcome...

 

[PouringRain]

When I look at God in the OT I see no difference. I see the same God he always was, always is, and always will be. I see God in the OT very loving and merciful. :yes

 

[Guap]

Who protrays God as cruel? Where?
What does it mean to be cruel?

It is easy to say that God is protrayed as cruel, but what are people really saying by that?

Is it because people who did the wrong thing were killed? Or is there something else?

 

[kenan]

Is it because people who did the wrong thing were killed? Or is there something else?

It's because the God of Abraham isn't nearly as forgiving in the OT as you lot make him out to be. That, and his laws were unfair, draconian and unjustifiably discriminatory. There are at least 2 million murders either perpetrated or endorsed by the God of Abraham in the OT.

 

[montanaviking]

Who protrays God as cruel? Where?
What does it mean to be cruel?

It is easy to say that God is protrayed as cruel, but what are people really saying by that?

Is it because people who did the wrong thing were killed? Or is there something else?

Yes, I think that's it. You see most folks do not have much of an understanding of God. They see God as love and to them that means that God would never do anything they deem as cruel. Killing people, children and animals is cruel. At least in their eyes. What folks have a hard time wrapping thier heads around is that God is just and it is his justice that demands punishment while his love demands mercy. Hence the reason for Jesus death and resurrection so that we can escape our punishment and get a hold of his mercy.

I don't think we as humans, including believers, have a full grasp on just how much God hates sin and just how much God cannot abide or tolerate it. I also do not think we have a very good understanding of the sacrafice of Christ and how much of a slap in the face to God it is when we reject Christ's sacrafice and tell Him we don't need it to get to heaven.

 

[kenan]

What folks have a hard time wrapping thier heads around is that God is just and it is his justice that demands punishment

Being murdered for consensual fornication, heterosexual or other, is not just.

I don't think we as humans, including believers, have a full grasp on just how much God hates sin and just how much God cannot abide or tolerate it.

"We can't grasp it." How convenient. This is like some sort of reverse argument from incredulity - "we cannot grasp P, therefore P is true."

 

[montanaviking]

It's because the God of Abraham isn't nearly as forgiving in the OT as you lot make him out to be. That, and his laws were unfair, draconian and unjustifiably discriminatory. There are at least 2 million murders either perpetrated or endorsed by the God of Abraham in the OT.

Kenan, I think you prove my previous point. You view God's laws as unfair, draconian and unjustifiably discriminatory. That is your opinion. But that is based upon a flawed understanding of the holiness of God. You view those that were killed as innocents. God views them as guilty and deserving of death. Even the Isrealites did not escape God's punishment of sin. They were driven from their homes and many of them killed throughout the OT for one reason and one reason only. They failed to obey God. God views disobedience as the worst possible crime imaginable. I know you don't. That's ok. But God does and He gets the last word because He is God.

Think of it this way. Let us say you murdered a child by skinning it alive. Horrific? Deserving of death? Probably. That is how God views sin. And because he is just He demands harsh punishment. However, God also loves us and thus provided a way for us to avoid the deserved punishment. Jesus died on the cross for you and I, so we could escape the punishment for sin. Jesus sacrafice paid the penalty for sin once and for all and all you have to do is believe in Him. I am thankful that God is not only just, but he is also loving. Otherwise there would be no hope.

 

[Guap]

Being murdered for consensual fornication, heterosexual or other, is not just.

Really? Always? What about if it involves spying and treason? At least in the US treason is punishable by death, and if I'm not mistaken the last case I'm aware of involved sex and was part of the process of bringing someone into treason.

I'm not sure if you are thinking of a particularly biblical passage but the one I'm thinking of the consensual sex which lead to death was part of a treason act.

 

[kenan]

God views them as guilty and deserving of death.

Then God is a tyrant and deserves to be worshiped as much as any other entity who rules through fear does: not at all.

Even the Isrealites did not escape God's punishment of sin. They were driven from their homes and many of them killed throughout the OT for one reason and one reason only.

So what? Their deaths were revolting too.

God views disobedience as the worst possible crime imaginable. I know you don't.

No gods, no masters.

That's ok.

Apparently not, because according to your holy text, I'm destined to burn in hell for eternity. For what? Foregoing a believe in a vengeful God who ostensibly has not revealed himself in any way, shape or form for at least the past 2000 years?

Deserving of death?

Nothing is deserving of death. If you murder another, you are a murderer. Whatever happened to your golden rule?

That is how God views sin.

So you're effectively comparing skinning a live child to wearing linen and cotton at the same time?

I am thankful that God is not only just, but he is also loving. Otherwise there would be no hope.

Your definition of loving is warped. A loving God rehabilitates. A vengeful God murders. And his laws, while some are nice, are oft unjust and always arbitrary.

EDIT:

Really? Always? What about if it involves spying and treason? At least in the US treason is punishable by death, and if I'm not mistaken the last case I'm aware of involved sex and was part of the process of bringing someone into treason.

Ridiculous. Utterly ridiculous. Strawman, and the fact of the matter is that one is being murdered for "spying and treason" in this case, not for consensual sex.

 

[Elijah674]

Why is God portrayed so often in the Old Testament as a cruel tyrant? Cursing and dooming people? I don't understand and I don't want to serve a cruel God, but maybe I'm missing something...

The problem is with the 'Abomination Of the Earth' ones 'brain' knowledge of what is cruel, + who the God is that you are seeing as cruel, Christ God Himself DOCUMENTED as [NEVER CHANGING!]

--Elijah

 

[kenan]

Elijah, that was a nightmare to read.

 

[montanaviking]

Elijah, that was a nightmare to read.

I agree.

Well, the real problem here Kenan is that you cannot understand God. You are limited. The bible tells us that the wages of sin is death. The gift of God is eternal life. It is as simple as that. It also says that one day EVERY knee shall bow and EVERY tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord. It does not matter if you believe that now. Someday you will. Your opinion of God doesn't matter to God. God is light and in him there is no darkness at all. God cannot abide sin. It is that simple. Whether you believe it or not. The good news is that God so loved you that he gave his only son that if only you believe in him you will not perish, but have everlasting life. The choice is yours to make my friend.

 

[Guap]

T

EDIT:


Ridiculous. Utterly ridiculous. Strawman, and the fact of the matter is that one is being murdered for "spying and treason" in this case, not for consensual sex.

So where is God cruel that he kills someone for consexual sex? Quote a passage of the Bible. Give something concrete, otherwise it is just empyt words.

 

[Elijah674]

I agree.

Well, the real problem here Kenan is that you cannot understand God. You are limited. The bible tells us that the wages of sin is death. The gift of God is eternal life. It is as simple as that. It also says that one day EVERY knee shall bow and EVERY tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord. It does not matter if you believe that now. Someday you will. Your opinion of God doesn't matter to God. God is light and in him there is no darkness at all. God cannot abide sin. It is that simple. Whether you believe it or not. The good news is that God so loved you that he gave his only son that if only you believe in him you will not perish, but have everlasting life. The choice is yours to make my friend.

---Elijah here:
Your post is mostly.. I believe is All true. Good post! (but mostly is not agreeing ALL THE WAY!) And that was not the question. Go back & read what the question was & give the answer to it, if you have one?

Then you blew it all with...

I agree.

You agree with what??