The God of the OT

[aspiring son]

Many people struggle with this. I'm believe God created evil (Isa 45-7), but in bringing this up , how do we parallel the love of Christ with the God of Joshua who ordered the slaying of women and children? I saw this point brought up in an atheists argument on why Christianity is a hoax. But it is not just him; if we are honest, a lot of us struggle as well. I'm reading a book called "If Grace is True" written by two pastors who document how they came to believe that God will save every person. Good book, but when it comes to this subject one of the pastors says that he has come to the conclusion that Joshua must have acted in zeal instead of actually hearing God's voice, because it does not line up with the character of Jesus. I'm not willing to take that stance yet, but if I'm honest I'm not confident in answering that question if brought up. In fact, it might support a God who does burn people in hell forever for someone who belives in ET. So my question may seem amatuer to some, but I feel that if we are to be ready to have an answer for the faith we have ( which is a loving Father who will redeem all of his creation), than we must parallel the two by the Spirit. Does anyone have spiritual insight on this? I believe Jesus IS the God of the OT; which can make it harder to explain. Any responses are appreciated.

[Paul Hazelwood]

People often do not like my take on things.   Evil exists as a reality and  God takes responsibility for it and makes it right. I may not like evil or may not like that he created it, but evil is there, so might as well see what we can gather from it   I've said it time and time again and not to be discouraging towards you,. Christianity is not who we serve and the Atheists have more truth towards it than anyone likes to admit.

Atheists are not against God, they are against what religion has made God out to be.  Being against christianity and the image it has made God to be is NOT hatred towards GOD.  I maintain that the image of "GOD" atheists will say they hate is concerning those who constantly maintain that God is gonna make us pay you better listen or else, that kind of garbage.   If you don't believe as we do, then you'll be sorry.

While Christianity works hard to make justifications of a loving God destroying civilizations and women and children,  I see the old testament as a spiritual depiction that uses literal events to tell us what God does for us spiritually.

God destroys civilizations within us that keep us from him, he destroys our infants within us so maturity can emerge, he destroys our unbelief, he destroys our kingdoms that we assemble within ourselves that cause us to be further away from him.


Someone can bring a reasonable point of view to the table concerning God creating evil in the first place.  If he is all knowing all powerful and can do absolutely anything then logically we can ask  what kind of thing would do that if he did not have too.

There again, we are trained within a religious set of assertions that keeps us insecure about seeing a GOD who cannot do absolutely anything.

1C 1:25 for the stupidity of God is wiser than men, and the weakness of God is stronger than men.

[aspiring son]

Paul,

I have thought of and agree with everything you said. Atheists are against religion, not God. Those spiritual meanings in the OT are valid as well. I guess it's hard to describe. Preston Eby brought a great analogy to this; like seeing a parade from a seat where there's people standing in front of you, and you not knowing what's coming next. then you run up to the top of a building and watch it from there, and you can see the whole parade, beginning to end. This is God's perspective of His purposes, and it's hard to describe that there's a pupose for rape, murder, etc. I think it's a little harder to swallow though when someone sees that God commanded the killing himself, of what could be considered "the innocent" (not the soldiers, but women and children). Thanx for responding.

[aspiring son]

 I agree with you Paul, and all the things you have stated I've experianced. It's been at least two yrs since I've called myself a christian, seeing I feel I do not fit the title anymore. Most atheists theology is more acurate about God than christendom. God created and causes evil in our lives and everyones.

While Christianity works hard to make justifications of a loving God destroying civilizations and women and children,  I see the old testament as a spiritual depiction that uses literal events to tell us what God does for us spiritually.

God destroys civilizations within us that keep us from him, he destroys our infants within us so maturity can emerge, he destroys our unbelief, he destroys our kingdoms that we assemble within ourselves that cause us to be further away from him.


Someone can bring a reasonable point of view to the table concerning God creating evil in the first place.  If he is all knowing all powerful and can do absolutely anything then logically we can ask  what kind of thing would do that if he did not have too.

There again, we are trained within a religious set of assertions that keeps us insecure about seeing a GOD who cannot do absolutely anything.

1C 1:25 for the stupidity of God is wiser than men, and the weakness of God is stronger than men.

good points




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[aspiring son]

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While Christianity works hard to make justifications of a loving God destroying civilizations and women and children,  I see the old testament as a spiritual depiction that uses literal events to tell us what God does for us spiritually.

God destroys civilizations within us that keep us from him, he destroys our infants within us so maturity can emerge, he destroys our unbelief, he destroys our kingdoms that we assemble within ourselves that cause us to be further away from him.


Someone can bring a reasonable point of view to the table concerning God creating evil in the first place.  If he is all knowing all powerful and can do absolutely anything then logically we can ask  what kind of thing would do that if he did not have too.

There again, we are trained within a religious set of assertions that keeps us insecure about seeing a GOD who cannot do absolutely anything.

1C 1:25 for the stupidity of God is wiser than men, and the weakness of God is stronger than men.

good points. first post meant to show as a qoute