Negative Quotes From The Bible

Hey guys, now i know a lot of people are probably just going to say i'm nit-picking here but it's just some of these quotes disturb me and i was wondering if anyone could explain them from a Christian point of view ( justify them).

Now you'll notice the quotes are from the New Living Translation. This was to help as some verses can be quite confusing to some.

this may be a long post, if you want just pick out short ones as they are in a random order.

"Stand in silence in the presence of the Sovereign LORD, for the awesome day of the LORD's judgment has come. The LORD has prepared his people for a great slaughter and has chosen their executioners. "On that day of judgment," says the LORD, "I will punish the leaders and princes of Judah and all those following pagan customs. Yes, I will punish those who participate in pagan worship ceremonies, and those who steal and kill to fill their masters' homes with loot. "On that day," says the LORD, "a cry of alarm will come from the Fish Gate and echo throughout the newer Mishneh section of the city. And a great crashing sound will come from the surrounding hills. Wail in sorrow, all you who live in the market area, for all who buy and sell there will die. "I will search with lanterns in Jerusalem's darkest corners to find and punish those who sit contented in their sins, indifferent to the LORD, thinking he will do nothing at all to them. They are the very ones whose property will be plundered by the enemy, whose homes will be ransacked. They will
never have a chance to live in the new homes they have built. They will never drink wine from the vineyards they have planted. "That terrible day of the LORD is near. Swiftly it comes – a day when strong men will cry bitterly. It is a day when the LORD's anger will be poured out. It is a day of terrible distress and anguish, a day of ruin and desolation, a day of darkness and gloom, of clouds, blackness, trumpet calls, and battle cries. Down go the walled cities and strongest battlements! "Because you have sinned against the LORD, I will make you as helpless as a blind man searching for a path. Your blood will be poured out into the dust, and your bodies will lie there rotting on the ground." Your silver and gold will be of no use to you on that day of the LORD's anger. For the whole land will be devoured by the fire of his jealousy. He will make a terrifying end of all the people on earth." (Zephaniah 1:7:18)

it just seems a little over the top to me.

"If a man is caught in the act of raping a young woman who is not engaged, he must pay fifty pieces of silver to her father. Then he must marry the young woman because he violated her, and he will never be allowed to divorce her."(Deuteronomy 22:28-29)

that seems completly unjust, not only are young women being treated as property but the rapist marrying the girl surely causes more abuse.

"On that day you will not question me about anything. Amen, amen, I say to you, whatever you ask the Father in my name he will give you. Until now you have not asked anything in my name; ask and you will receive, so that your joy may be complete." (John 16:23-24)

im not sure when this applied but in modern times our prayers are not answered (some may argue that a few are), but not like this quote implies.

"Anyone who is captured will be run through with a sword. Their little children will be dashed to death right before their eyes. Their homes will be sacked and their wives raped by the attacking hordes. For I will stir up the Medes against Babylon, and no amount of silver or gold will buy them off. The attacking armies will shoot down the young people with arrows. They will have no mercy on helpless babies and will show no compassion for the children." (Isaiah 13:15-18)

this seems unusually cruel, even if the people in question are sinners, surely the babies are not?

"Think not that I come to send peace on earth: I came not to send peace, but a sword."
(Matthew 10:34)

seems the opposite of what Jesus's mission was.

Now the following are a few contradictions that confuse me:

"God is satisfied with his works"
(Gen 1:31)
"God is dissatisfied with his works."
(Gen 6:6)

"God dwells in light"
(Tim 6:16)
"God dwells in darkness"
(1 Kings 8:12/ Ps 18:11/ Ps 97:2)

"God is everywhere present, sees and knows all things"
(Prov 15:3/ Ps 139:7-10/ Job 34:22,21)
"God is not everywhere present, neither sees nor knows all
things"
(Gen 11:5/ Gen 18:20,21/ Gen 3:8)


ill stop there for the moment, responses would be great.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by joey11223

"God is satisfied with his works"
(Gen 1:31)
"God is dissatisfied with his works."
(Gen 6:6)

"God dwells in light"
(Tim 6:16)
"God dwells in darkness"
(1 Kings 8:12/ Ps 18:11/ Ps 97:2)

"God is everywhere present, sees and knows all things"
(Prov 15:3/ Ps 139:7-10/ Job 34:22,21)
"God is not everywhere present, neither sees nor knows all
things"
(Gen 11:5/ Gen 18:20,21/ Gen 3:8)
ill stop there for the moment, responses would be great.[/b]

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Basically God knows everything and nothing, is everywhere and nowhere, is dark and light, sweet and sour, heaven and hell... you blew my mind maaaaan....! :shock:

I've never studied the bible in depth to answer your comments though... but its all on the way you decide to interpret things.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by joey11223

"Stand in silence in the presence of the Sovereign LORD, for the awesome day of the LORD's judgment has come. The LORD has prepared his people for a great slaughter and has chosen their executioners. "On that day of judgment," says the LORD, "I will punish the leaders and princes of Judah and all those following pagan customs. Yes, I will punish those who participate in pagan worship ceremonies, and those who steal and kill to fill their masters' homes with loot. "On that day," says the LORD, "a cry of alarm will come from the Fish Gate and echo throughout the newer Mishneh section of the city. And a great crashing sound will come from the surrounding hills. Wail in sorrow, all you who live in the market area, for all who buy and sell there will die. "I will search with lanterns in Jerusalem's darkest corners to find and punish those who sit contented in their sins, indifferent to the LORD, thinking he will do nothing at all to them. They are the very ones whose property will be plundered by the enemy, whose homes will be ransacked. They will
never have a chance to live in the new homes they have built. They will never drink wine from the vineyards they have planted. "That terrible day of the LORD is near. Swiftly it comes – a day when strong men will cry bitterly. It is a day when the LORD's anger will be poured out. It is a day of terrible distress and anguish, a day of ruin and desolation, a day of darkness and gloom, of clouds, blackness, trumpet calls, and battle cries. Down go the walled cities and strongest battlements! "Because you have sinned against the LORD, I will make you as helpless as a blind man searching for a path. Your blood will be poured out into the dust, and your bodies will lie there rotting on the ground." Your silver and gold will be of no use to you on that day of the LORD's anger. For the whole land will be devoured by the fire of his jealousy. He will make a terrifying end of all the people on earth." (Zephaniah 1:7:18)

it just seems a little over the top to me.[/b]

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This is describing the end of the world, when Jesus will come back and finally destroy his enemies (anyone who has the mark of the beast, which will probably be a microchip implanted in your hand). It might seem unlike a loving God to come down and kill us all, but there eventually has to be an end to this evil world. He'll defeat Satan for good, and from then on we will live in eternal happiness with God, with no sin.

Quote:

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"On that day you will not question me about anything. Amen, amen, I say to you, whatever you ask the Father in my name he will give you. Until now you have not asked anything in my name; ask and you will receive, so that your joy may be complete." (John 16:23-24)

im not sure when this applied but in modern times our prayers are not answered (some may argue that a few are), but not like this quote implies.[/b]

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Of course he can't give everyone everything they ask him. Like what if a farmer prays for rain and another prays for no rain?

He's not Santa Clause: you don't send him a list of what you want and he gives everything to you. If he wants, he will answer your prayer but sometimes we pray for something that isn't what he wants.

Quote:

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"Anyone who is captured will be run through with a sword. Their little children will be dashed to death right before their eyes. Their homes will be sacked and their wives raped by the attacking hordes. For I will stir up the Medes against Babylon, and no amount of silver or gold will buy them off. The attacking armies will shoot down the young people with arrows. They will have no mercy on helpless babies and will show no compassion for the children." (Isaiah 13:15-18)

this seems unusually cruel, even if the people in question are sinners, surely the babies are not?[/b]

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It's not talking about God attacking them. It's talking about an army doing this...

Babies are sinners by the way... everyone is a sinner from the moment they were born.

Quote:

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"Think not that I come to send peace on earth: I came not to send peace, but a sword."
(Matthew 10:34)

seems the opposite of what Jesus's mission was.[/b]

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He means that because of Christians love for him, Christians will be hated. If you look at the verses after that verse he says family members will dislike each other because of him:

Mat 10:34 Do not have the thought that I have come to send peace on the earth; I came not to send peace but a sword.
Mat 10:35 For I have come to put a man against his father, and the daughter against her mother, and the daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law:
Mat 10:36 And a man will be hated by those of his house.
Mat 10:37 He who has more love for his father or mother than for me is not good enough for me; he who has more love for son or daughter than for me is not good enough for me.
Mat 10:38 And he who does not take his cross and come after me is not good enough for me.

Quote:

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Now the following are a few contradictions that confuse me:

"God is satisfied with his works"
(Gen 1:31)
"God is dissatisfied with his works."
(Gen 6:6)[/b]

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The first verse took place before sin happened... the second one took place after sin.

Quote:

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"God dwells in light"
(Tim 6:16)
"God dwells in darkness"
(1 Kings 8:12/ Ps 18:11/ Ps 97:2)[/b]

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Doesn't that just say that he's everywhere?

Quote:

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"God is everywhere present, sees and knows all things"
(Prov 15:3/ Ps 139:7-10/ Job 34:22,21)
"God is not everywhere present, neither sees nor knows all
things"
(Gen 11:5/ Gen 18:20,21/ Gen 3:8)[/b]

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I don't see how you got "God is not everywhere present, neither sees nor knows all things" from those 3 verses. Instead all they can really say is "God can move" (Gen 11:5 / Gen 18:20-21) or "God can take the form of a man and then move." (Gen 3:8)

So the song will no longer be "Jesus Loves Me". It will be "Jesus Commits Mass Murder With A Sword". He's not a hippy any more. He shaved his head, wears camouflage pants, and whips ass Commando style.

Should we pass a law that rapists have to marry their victims? Imagine what that would be like. Your sister gets raped, and it's the worst thing she has ever dealt with. She is terrified out of her mind of being raped by him again and dreads the thought of even having to look at him again. And then... she is forced to marry him and be in the same home with him every day and night for the rest of her life. Is there a Christian here who thinks that is "justice"?

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Universal

So the song will no longer be "Jesus Loves Me". It will be "Jesus Commits Mass Murder With A Sword". He's not a hippy any more. He shaved his head, wears camouflage pants, and whips ass Commando style.[/b]

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He will destroy his enemies with "the sword of his mouth" or something. In the Left Behind books Jesus just spoke words from the Bible and his enemies melted and got ripped in half and blew up.

Quote:

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Should we pass a law that rapists have to marry their victims? Imagine what that would be like. Your sister gets raped, and it's the worst thing she has ever dealt with. She is terrified out of her mind of being raped by him again and dreads the thought of even having to look at him again. And then... she is forced to marry him and be in the same home with him every day and night for the rest of her life. Is there a Christian here who thinks that is "justice"?[/b]

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This was a law in the Old Testament, from thousands of years ago. Maybe back then it made more sense than it does today? I don't know.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Jeremysr

He will destroy his enemies with "the sword of his mouth" or something. In the Left Behind books Jesus just spoke words from the Bible and his enemies melted and got ripped in half and blew up.[/b]

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In the movie, was Jesus played by Arnold Schwarzenegger?

I don't usually post here but since "we will then all live in eternal happiness" popped up...
Seriously, eternal happiness is such a horribly narrow-minded concept. It would be like in that one topic, except slightly different: "If you had eternal happiness, would you torture yourself?" - you really would, there is no price to happiness without downfalls. Just knowing what the opposite of good is doesn't make only experiencing good forever any more pleasant in the long run.

Then again, I have absolutely no care to "prove" or "disprove" or even have any opinion on whether a god exists so just consider the above a random outburst of thought out loud.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Universal

So the song will no longer be "Jesus Loves Me". It will be "Jesus Commits Mass Murder With A Sword". He's not a hippy any more. He shaved his head, wears camouflage pants, and whips ass Commando style.

Should we pass a law that rapists have to marry their victims? Imagine what that would be like. Your sister gets raped, and it's the worst thing she has ever dealt with. She is terrified out of her mind of being raped by him again and dreads the thought of even having to look at him again. And then... she is forced to marry him and be in the same home with him every day and night for the rest of her life. Is there a Christian here who thinks that is "justice"?[/b]

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you have to understand the culture, and how women were treated. the old testiment, while not treating women as women like to be treated today, did try to help by raising the even lower standards of the culture.

rape is horrible

but in that time period what is even worse is to be with child when you are not married. no one will marry a 'whore', since no one is gonna care about her story that she was raped and became pregnant. she cant work, and the child will have no support and be labeled a bastard child.

its not like marriage back then was the most romantic to begin with. she wouldnt be the only wife who didnt choose her husband. its not like her future dreams would have been crushed, if there was much to dream about in a time period where women were property.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Merlock

I don't usually post here but since "we will then all live in eternal happiness" popped up...
Seriously, eternal happiness is such a horribly narrow-minded concept. It would be like in that one topic, except slightly different: "If you had eternal happiness, would you torture yourself?" - you really would, there is no price to happiness without downfalls. Just knowing what the opposite of good is doesn't make only experiencing good forever any more pleasant in the long run.

Then again, I have absolutely no care to "prove" or "disprove" or even have any opinion on whether a god exists so just consider the above a random outburst of thought out loud.[/b]

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I don't think you would turn down eternal happiness. If the happiness fades, it means you didn't have ETERNAL happiness. Also, my thread was about having infinite power and torturing yourself, not eternal happiness and torturing yourself. If you are eternally happy, your torture is impossible, by definition. You should read the debates we have had about infinite power so you can consider how that concept works into this subject. Your point did not consider changing the laws of reality.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Merlock

you have to understand the culture, and how women were treated. the old testiment, while not treating women as women like to be treated today, did try to help by raising the even lower standards of the culture.

rape is horrible

but in that time period what is even worse is to be with child when you are not married. no one will marry a 'whore', since no one is gonna care about her story that she was raped and became pregnant. she cant work, and the child will have no support and be labeled a bastard child.

its not like marriage back then was the most romantic to begin with. she wouldnt be the only wife who didnt choose her husband. its not like her future dreams would have been crushed, if there was much to dream about in a time period where women were property.[/b]

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So it's not "the word of God"? Also, being a single mother in any society is nothing compared to being forced to live with a man who raped you. Rape alone is worse than being a single mother. Go to a discussion forum for rape victims and read what they have to say, and then imagine what they would be saying if they were forced to live with their rapists. Then go to a discussion forum for single mothers and read what they have to say. There is no comparison.

I'm sure there are single mothers who use this site. Ask around and see if any of them will say, "Raising children by myself is the worst nightmare of my life. But you know, I could marry that guy who raped me."

To sum everyone up:

1) God is incomprehensible. If he wasn't, he wouldn't be God.
2) The Bible is written by man and therefore full of inconsistancies and problems.
3) Religion is bullshit.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Jeremysr

He will destroy his enemies with "the sword of his mouth" or something. In the Left Behind books Jesus just spoke words from the Bible and his enemies melted and got ripped in half and blew up.
This was a law in the Old Testament, from thousands of years ago. Maybe back then it made more sense than it does today? I don't know.[/b]

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Weve had this arugment before
If God is omnipotent and Omiscient it doesnt matter how long ago it was
If that was the word of God then, it is the word of God now
Has he come to you and said I want this law changed? I guess not
Do you bleieve the old testament to be the word of God? I guess so

So you agree with this law and beleive that women who are raped should ahve to marry there tormentors as long as their dad gets sum silver pieces.

God doesnt do modernisation
His charaterisitics do not allow for that.

Imran

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Universal

So it's not "the word of God"? Also, being a single mother in any society is nothing compared to being forced to live with a man who raped you. Rape alone is worse than being a single mother. Go to a discussion forum for rape victims and read what they have to say, and then imagine what they would be saying if they were forced to live with their rapists. Then go to a discussion forum for single mothers and read what they have to say. There is no comparison.

I'm sure there are single mothers who use this site. Ask around and see if any of them will say, "Raising children by myself is the worst nightmare of my life. But you know, I could marry that guy who raped me."[/b]

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youre comparing a single mother from today to a time period where women do not work. how was she to feed the child? where would she live? on the streets? would her parents help her or reject her? you realize she could do NOTHING to take care of herself. youre talking about the ancient world, not the modern world. women were property and pregnancy before marriage was a big no-no.

im not saying this is a happy scenario. just trying to say you cant compare our modern culture to an ancient culture and expect it to hold the same laws. I mean once upon a time you probably couldnt even say menstruation without a few men passing out and priests crying out blasphemy. women were not regarded very highly back then. and thanks to the story of adam and eve, it was believed a woman can not even claim to be equal to man unless she has child.

the Word of God doesnt have to be the same forever as we know it. It can appear to change accordingly to the culture, though its true messege is always the same. Marriage continues to change throughout the bible to finally include love in the bubble. That too is concidered the Word.

Also, the Word has to come through a prophet - not just what anyone says in the bible. And not all prophets were one with God. Jesus' Word is concidered the highest having the most direct relationship with God. If anything in Jesus's gospel goes against the OT, then we discard what the OT said.

juroara. This paralleling one thing to the next makes the Bible pretty much unable to be interpreted correctly, no?
Could god not have foreseen the confusion it causes.

This is more of the game isn't it?

Quote:

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Originally Posted by juroara

Also, the Word has to come through a prophet - not just what anyone says in the bible. And not all prophets were one with God. Jesus' Word is concidered the highest having the most direct relationship with God. If anything in Jesus's gospel goes against the OT, then we discard what the OT said.[/b]

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"I have not come to to create new laws, but to fufill the old ones." - Jesus Christ

?

o hey this has stayed pretty civilised so far, lets hope it says that way :wink:

maybe other people could use this to post quotes they question as well? Might be easier then making new threads.

Off topic: Please someone tell Jehovas witnesses to leave me alone, twice they have come when i was in the shower, twice i've had to open my door and stand in the porch with a towel on and twice they have said " We can see this is a bad time.." and then started talking to me, the first sentences from me where " Sorry but i'm Atheist, i follow science and i believe the need for a God is just part of the human social condition". This does not stop them, i'm wet and cold damn it!! :blue:

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To sum everyone up:

1) God is incomprehensible. If he wasn't, he wouldn't be God.
2) The Bible is written by man and therefore full of inconsistancies and problems.
3) Religion is bullshit.[/b]

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Yep

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Howietzer

juroara. This paralleling one thing to the next makes the Bible pretty much unable to be interpreted correctly, no?
Could god not have foreseen the confusion it causes.

This is more of the game isn't it?[/b]

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if the bible had been intrepreted in one way, there would only be only one christian church. so yes the bible isnt easy to intrepret. Personally I would go by the NT first and most primarly Jesus' teachings above what anyone else has said.

Jesus did not teach that rapists should marry their victoms.

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Originally Posted by imran_p

"I have not come to to create new laws, but to fufill the old ones." - Jesus Christ

?[/b]

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and do you know what the old laws are? or what does it mean to fufill them? Jesus never speaks so literally.

I know, at the point when he said he was the messiah, he was creting iamgery
he truly meant he was a three legged donkey from mexico?

truly it can only be read one way

Imran

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Originally Posted by imran_p

I know, at the point when he said he was the messiah, he was creting iamgery
he truly meant he was a three legged donkey from mexico?

truly it can only be read one way

Imran[/b]

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mexico. . didnt even exist. .? :bowdown: what are you talking about?

Mexico didnt exist? Where did the Aztecs live? Plus I hope you detected the tiny hint of sarcasm present?

Imran

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Originally Posted by imran_p

Mexico didnt exist? Where did the Aztecs live? Plus I hope you detected the tiny hint of sarcasm present?

Imran[/b]

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lol yeah, how much more clear could you have made it?

Kind of funny. "Mexico didn't exist.". lol.

Anyhow, Jesus never was speaking literally when saying bad things, but he was when saying good things. Every rationally thinking person can see the fallacies with the 'oh but that part wasn't meant literally'-argument.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by imran_p

Mexico didnt exist? Where did the Aztecs live? Plus I hope you detected the tiny hint of sarcasm present?

Imran[/b]

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mexico is a modern-day country, not a place where aztecs lived - they lived in central america. can you understand that? mexico did not exist.

I still have no idea what youre talking about. whats your sarcasm referring to?

Either God is negative (which doesn't even match His definition) or a lot in the Bible describes a man-made God... After all, for people, power brings the abillity to punish... And God is infinitely powerful.