And Jesus was merely the mouthpiece for his "father", making the old testament completely relevant.
Makes me chuckle how folk pick and choose the parts of their chosen religion to suit themselves.
The old testament is completely relevant, but even a cursory skim through the bible will show you a progression in human interaction with God. Why do you think Christian don't follow the Mosaic law? It is also important to understand the difference between historical accounts of what people did from what God required them to do, an example being polygamy vs monogamy.
As for genocide, with present western thinking that's utterly horrid, though you'll find a fair number that would like some types of criminals killed in horrible ways. The peoples that were destroyed were ritually sacrificing their children as part of their religion, among other practices. How would you feel about that people-group if they were still active in 21st century western Europe?
What about Mathew 10-34 " Do not think that I came to bring peace on the earth; I did not come to bring peace, but a sword." and for that matter 10-35 " for I came to set a man against his father and a daughter against her mother"
or Luke 12-51 "Do you think I came to bring peace on earth? No, I tell you, but division. "
It is as helpful to extract a few verses that appear to fit an argument as it is to pick a random page in a Canon manual in the hope it will explain how to manually change aperture settings. And sadly Christians are often guilty of such 'unhelpfulness' too. So what is the context for the Matthew verses you quoted? Jesus is sending out His disciples alone, without him. He starts off telling them to take no supplies and to stay with willing people along the way before warning them that they will be persecuted for following Him. For instance: 21 “Brother will betray brother to death, and a father his child; children will rebel against their parents and have them put to death. 22 You will be hated by everyone because of me," (it's worth reading the chapter if you actually want to get an understanding). The meaning then becomes easy to see, and that those who follow Jesus will, at times, be persecuted by those who do not. Which, as we know, still happens in some places.
And St Paul said about Slaves...
Ephesians 6:5-9: "Servants, be obedient to them that are your masters according to the flesh, with fear and trembling, in singleness of your heart, as unto Christ; Not with eyeservice, as menpleasers; but as the servants of Christ, doing the will of God from the heart; With good will doing service, as to the Lord, and not to men: Knowing that whatsoever good thing any man doeth, the same shall he receive of the Lord, whether he be bond or free. And, ye masters, do the same things unto them, forbearing threatening: knowing that your Master also is in heaven; neither is there respect of persons with him."
So let's not try to pretend that Christianity is all about 'love thy neighbour', I know too many Christians with dubious moral values to take that concept seriously.
Lets have it in modern English.
"5-8 Servants, respectfully obey your earthly masters but always with an eye to obeying the
real master, Christ. Don’t just do what you have to do to get by, but work heartily, as Christ’s servants doing what God wants you to do. And work with a smile on your face, always keeping in mind that no matter who happens to be giving the orders, you’re really serving God. Good work will get you good pay from the Master, regardless of whether you are slave or free. 9 Masters, it’s the same with you. No abuse, please, and no threats. You and your servants are both under the same Master in heaven. He makes no distinction between you and them."
Language changes, even over a single lifetime. Use of a word like fear carries meanings for us that doesn't fit the original meaning well and distorts understanding.
How about Mark 6:11
"Any city that doesn't "receive" the followers of Jesus will be destroyed in a manner even more savage than that of Sodom and Gomorrah."
Yes..peacable folks these christians.
Mark 6: 11
"11 And if any place will not welcome you or listen to you, leave that place and shake the dust off your feet as a testimony against them.”"
???
No fire & brimstone mentioned in there. But since I think I know what you're getting at rather than what you said, the most likely meaning was that the judgement against those in Sodom and Gomorrah would be less severe than the towns that rejected the message of Jesus because S&G had not had a chance to either know or reject Jesus.
I rather suspect this is a waste of time - yours and mine - because no amount of reasoned argument will make any of us change our beliefs.
Sleep well guys & gals.
