You know, I dont mean to sound so hard on modern Christianity. In no way do I hold todays Christians responsible for the atrocities perpetrated by European Christians. Its just the overall idea of taking pieces of scripture and using it to justify certain beliefs I take issue with when it comes to Christianity. Take these two: Psalms 2:8 Ask of me, and I shall give thee, the heathen for thy inheritance, and the uttermost parts of the Earth for thy possession. The Puritans appealed to this scripture to justify taking the land of Pequot (Native Americans). They justified the use of force by appealing to Romans 13:2 Romans 13:2. Whosoever therefore resisteth, the power, resisteth the ordinance of God: and they that resist shall receive to themselves damnation. Multiple Scriptures were used to justify slavery. And it was all too easy because no one knew to argue different. On face value, it did appear that the Bible justified owning slaves. Until you put it in context of the world these letters were written in, and what it meant to be a slave then as compared to how American slavery was carried out. READ and SEE, with your own eyes why Id be angry at such words. Ephesians 6:4-6: Fathers, do not exasperate your children; instead, bring them up in the training and instruction of the Lord. Slaves, obey your earthly masters with respect and fear, and with sincerity of heart, just as you would obey Christ. Obey them not only to win their favor when their eye is on you, but like slaves of Christ, doing the will of God from your heart. Ephesians 6:5:Slaves, obey your earthly masters with respect and fear, and with sincerity of heart, just as you would obey Christ. Ephesians 6:9:And masters, treat your slaves in the same way. Do not threaten them, since you know that he who is both their Master and yours is in heaven, and there is no favoritism with him. Colossians 3:22:Slaves, obey your earthly masters in everything; and do it, not only when their eye is on you and to win their favor, but with sincerity of heart and reverence for the Lord. Colossians 4:1:Masters, provide your slaves with what is right and fair, because you know that you also have a Master in heaven. Titus 2:9:Teach slaves to be subject to their masters in everything, to try to please them, not to talk back to them, 1 Peter 2:18: Slaves, submit yourselves to your masters with all respect, not only to those who are good and considerate, but also to those who are harsh. Slaveowners would read these verses to slaves as part of the worship services that they allowed (and controlled) as a means of encouraging the proper attitude among their slaves. Based upon these isolated verses, slaveowners claimed that the Bible supported slavery and taught slaves to be obedient to their masters. These are just of few of the overall issues I take with how the Bible is used to justify actions, even now being used to justify what I feel are unjust viewpoints on issues that deal with the poor, women and gay.
Posted on: Wed, 31 Dec 2014 23:13:54 +0000
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