A God of Hate

[Matthias]

Anyone who does not believe in Yahweh is a sinner, right?
What if the person does not believe in Yahweh but is merciful, helps people, never harms or hurts people. Is he still a sinner?

The alternative to Yahweh in the Hebrew Bible and the New Testament is idols. Idolatry is forbidden and idolaters condemned by Yahweh.

 

[amigo de christo]

Anyone who does not believe in Yahweh is a sinner, right?
What if the person does not believe in Yahweh but is merciful, helps people, never harms or hurts people. Is he still a sinner?

Such a person dont exist , perhaps only in the minds of themselves .
Thus the TRUTH remains , there is none who is good but GOD
and thus all must REPENT to BELIEVE JESUS IS THE CHRIST or perish they surely will .

 

[gpresdo]

Any who does not believe in Yahweh is a sinner, right?
What if the person does not believe in Yahweh but is merciful, helps people, never harms or hurts people. Is he still a sinner?

Sinner...lost soul.

 

[pepper]

So you accept God's plan to commit genocide, right?

Are you the owner of the site, Godishate?

 

[Writer]

There are many passages in the Bible that explicitly say that Yahweh, the God of the Bible, is merciful and loving. Here’s an example:



But that’s far from the whole story. The Book of Joshua describes the conquest of the lands promised to the Israelites. Chapter 12 lists 31 kingdoms that were conquered under the leadership of Joshua. But those kingdoms weren’t just conquered. Every one of the kings of those kingdoms was killed. And not only that, but every one of the cities and towns over which those kings ruled was destroyed. And not only that, but all of the men, women, and children who lived in those cities and towns were killed:



God himself actively participated in this slaughter:



Furthermore, God ordered this slaughter:



Exactly why did God plan to slaughter all of those people? The answer is provided elsewhere in Deuteronomy:



So God didn’t want the Israelites to intermarry with the people of that region. But if God were actually merciful and loving, was there no other way to prevent the Israelites from intermarrying the indigenous people of the promised lands, or was slaughter the only possible option?

An omniscient God would have known that this problem would arise, and he could have planned for it at the time when he created the sun, the moon, the planets, the stars, the galaxies, and the earth itself. An omnipotent God could have created a force field around the entire region to prevent anyone else from entering. Then, when the Israelites arrived, he could have disabled the force field to let the Israelites enter a region that would have been fertile, lush, and unpopulated.

Or alternatively an omnipotent God could have left the promised lands at the bottom of the Mediterranean sea. Then when the Israelites arrived he could have lifted up the promised lands from the sea floor and the Israelites could have entered a region that would have been pristine, new, and uninhabited.

Or a truly omnipotent God could have lifted up all of the 31 kingdoms to carry them out of the way. If God had done that the inhabitants of that region would have been immensely grateful-- and he would thereby have gotten thousands of new followers as a result. Instead the only new followers he got were Rahab of Jericho and the other members of her whorehouse.

Slaughtering people simply for their beliefs is genocide. Yahweh certainly had plenty of time and opportunity to choose another path. Why didn’t Yahweh choose any of the options listed above? There is only one possible conclusion: Yahweh, the God of the Bible, is a God of genocide, not of love and mercy.

But He doesn't scare you Huh? You're sooooooo much bigger. If I had to quit following Jesus to follow you, I'd rather drink poison!

 

[waterlilyoflife]

You know, I have read so many hateful, violent, bloody shocking passages in the Bible that they hurt me deeply, break my heart and make me not want to be a Christian anymore. Why does God have to hurt people? I don't know what to say to atheist who question those dark difficult verses in the Bible. I mean, I've been a Christian practically all my life and there are parts of the Bible that still disturb me, I don't know what to do, just ignore them. But that does not make them go away. Sooner or later I have to deal with them. I wonder if some Christians have hearts the way they callousely breeze through bloodthirsty violent parts of the Bible, the verses with no justice where women are abused, the suffering, hate, cruelty. I am afraid to read the Bible sometimes. This is also why I don't go to church. Give me love, only love.

 

[Matthias]

You know, I have read so many hateful, violent, bloody shocking passages in the Bible that they hurt me deeply, break my heart and make me not want to be a Christian anymore.

I feel the pain, the sadness and the frustration in your words. In such times, step back, sit down, be still, and pray. Don’t entertain the thought of falling away.

”Because of this, many of Jesus’ followers turned back and would not go with him any more. So he asked the twelve disciples, ‘And you - would you also like to leave?’ Simon Peter answered him, ‘Lord, to whom would we go? You have the words that give eternal life. And now we believe and know that you are the Holy One who has come from God.’”

(John 6:66-69)

Where would you go?

Why does God have to hurt people?

When I was a college student I had a professor who had a lecture he delivered every semester to students taking his Old Testament Survey class. It was titled “God, as told by God.” It was based on Exodus 34:6-7. I’ve listened to and forgotten many lectures but that one made a lasting impression on me. I’ve found meditating on God’s character, beholding what Paul called the kindness and severity of God to be beneficial.

I don't know what to say to atheist who question those dark difficult verses in the Bible.

Atheists, generally speaking, are looking for reasons not to believe. They stand opposed to the God who is kind to them. They experience his kindness. If they don’t repent they will experience his severity.

I mean, I've been a Christian practically all my life and there are parts of the Bible that still disturb me, I don't know what to do, just ignore them. But that does not make them go away.

One day while visiting my grandmother she closed the Bible she had been reading and had a pained expression on her face. When I asked what was troubling her she replied, “Why is the Bible filled with such meanness?” I was taken aback by her question but felt compelled to answer. I simply said, “The Bible contains the story of God and man. The rebellion of man against God is exhibited in meanness and God, out of love, has to respond to it.”

Sooner or later I have to deal with them.

One has to be properly equipped to deal with them. Something is lacking in our training when we no longer want to be Christian. When in that condition, we won’t be able to deal effectively with others.

I wonder if some Christians have hearts the way they callousely breeze through bloodthirsty violent parts of the Bible, the verses with no justice where women are abused, the suffering, hate, cruelty.

How many do you know who are acting that way?

I am afraid to read the Bible sometimes.

In those times, perhaps you could remind yourself about how many times the admonition “Don’t be afraid” is given in scripture.

This is also why I don't go to church.

Have you discussed it with a pastor?

Give me love, only love.

Love is a key attribute, but not the only attribute, of the living God.

Don’t give up, waterlilyoflife. Don’t ever give up.

 

[waterlilyoflife]

Who in modern day America kills someone for their religious beliefs? That's called murder, of course it is against the law, Modern day Christians do not believe in violence and killing, we believe in winning people over with love, kindness, compassion, and mercy. I believe in a God of love, mercy,forgiveness, justice and compassion. Read Psalms and Proverbs. I also suggest you read Isaiah.

God the Father did not force God the Son to die on the cross. Jesus Christ willingly gave up his life, because he loves, people, human beings are the 'apple of his eye'. Jesus loves us, he went willingly to the cross. It is Valentine's Day, then there is Easter, when we celebrate God's love.

 

[Rich R]

There are many passages in the Bible that explicitly say that Yahweh, the God of the Bible, is merciful and loving. Here’s an example:



But that’s far from the whole story. The Book of Joshua describes the conquest of the lands promised to the Israelites. Chapter 12 lists 31 kingdoms that were conquered under the leadership of Joshua. But those kingdoms weren’t just conquered. Every one of the kings of those kingdoms was killed. And not only that, but every one of the cities and towns over which those kings ruled was destroyed. And not only that, but all of the men, women, and children who lived in those cities and towns were killed:



God himself actively participated in this slaughter:



Furthermore, God ordered this slaughter:



Exactly why did God plan to slaughter all of those people? The answer is provided elsewhere in Deuteronomy:



So God didn’t want the Israelites to intermarry with the people of that region. But if God were actually merciful and loving, was there no other way to prevent the Israelites from intermarrying the indigenous people of the promised lands, or was slaughter the only possible option?

An omniscient God would have known that this problem would arise, and he could have planned for it at the time when he created the sun, the moon, the planets, the stars, the galaxies, and the earth itself. An omnipotent God could have created a force field around the entire region to prevent anyone else from entering. Then, when the Israelites arrived, he could have disabled the force field to let the Israelites enter a region that would have been fertile, lush, and unpopulated.

Or alternatively an omnipotent God could have left the promised lands at the bottom of the Mediterranean sea. Then when the Israelites arrived he could have lifted up the promised lands from the sea floor and the Israelites could have entered a region that would have been pristine, new, and uninhabited.

Or a truly omnipotent God could have lifted up all of the 31 kingdoms to carry them out of the way. If God had done that the inhabitants of that region would have been immensely grateful-- and he would thereby have gotten thousands of new followers as a result. Instead the only new followers he got were Rahab of Jericho and the other members of her whorehouse.

Slaughtering people simply for their beliefs is genocide. Yahweh certainly had plenty of time and opportunity to choose another path. Why didn’t Yahweh choose any of the options listed above? There is only one possible conclusion: Yahweh, the God of the Bible, is a God of genocide, not of love and mercy.

Well thought out, but why choose the parts that say God is a God of genocide and disregard the parts that say He is a God of love and mercy? Why not go the other way around and become a Christian?

I'm being a bit facetious. The fact is, there is a way to understand the seeming contradiction. There are reasons God is portrayed in such a bad light at times in the OT. Briefly, God worked with a people immersed in a culture that made it virtually impossible for Him to reveal His true nature. There are many places that say Israel could not understand Him. God had to let them think things about Himself that were really not true. He accommodated their Ancient Near East worldview. He know He'd straighten out out later, when Jesus came. Jesus remove the veil over the face of Israel (2 Cor 3:13). Jesus is said to be the perfect image of God, that he revealed his Father. Did Jesus ever kill anyone?

You should also realize that this world is not the one God created. The original world was all good (Gen 1:31). Part of that good was to give people dominion over the world (Gen 1:26). Contrary to popular belief, God is not in charge of every little detail. Adam was not only in charge, but he had free will (something you seemingly would have God take away). He could obey God or not. God told him what would happen if he disobeyed, namely that death would enter the scene. Well, Adam didn't listen and sure enough death entered the scene. So who. or what, is really responsible for death?

Rom 5:12,

Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned:​

​

Rom 6:23,

For the wages of sin [is] death; but the gift of God [is] eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.​

​

Of course Romans was written some time after Jesus removed the veil and revealed the true nature of God. I could go into more detail, but that's the long and short of it.