How do you reconcile the mass killings in the Bible with your belief in Christian teaching of love one another?

Answer 1

Answer

The mass killings in The Bible were not done by Christians. Christians have been involved in mass killings after the Bible, however. It would seem to me that loving one another precludes mass killings.

Answer

God gave us dominion over Creation. We are therefore as a society entitled to organise and control access to it for the benefit of all.

However, even though Scripture deals comprehensively with individual responsibility, it scrupulously avoids the area of state, corporate and community responsibility even in relation to the Law of Moses except to say that power in this area comes directly from God. This principle is reflected in the following passages of Scripture from which you can draw your own conclusions.

: "They asked him, 'Teacher, we know that you speak and teach rightly, and show no partiality, but truly teach the way of God. Is it lawful for us to give tribute to Caesar, or not?'. But he perceived their craftiness, and said to them, 'Show me a coin. Whose likeness and inscription has it?'. They said, 'Caesars' He said to them, 'Then render to Caesar the things that are Caesars, and to God the things that are Gods.' "(Luke Ch 20)

Pilate said to Jesus: "You will not speak to me? Do you not know that I have power to release you, and power to crucify you?" Jesus answered him, "You would have no power over me unless it had been given you from above; therefore he who delivered me to you has the greater sin."(John Ch 19).

"Then came Amalek and fought with Israel at Rephidim. And Moses said to Joshua, 'Choose for us men, and go out, fight with Amalek; tomorrow I will stand on the top of the hill with the rod of God in my hand.' So Joshua did as Moses told him, and fought with Amalek; and Moses, Aaron, and Hur went up to the top of the hill. Whenever Moses held up his hand, Israel prevailed; and whenever he lowered his hand, Amalek prevailed. But Moses' hands grew weary; so they took a stone and put it under him, and he sat upon it, and Aaron and Hur held up his hands, one on one side, and the other on the other side; so his hands were steady until the going down of the sun. And Joshua mowed down Amalek and his people with the edge of the sword." (Exodus Ch 17)

"The scribes and the Pharisees brought a woman who had been caught in adultery, and placing her in the midst they said to him, 'Teacher, this woman has been caught in the act of adultery. Now in the law Moses commanded us to stone such. What do you say about her?' ....... Jesus bent down and wrote with his finger on the ground. And as they continued to ask him, he stood up and said to them, 'Let him who is without sin among you be the first to throw a stone at her.' ... But when they heard it, they went away, one by one, beginning with the eldest..." (John Ch 8).