Does the bible say that human sacrifice is acceptable?

Answer 1

: Then there was a famine in the days of David three years, year after year; and David enquired of the LORD. And the LORD answered, It is for Saul, and for his bloody house, because he slew the Gibeonites.... The king took the two sons of Rizpah the daughter of Aiah, whom she bare unto Saul, Armoni and Mephibosheth; and the five sons of Michal the daughter of Saul ... And he delivered them into the hands of the Gibeonites, and they hanged them in the hill before the LORD....And after that God was intreated for the land. 2 Samuel 21:1, 8-9, 14

Answer 2

Is act of holiness, communion with God.

Answer:

King David defines it this way:

"...O Lord, open my lips, and my mouth will declare your praise. You do not delight in sacrifice, or I would bring it; you do not take pleasure in burnt offerings. The sacrifices of God are A BROKEN SPIRIT; a broken and contrite heart, O God, you will not despise." (Ps.51:15-17 NIV)

Answer 3

Regarding the salvation of man... Jesus' sacrifice has already been "accepted" by His Father. And no further "human" sacrifice is necessary.

Regarding a selfless personal sacrifice of oneself for someone else... or for others -- this, too, is not only acceptable but highly commendable... if not extremely rare in the world. Such a personal sacrifice would be a profound expression of the deepest Love for others.

But, it's something that normally goes against the grain of selfish human nature's ingrained desire to survive.

"Very rarely will anyone die for a righteous man, though for a good man someone might possibly dare to die. But God demonstrates His own Love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us." (Rom.5:7-8 NIV)

The taking of another life [or many other lives] in some kind of zealous religious sacrificial rite to appease some god, however... is unacceptable.

In the biblical example of God requiring Abraham to sacrifice Isaac... this was the final test of Abraham's faithful obedience, as well as a prophecy of what Jesus, God's Son, would be required to do centuries later.

For the God of Abraham, who commanded him to sacrifice Isaac, was none other than the One who would become "Jesus Christ" -- the WORD of God and the Creator God of the Old Testament [see John 1:3] who would later willingly substitute Himself in Isaac's place to redeem man.

Through faith, Abraham passed God's test with flying colors.

"...I swear by Myself, declares the LORD, that because you have done this and have not withheld your son, your only son, I will bless you and make your descendants as numerous as the stars in the sky and as the sand on the seashore... and through your offspring all nations on earth will be blessed, because you have obeyed Me." (Gen.22:16-18 NIV)

"By faith Abraham, when God tested him, offered Isaac as a sacrifice. He who had received the Promises was about to sacrifice his one and only son, even though God had said to him, 'It is through Isaac that your offspring will be reckoned.' Abraham reasoned that God COULD RAISE THE DEAD, and figuratively speaking, he did receive Isaac back from death." (Heb.11:17-19 NIV)