Hi there Andaraawus,
Thanks for your patience!
“Even the Bible is shows that Gods love is conditional in the sense you have to accept the notion that Christ was crucified for the sins of mankind. Accept it or face eternal damnation ‘ he who rejects the son rejects the father – as it says in the Bible.”
Mankind sinned. As a result, mankind faced a punishment. There was no other alternative…no other road mankind could take except the road to hell…until GOD, through Jesus Christ paid the price for our sin. Did this mean that the road to hell was replaced with a road to heaven? No. But now, unlike before, there are two roads: one leading to hell and one leading to heaven. No longer is GOD going to punish us by making us travel down the road to hell. He offers us the choice of traveling down the road of retribution to hell or the choice of traveling down the road of forgiveness to heaven. We cannot travel both roads. The road we take, is our choice.
“In Islam we believe in a Merciful God…”
In Islam, do you believe in a Just GOD?
“Now why would God love the tax collectors, when in the Bible we find Jesus losing His temper flipping over tables and calling the Jews vipers broods and hypocrites, if you believe that Jesus is one third of God then I am sure God wouldn’t speak to people like this if He loved them.”
Jesus was trying to make these people aware of their sinful nature. He had every right to be angry with them. He did not hate them and incite violence against them or seek their imprisonment. The Temple was a holy place and a place of prayer, not a market of corruption run by people who considered themselves to be great law abiders.
I question whether Jesus lost His temper. This is to suggest that Jesus lost His ability to think and act on a situation. Anger can be expressed in a constructive way with a very clear purpose and method. Or anger can be expressed in a totally destructive way with a destructive method and purpose. Spanking a child can be done in a controlled way or an out of control way. Jesus was angry, yes, but He did not loose his temper.
I do not believe that Jesus was one third of GOD. Jesus was fully GOD in the flesh.
I am a parent of two wonderful daughters. Trust me, times have come when I have needed to be angry with my children. Did this mean I lost my love for them. No. I love my children very much, but that does not mean they can just do what they want and when they want.
“According to the Bible He is an evil demonic deity who Sends evil spirits to trouble people (1 Samuel 16:14)”
Lets look at this verse: “Now the Spirit of the LORD had left Saul, and an evil spirit from the LORD began to torment him.” The first thing I would like to point out is that this situation—the spirit and the person—are in the singular. GOD did not send out spirits to trouble people. One evil spirit from the Lord began to torment one man—Saul. Second, the verse says nothing about GOD being an evil, demonic deity. This is not the nature and character of GOD. The LORD did not begin to torment Saul. Third, I think it is important to understand the entire context of this situation. Several other verses make reference to this evil spirit from GOD tormenting Saul, even to the point where Saul tries to murder David. 1 Samuel 18 records how Saul, under the influence of this evil spirit, began seeking ways of taking David’s life. When you study Scripture more concerning David, you find that he was a “man after GOD’s own heart.” He was a righteous man who led the nation of Israel. He was the author of most Psalms that are recorded in the Old Testament—a true man of GOD. This is my question for now: Why would GOD send an evil spirit into someone else with the purpose of killing a man whom GOD Himself loved and respected very much?
“Even it states he is The creator of evil (Isaiah 45:7).”
Lets look at this verse: “I form light and create darkness, I bring prosperity and create disaster (evil); I, the LORD, do all these things.” First, the context of this verse in and of itself shows opposites. GOD forms light and creates the opposite—darkness. He makes or produces prosperity. The Hebrew word here is Salom meaning health, security tranquility, welfare, comfort, peace, and success. The Hebrew word used is not the word “good”. GOD creates the opposite of ‘Salom’. The Hebrew word here is ‘Ra’’. This word is used in many different passages of the Old Testament and includes the following words: evil, bad, inferior, wicked, severe, harmful, unpleasant, fierce, wild, sadness, and calamity. The context of the word determines the best translation to use for that word. For eg., In Leviticus 27:10, animals for sacrifice are referred to using this word ‘Ra’’. These animals cannot be substituted by good for bad, or bad for good. To say that these animals were evil, would imply that they have spiritual and morals and ethics. In this context therefore, the word “evil” is not used as a translation for the word ‘Ra.’’ In context of this verse in Isaiah 45:7, we have seen this verse to be a verse of opposites—light and darkness--yes; prosperity and “evil”—I don’t think so. A better opposite to the word of prosperity or tranquility or comfort or peace is that of disaster or calamity. Yes, GOD can create disaster and calamity, but GOD cannot and will not create evil.
“He Gets angry to the point he hisses and roars (Psalms 30:5, Isaiah 42:13, Jeremiah 25:30).”
Concerning Psalm 30:5: It’s interesting that you raise this verse of Scripture. Lets look at it, “For His anger lasts only a moment, but His favor, a lifetime. Weeping may spend the night, but there is joy in the morning.” Yes, GOD can be a very angry GOD. But His anger lasts only a moment…wow…what an Awesome GOD. How often does our favor last a moment and our anger a lifetime?
Concerning Isaiah 42:13: “The LORD advances like a warrior; He stirs up His zeal like a soldier. He shouts, He roars aloud, He prevails over His enemies.”
Yes! When it comes to GOD’s fight against evil, He is going to advance like a truly mighty warrior. He is going to advance over His enemies. What a Mighty, Mighty GOD!!
Concerning Jeremiah 25:30: “"As for you, you are to prophesy all these things to them, and say to them: The LORD roars from on high; He raises His voice from His holy dwelling. He roars loudly over His grazing land; He calls out with a shout, like those who tread grapes, against all the inhabitants of the earth.”
Yes! There are times in this world where evil seeks to prevail. Why should GOD stand back and watch that happen. GOD does roar from on high to confront evil. Again, what a Mighty GOD!!
“So clearly we see the contradiction between the nature of the God of the new testament and the old.”
There is no contradiction here. When things are wrong, do you just ignore them or do you deal with them—whatever may be needed in the circumstance? When things are going right, do you just ignore them or do you acknowledge them? The Old Testament was grounded on law to make people aware of their sin and GOD’s character in relation to sin and punishment. The New Testament is grounded on grace to make people aware that they cannot meet GOD’s expectations, but out of His loving character evidenced through His sacrificial atonement on the cross, He has provided a way out of punishment.
“He coldly murders 50,310 people for looking into a box (1 Samuel 6:19) though modern day Christians are ashamed to admit this so we find some of the modern day Bibles have reduced the number to 70 out of shame.”
First, the number of men referenced is 50, 070. I think you got your number from the King James Version of the Bible which reads, “…even he smote of the people fifty thousand and threescore and ten…” “Threescore” is 10x3 plus 10 which = 70. Second, the literal Hebrew text for this verse reads, “And he smote among the men of Beth-shemesh, (because they looked into the ark of Jehovah), and he smote among the people Seventy men, Fifty Thousand men.” Third, it’s important to see that the people who were killed were men. Let us look again at the context of this situation. The ark (“box”) belonged to the Israelites, but had been captured by the Philistines. They decided they needed to send this ark “back to its place” (6:2). They get it prepared, put it on a cart, attach this cart to two cows, and send these cows on the way with this ark (vss 3-11). These cows take the ark to the town of Beth-Shemesh. Take note of these next few verses:
Vs 13: “Now the people of Beth-Shemesh were harvesting their wheat in the valley, and when they looked up and saw the ark, they rejoiced at the sight.” We need to ask ourselves how large was this town of Beth-Shemesh? Researches have come to believe that during this time-period, Beth-Shemesh was a relatively small village out in the country. What was the population? If 50, 070 men were killed, there was more than likely a similar number of women in this town. Then kids are to be considered. Lets say each family had an average of 1 child. Now you are looking at a town with at least 50, 070 men, about 50,000 women and about 25, 000 children—a total of about 125,000 people. This is my question: Is this a small village or is this a city?
Vs 14: “The cart came to the field of Joshua of Beth-Shemesh, and there it stopped beside a large rock. The people chopped up the wood of the cart and sacrificed the cows as a burnt offering to the Lord.” Do you think there were 50,000 people around this little wood cart, taking it apart, and then sacrificing the cows?
Now, the Levites (priests) of this town take the ark and the other box of stuff and place them on a “large rock” (vs 15). In vs 18 it says, “The large rock on which they set the ark of the Lord, is a witness to this day (the day in which this text was written) in the field of Joshua of Beth-Shemesh.” What I want to know is how large was this rock? We have no details. However, it had to be of some form of significant size and height to be identified as a “large rock”. Was it a hill or a mountain? I don’t think so. It was not identified as such. I point this out with the following question in mind. How were 50, 070 men going to clamor up on top of this large rock?
From the manner in which this text stands, and from the great improbability of the thing, it is most likely that there is a corruption in this text, or that some explanatory word is lost, or that the number fifty thousand has been added by ignorance or design; it being very improbable that such a small village as Beth-shemesh should contain or be capable of employing fifty thousand and seventy men in the fields at wheat harvest, much less that they could all peep into the ark on the stone of Abel, in the corn-field of Joshua.
Christians are not ashamed to admit this. Christians are deeply concerned about the accuracy of textual criticism and spend much time, not trying to simply change text to suite themselves, but to be sure that translated text is as close to the original text as possible.
Now, concerning the 70 men that GOD killed. Once again, do you know and understand the context of the Ark of the Covenant? I will try to be as brief as I can with this. The Ark of the Covenant was built to house and carry the Ten Commandments. It was considered to be very, very holy---containing the very words of GOD to the Hebrew people. It was to be treated with utmost respect. The Hebrew people had been given very clear instructions about how to handle this Ark of the Covenant and how to look after it. The seventy men who died that day disobeyed GOD and He punished them for it. GOD’s dealing with these people is a manifestation of his justice and His righteousness. GOD is to be highly respected and worshiped. Does this mean we must live in fear of GOD? No. But we must be aware that He is the Almighty and Holy Creator of our universe and us.
“He Commands to kill women and suckling infants and even animals 1 Samuel 15:3.”
Once again, let’s look at the larger context of this situation. These women and children belonged to the Amalekite people. The Amalekites are first mentioned in Genesis 14:7. Right from the beginning, the Amalekites are involved in war. They are mentioned several times in the book of Numbers (13:29; 14:25, 43, 45). Then we read this passage in Deuteronomy 25:
Vs 17 :"Remember what the Amalekites did to you on the journey after you left Egypt.
Vs 18: They met you along the way and attacked all your stragglers from behind when you were tired and weary. They did not fear God.
Vs 19: When the LORD your God gives you rest from all the enemies around you in the land the LORD your God is giving you to possess as an inheritance, blot out the memory of Amalek from under heaven. Do not forget.” The Amelakites were obviously an evil people who sought to destroy GOD’s own people.
Then in the book of Judges 3:13 we read, “After Eglon convinced the Ammonites and the Amalekites to join forces with him, he attacked and defeated Israel and took possession of the City of Palms.” Here again, we see the Amelakites bringing destruction to the Israelites.
Judges 6:3, “Whenever the Israelites planted crops, the Midianites, Amalekites, and the eastern peoples came and attacked them.”
Judges 7:2, “Now the Midianites, Amalekites, and all the Qedemites had settled down in the valley like a swarm of locusts, and their camels were as innumerable as the sand on the seashore.” They were getting ready to attack the Israelites.
Judges 10:12, “Sidonians, Amalekites, and Maonites oppressed you, and you cried out to Me, did I not deliver you from their power?”
1 Samuel 14:48, “He fought bravely, defeated the Amalekites, and delivered Israel from the hand of those who plundered them.”
The Amelakites were a reproducing nation of people raised and trained to destroy other people, particularly GOD’s chosen people, the Israelites. GOD chose to bring an end to these people, and that’s what He did. Did this make Him evil? No. An evil people brought about their own destruction. We must realize too, that children were being born and raised to war with other people. The lifestyle implemented on these children was to their detriment and suffering in the long run. GOD brought this to an end.
“Commands that women’s hands are to be cut off for defending their husbands (Deuteronomy 25:11).”
Again, I think it’s important to look at all the details in this verse. The woman risks loosing her hand for helping to defend her husband, but look at the manner in which she does it.
"If two men are fighting with each other, and the wife of one steps in to rescue her husband from the one striking him, and she puts out her hand and grabs his genitals…”
For a woman to do this to a man was a great shame, not simply to the man involved, but to all men. Hense this command. What’s more interesting concerning this situation, is can you imagine two men have a fight with one another. How is a woman going to have the time and space to be able to get her hands under the clothing and grab the genitals of someone who is in the active phase of hitting the other person. I think there is more to this situation than is clear here.
“He does evil unto people and even repents for it (Exodus 32:14,1 Samuel 15:35, Genesis 6:6)”
Exodus 32:14: “And the LORD repented of the evil which he thought to do unto his people.” This is from the King James version of the Bible. I’m not sure what your understanding of repentance is. Repentance is the active acknowledgement of something you have done wrong and apologizing for it. In this verse, GOD was getting ready to punish His people for their sin. He had not yet fulfilled His goal. The word “repent” in this context is better understood as “changed his mind”. To repent is also to go back. This is what GOD was doing. He was changing His mind as to what He wanted to do to Israel. Concerning the word “evil” in this verse: In Hebrew, this word includes the second (feminine) form; as adjective or noun meaning adversity, affliction, bad, calamity, displeaseure, distress, evil-favouredness, grievous, harm, heavy, hurtful, and ill favoured. When you look at the context of this passage, the Israelites had just made a golden calf and were worshiping this calf. Moses was on the mountain of Sinai, getting the Ten Commandments from GOD. The very first commandment listed is, “You will have no other gods before Me.” GOD had every right to bring extreme calamity, adversity, affliction, and distress on the Israelites. Moses interceded with GOD on behalf of the Israelites, and so GOD withdrew His intent to punish His people. In this vs., GOD did not perform any evil against His people. He did not repent in the sense of repenting from sin. He withrew from His intents.
1 Samuel 15:35: “And Samuel came no more to see Saul until the day of his death: nevertheless Samuel mourned for Saul: and the LORD repented that he had made Saul king over Israel.” The Hebrew word for repented here is “naw-kham'” meaning to sigh, that is, breathe strongly; by implication to be sorry. The context of this verse tells us that GOD regretted making Saul king. GOD had not committed a sin for which he repented. He was filled with grief that He had made Saul king.
Genesis 6:6: “And it repented the LORD that he had made man on the earth, and it grieved him at his heart.” The second part of this verse is a parallel to the first part of the verse and reflects the meaning of the first part: “It repented the Lord…It grieved the Lord.” GOD was not repenting of any sin He had committed. GOD was grieving and was filled with remorse and sorrow for creating man on the earth. Their was no evil or sin committed by GOD in this verse. Man had committed evil and this broke GOD’s heart.
“So here we have a sinful god who repents, why does he repent and who to? When you have a sinful god who repents then you’re salvation is in jeopardy.”
After a careful study of these Scriptures, you cannot honestly say that we have a sinful god who repents to anyone. As the study of these texts has shown, GOD is perfectly Righteous, Holy, Just, and Merciful. I do not have a sinful GOD who repents and my salvation is not in jeopardy.
“I definitely have a problem that the God of the Bible is a God of Love, care and Mercy who loves everybody and every thing is fine and dandy with roses and flowers and cuddly teddy bears.”
Yes, the GOD of the Bible is a GOD of love, care, and mercy. But He is also a GOD of justice, righteousness, and holiness. GOD so loved the world—including you; including me—that He gave His one and only Son--gave Him to die for our transgression--so that whoever believes in Him—believes who He is; believes what He did; entrusts their heart and life to Him—these people will not perish, but have everlasting life. Because GOD loves us, does not mean that everything is fine and dandy. People have to choose to accept Him and what He did for them or they must choose to reject it. People must choose to go down the path to hell or down the path to heaven. Many people choose the path to hell—this is not fine and dandy!
This has been long. I hope that’s OK and I hope you have read it. If you would like me to address Exodus 33:23, I will be happy to do so. Please allow me to encourage you to read verses of Scripture from the Bible within the context they were written. It is very easy to take verses out of context and misunderstand their true meaning.
Peace to you and thanks for your patience. I look forward to your reply.:)