Justifying God Killing Children in the Bible

Introduction

Welcome to Christian AnarchySomeone who follows Christ as their only authority—rejecting institutional control over their spiritual life., where today we're tackling a rather challenging and contentious issue: God killing children as depicted in the Bible. The question we are grappling with is, "How can one justify God killing children in the Bible? And if not that, then how does one justify God allowing children to die?" This is a deeply difficult topic, and it might leave some of us without easy answers.

Stories from the Old Testament

One infamous story from the Bible is when children mocked the prophet Elisha for being bald, and he called bears out of the woods, resulting in a tragic outcome. It's a shocking story, and one might wonder how to justify its inclusion in the scriptures. When reading this in the context of cartoons, it's one thing, but considering it in real life and imagining bears tearing people apart paints a horrifying picture. How do we reconcile this with today's value on the sanctity of life?

Broader Context of Death and Suffering

This discussion blends into the broader issue of children suffering from illnesses or premature deathSeparation from God—now overcome. Physical death remains, but it no longer separates us from life with God.. Our previous discussions concluded that we live in a fallen world, and this is somehow a part of it. However, when revisiting Old Testament stories where God commands the annihilation of entire communities, including women and children, it poses a profound moral dilemma. What's the reasoning behind God's orders to the Israelites to destroy everything in their path as they entered the Promised Land?

Attempting to Speculate

Looking for answers, we speculate that perhaps these instances were akin to the divine judgment seen during the flood, where God wiped out almost all of humanity to start anew. It is purely speculative, and each instance might have its own unique justification, if any exists beyond our understanding.

Global Suffering Today

In the same vein, there's the issue of worldly suffering today. Millions of children across various ethnicities face starvation and death without divine intervention like manna from heaven. Is God a negligent manager, indifferent to human suffering? Somehow, it seems different when God is passively allowing suffering versus actively instructing violence among His people. This is where many find themselves morally conflicted.

The Perspective of Eternity

One suggestion to make sense of this dilemma is to consider human life from a divine perspective. On the eternal scale, human life might hold a different value. God might not see children dying as any worse than the death of an older person. Human life is transient, and perhaps, within the grand narrative, these events serve larger purposes beyond our understanding, such as typifying sinMissing the mark of faith and love—no punishment, just lost growth or peace. and its consequences.

Conclusion

In conclusion, the task of justifying or understanding the biblical instances of God killing children is fraught with difficulty. It challenges our modern sensibilities and understanding of morality. While speculative thoughts and theological considerations offer some perspective, it remains a deeply complex issue, reminding us of the mysteries inherent in faith and divine actions.

Understanding God's Plan and Suffering: A Faith Perspective

Grappling with Difficult Concepts in Scripture

It can be challenging to understand certain narratives in scripture, such as the accounts of God wiping out entire villages as a representation of His intolerance for sin. It's essential, however, as it highlights that God does not stand for sin.

For us, witnessing a child suffer and die is incredibly difficult. Yet, from God's perspective, He understands the entire plan. He knows what He is going to do and how He will ultimately use these events for good. Our task is to learn to trust this divine plan.

Trusting in God's Big Picture

Some people may disagree with this interpretation, arguing that it's not justifiable. However, consider the possibility that not taking action could lead to greater atrocities. Perhaps, left unchecked, they might cause harm to many other nations.

Ultimately, it seems to come down to trusting God. It always does. Moreover, these stories serve as illustrations of sin and God's aversion to it.

The Question of Suffering

Moving on to another challenging question: why does God allow children to starve to death in places like Sudan? This question tackles the broader issue of why God doesn't intervene to save everyone.

The world is fallen. Once, it was beautiful, but it was also a place of freedom of choice. If He wishes to grant us liberty, it comes with the inherent risks and responsibilities of that freedom. As Uncle Ben from Spider-Man famously stated, "With great power comes great responsibility." Indeed, if you have liberty, God cannot make you love Him; it wouldn't be genuine love. So, with that freedom, pain and disaster are inevitable.

Reflecting on God's Omnipotence

Let’s quickly address another philosophical quandary: can God create a rock so big that He cannot lift it? Stay tuned for our discussion on this as our question of the week in our upcoming segment.