Who is to blame?

Sorry… I see a fella named Cam wrote it… thanks Cam!

I absolutely agree with this post. God does not punish people for sins they individually don’t commit. Jesus died for each individual, not for each church or country. Individuals seek salvation, not societies. I strongly disagree with the “know-it-all” Christians like James Dobson and Billy Graham, as well as many others, who sput such collectivist nonsense.

 God did not destroy Israel or their neighbors they destroyed themselves. God did not destroy Assyria; Assyria destroyed itself due to their foreign and domestic policy long before they attacked the Northern Kingdom of Israel and later Judah. Assyria was destroyed due to importing people from conquered lands and placing those deported peoples on the fringes of the empire to protect Assyria’s interest due to a lack of manpower. You cannot expect people to be loyal to you when you treat them second best to the population you are forced to protect. In addition, the Assyrian royal court was also corrupt, but what royal court is not?

Babylon fell like Assyria, due to outside invaders who had been looking in ever since Assyria fell and those who desired the riches of Mesopotamia were the Persians (Cyrus the Great).

Persia was destroyed not because they were looking for a fight; it was because Alexander’s army (built by his father Philip) was a much better fighting force through the economy of force. Wicker shields (Persia) does not stop iron and bronze (Macedonia). Moreover, Alexander needed the money since he was going into debt rather quickly due to his father’s (Philip) army, which needed to be paid (semi-professional fighting force.) Therefore, Persia was a prime target not by God, but by one man going into debt.

So, are these nations? Nations are not necessarily or formally political unions, but rather means those who share a common cultural or language. These empires mentioned above are not nations, yes, the area from which they originated is a nation, but eventually it turned into a nation-state, in which the king was the state by divine right. If they are strong enough they will be able to conquer others not like them, thus their house becomes an empire of many houses and many languages.

To say you disagree means that you agree. If you believe that God is the destroyer of nations, (empires) then you agree that he disproves of the state. The part that we would not agree on is that God destroys nations. I find this rather archaic and would go against the law (Ten Commandments) “Thou shalt not murder.” To destroy nations by using other people to do your bidding would actually break all ten laws if you stop and think about it. God does not dwell in or help orchestrate sin.

 Well, when it comes to Sodom and Gomorrah, I am not sure. Many references to them sounds as if the cities were mere nihilistic in nature, awaiting a mercy death rather speak. But even I question and must do so carefully, for we do not know the full story. Sure, any one can say that God did it, but I also have to step back and wonder if he really did do it. Not trying to be a minimalist, but in my many years of studying biblical history (which I am sure you did as well), one has to sit back and wonder what has since been changed. Take the oral law, most of it was not compiled until the 3rd century BCE. However, how much of the oral law is truly from God, if any, since most of the documents we read today coming from the Old Testament were compiled during the Jewish captivity in Babylon. How much did they adopt from the civilization that controlled them, how many tablets were available to them.

Sorry, I don’t have a full answer. But if there is one thing I am certain, it is that cities in the ancient world had a patron god or a series of gods. The cities and their gods were always in completion for who is stronger and better. In some ways, I think the ancient Israelites wrote God down as the one who did this or that, in order to show that God was stronger than the rest, by using his name in vain you could say.

As for slavery, God does not approve, but he does not strike down those who had slaves. If I were to strike my children for a sin that I told them not to do, if they wish to avoid x,y,and z, then what good am I as a teacher? I can advise and show through their trial and error, but to punish would not make it right, when they are already punishing themselves.

 I like the website, thanks! Much of what you said I agree with, especially the point concerning statism and cult. I have a book coming out that will address many of the same issue you have just mentioned. The exciting part is to know that there are many others who feel the same. From what I have read on this site and you sharing yours, is great! I probably could have used a much stronger term, but I’ll let the book do that, since this topic is mentioned in the book, but not like above, much longer and much like your post on your page.

Thank you for your post …

Turning to government, even elected government, instead of God, for anything is a form of idolatry. God tells us clearly that He is our provider and protector. As a Christian and a person of libertarian persuasion, I do not look to government to solve my personal issues of reckless sexual behaior or amy other sinful behaviot or though on my part. He has made me free, he holds me responsible, and he permits me to suffer the consequences of rebellious decisions.

What is true of me, is true of the governemtn that I permit to represent me. Failure to act is tacit approval. And fear is no excuse.