Some Christians misunderstand Paul Copan and Matthew Flannagan’s hyperbole argument to mean that they don’t believe that it ever occurred that Israel should take the lives of non-combatants. That’s not true.
Misunderstanding the Canaanite Hyperbole Argument Read More »
The trouble with the Canaanite hyperbole explanation for troubling passages regarding God’s commands to kill every man, woman, and child, is that it is inconsistent with the fact that God wasn’t using hyperbole when he warned Israel that they was suffer a similar fate.
Canaanite Hyperbole Interpretation Inconsistent Read More »
How could it be fair to kill Canaanite children? Here’s some important background. In a prior post we saw that the Canaanite childhood was full of terror and loathing. How could it not be when some friends and siblings were burnt to death in the arms of the bull-headed god Molech, family members raped them,
How Could It Be Fair to Kill Canaanite Children? Read More »
So many tell us that Christians should be more accepting of homosexuality. Yesterday, in fact, I listened to Andrew Wilson debate Rob Bell on the UK Unbelievable? radio program about homosexuality and the church. Bell was asked to explain the justification for his beliefs that there is nothing wrong with committed homosexual relationships, and, among other
Christians Should Be More Accepting? Read More »
Probably the thorniest question of all when it comes to the Canaanite conquest is why couldn’t Israel adopt Canaanite children? In ancient wars where parents died, soldiers faced three alternatives for the children: (1) take their lives; (2) leave them to starve and be eaten by animals in the desert; or (3) adopt them. Obviously leaving
Why Couldn’t Israel Adopt Canaanite Children? Read More »
Although this post neither addresses the Lord’s motive for taking the life of the Canaanite children nor the fairness of it, before we get into those things, we need to understand the context. This, too, is sad to read, but we must not imagine Canaanite children as being in any kind of a normal home
The Horror of Canaanite Children’s “Family” Life Read More »
We saw in my prior post that we have no reason to believe that any of the adults were good in the territory that God ordered Israel to conquer. Not even one. But in some towns the Lord ordered that Israel kill all of the animals–“everything that breathes.” (e.g., Deut. 13:15; 20:16). Why kill the Canaanites’ animals?
Why Kill the Canaanites’ Animals? Read More »
In my last post I wrote that God ordered the capital punishment of the inhabitants of the land God had given Israel because they were guilty of depravity and violence. The Canaanites heard of the miraculous approach of the Israelites and knew that Israel’s God was helping them, but some chose to fight rather than
Were There Any Innocent Canaanites? Read More »
I teach every semester on the problem of evil and it can get very theological/philosophical. Of course, apologists should give intelligent answers, but, when someone cries because they are in a crisis, then explaining God’s larger plan for the universe may not be what they need. Instead, as Paul said in Romans 12:15, we are to “weep
What to Do When Someone Cries Read More »
Today we often hear heartrending stories from people struggling with their sexual orientation and often Christians have responded poorly. There are some attitudes, perceptions, and orientations which can’t be simply switched off, but Christians too often want to just tell struggling people: “Stop it!” We wish it were so easy, but it’s not. Let me
Orientation: Sexual and Otherwise Read More »
