Originally posted by:
Gamingphreek
I have read Joshua too and, yes, this is pulled out of context.
These people were not merely non-believers, they were idolaters and people who blasphemed against the Lord.
Furthermore, the SINGLE person in Jericho that didn't turn on the Lord asked that her entire family be spare - and they were.
This does not mean that God advocates mass killings. The OT is mostly religious war against people who are not merely non-believers, but people who openly blaspheme and persecute God's people.
Looking further, in Deuteronomy these laws were given for those such as the people of Jericho. One of the many purposes of this in the OT, is, when used in contrast with the NT, to show what all God's people had to endure before Jesus came.
Today, Jesus gave us a new commandment - to love one another. He died so those people who blaspheme and openly oppose the Lord and his followers don't have to (The Lord will judge them). They had food and mold laws also which shows us, after reading the NT, how amazing Jesus sacrifice was - he fulfilled all those laws and gave us one to govern them all (LOVE).
Finally, if you believe in God, then you should know not to boast in yourself reading the entire Bible, but boast in the Lord. What did you accomplish by reading it cover to cover? A person can read it cover to cover hundreds of times and yet STILL be surprised by another meaning or interpretation and grow in faith from that.
qDon't fall into the trap that, the bible says it so it must be true. Consider the source. And the source is not God. It is man.
The Bible was written by people inspired by God's word. It is 100% true and is 100% from God.
From your statement; however, many people need to apply that logic to Christians. We are followers of Christ, not Christ himself. Christians strive to be like Jesus, but fall short - this is why you CANNOT see a Christian do something and assume that is how God intended it - we are no more perfect than ANYONE else in this world!
-Kevin