by Tom Palven
A letter writer in the April 8 Asbury Park Press said "If a society
accepted the Bible for what it is, God's word, and lived by it, it would be
easier and more enjoyable to watch the news or read the papers".
Back in Biblical times the headlines might have read "David Brings King
Samuel Foreskins of 100 Slain Philistines", 1 Samuel 18:27; "Cain Kills
Brother", Genesis 4:8; "Israelis Slaughter Midianites Killing All Men and
Male Children", Numbers 31:1-18; "Lot Seduced by Daughters, Both Become
Pregnant", Genesis 19:30-36; and so on.
The letter writer also said that the Bible calls homosexuality a sin and
recommended reading Romans 1:26-28. He could also have mentioned Leviticus
20:13, "And when a man lies down with a male the same as one lies down with a
woman...they should be put to death without fail." But the Bible also says
"Whoever does any work on the Sabbath day shall be put to death." Exodus
31:15; and blasphemy is also punishable by death. Moslem leaders, who believe
in the Bible, in addition to the Koran, recently put out a death warrant for
blasphemy.
As for the Bible being "God's word", how do we know it is? "Because the
Bible says so" is not an adequate answer.