by Mike Edwards
This Post was inspired by a light reading of The Widening Of God’s Mercy – Sexuality Within The Bible Story God in the Bible condemns gays, but the father/son scholars don’t tackle the verses claimed to teach that God condemns gays. See here. The Hays imply even if God supposedly does condemn gays and that is the correct interpretation – God can change his mind to feel differently after what is recorded in the Bible. So, even if you believe the Bible teaches God condemns gays, that may not be God’s attitude today toward gays. Many believe the Bible suggests the husband is the leader of the wife which I doubt but anyway, God may change his mind in many circumstances. Since the Bible is used as a rule book in many situations, let’s use the Bible to suggest God can change his mind.
God changes their mind in biblical times, so how about now?
- “And the Lord regretted that he had made Saul king over Israel.” [I Sam 15:35)
- “And the Lord was sorry that he had made humankind on the earth, and it grieved him to his heart.” (Gen 6:6-7)
- Many know the story of Moses getting God to compromise concerning sparing the disobedient. (Ex 32). When might God compromise with us today what we think the Bible claims in our situation?
Even God’s laws given are updated and changed
- “I gave them statutes that were not good and ordinances by which they could not live.” (Ezek 20:25)
- Ex 21:23-25 says “eye for eye” but Jesus updated (Matt 5:39)
- Jesus changed the law regarding the Sabbath (Mk 2:27)
- Exodus 20:24 allows sacrifice on any altar but that then changed to only one location (Deut 12:13-14). (p.55)
I don’t wish to suggest the Bible should be used as a rule/guide book what to do in your situation since interpretations are infallible, but even in the same culture and times biblical laws were updated depending upon circumstances. What you think the Bible commands you to do, might God sit down and discuss? I know this Post can be used to justify anyone’s evil behavior, but if you think God changes his mind on sexual abuse, think again!
How does the Bible guide us today?
I think Karl Barth is right: the theologian shouldn’t ask “What the apostles and prophets said, but what we must say on the basis of the apostles and prophets.” (p 4). This supports the idea that even in biblical times God changed his mind and updated laws. Even if you believe the Bible’s writers were never wrong what God thought and that God condemns gays, please consider what God may say today in your relationships with gays, your partner, etc. You may believe the Bible commands capital punishment, but is that what God thinks today in your situation and what you claim about God to others? Using the Bible as a rule book is complicated.
Mike Edwards was added as a writer and has been a great addition to the site. Mike provides many interesting views and various ways of looking at things. He is not afraid to ask questions and he keeps an open mind as to teachings of the institutional church. Mike also has his own site where he writes at What God May Really Be Like
