It seems like every election time,
or every time there is a serious crime involving children people talk
about family values. Christians are pretty quick to say they have the
perfect family values... does the saying "a family that prays together,
stays together" sound familiar? What sort of family values are in the
Bible? Is this book really a good source on how to raise and keep a
family? I think not.
The Monogamous Marriage
Having more than one wife is a
crime. Having sex with a woman who isn't your wife is grounds for
divorce. Monogamy is king, unless you ask a Mormon, then there is some
debate. As for Christians go, they pride themselves on either celibacy in
the Catholic Church, or a faithful marriage amongst the non-clergy. But
for some reason, the Bible is pro-polygamy.
To name off every person to have
multiple wives, or to have slept with their slaves/servants would cause
this html file to be about 64 terabytes. So only a few will be mentioned
here to make the point.
Genesis 4:19 is where
the first mention of polygamy comes in. Lamech felt the need for two
wives, and thus was born a long line of men with multitudes of wives.]
Genesis chapter 36
reveals to us that Esau had a few wives also.
Even good ol' David had a great many
wives. Not enough though, it turns out, because he got more in 1
Chronicles chapter 14... not to mention he had 13 more kids.
And then there is Solomon, king of
all polygamists. This guy had 700 wives, and 300 concubines. That's a
different woman every night for 3 years. Holy cow!!! Or better yet, 3
women per night, per year, with 3 days off per month. Okay quit drooling,
the point was to say that polygamy is condoned throughout the Bible, so
why do modern Christians condemn those who want more than one woman?
Disciplining Your Children
We live in a world where children
have more power than their parents. "Go ahead and spank me, I'll call the
cops". And Christians today feel that spanking is wrong, it's this whole
"time out" thing... ugh. Well, the Bible tells a little bit different
story on how to handle your children. Check this out.
Exodus 21:15, 17 both
say that if a child hits or curses his father, he is to be killed.
Leviticus 20:9 says
that if a child curses his mother or father he is to be put to death.
Deuteronomy 21:18-21
requires stoning to death any child who is stubborn or rebellious.
Proverbs 22:15 says
you should beat your foolish children with a rod.
And for those who are saying
"those are Old Testament laws that no longer apply"
"Full well ye reject the commandment
of God, that ye may keep your own tradition. For Moses said, Honour thy
father and thy mother; and, Whoso curseth father or mother, let him die
the death: But ye say, If a man shall say to his father or mother, It is
Corban, that is to say, a gift, by whatsoever thou mightest be profited of
me; he shall be set free. And ye suffer him no more to do ought for his
father or his mother; Making the word of God of none effect through your
tradition, which ye have delivered" -Jesus Christ, as quoted in Mark
7:9-13.
Abortion
Abortion has been the number one war
cry for family values by Christians recently. Followed closely by
homosexuality (which is covered in the "Laws" section). What does the
Bible really say about abortion? It's kind of hazy, but those who have
been consulted by BibleBabble.com (which are either doctors of theology or
pastors) have said it sounds pro-abortion. Not pro-choice, mind you,
because the woman never is given a choice.
Number 5:11-31 says
that if a woman cheats on her husband, he is to take her to the priest and
he will give her "bitter water". If the woman didn't cheat on her husband
her pregnancy will continue as it should. But if she did cheat on him,
then her belly will swell, her thigh will rot, and she will be a curse
among her people.
When this was brought up to a
professor of religion (Ph.D. in theology and practicing Baptist) he was
very intrigued and said it was a "voodoo like abortion ritual". He then
laughed and said "and we Christians bad mouth voodoo" and laughed a little
longer.
Hosea chapter 9 is
chock full of God inducing miscarriages and other abortion like
activities.
So when we hear all of these
Christians talking about family values, we should remember these teachings
they hold dear. It amazes me how people can preach the exact opposite of
the Bible, then say that the Bible backs them up. It's just proof that
these people don't even know what they believe.
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