That’s another reason for the total destruction of those communities. Implacable opposition to God and the capability and desire to kill off God’s people, thus preventing Messiah.

Had they not been whacked, the Jews would have been and Yahweh would have none of that.

We believe in freedom, because we believe we are able to utilize the guiding Power of the Spirit of God. Concerning the “natural man” (meaning Adam and Eve), the lesson from the story of the fall is clear. Eve had the ability to obey God, but she failed because she was deceived. She thought that by following the counsel of Satan, she, herself, would be like God. This is our major problem. We are easily deceived by evil ideas that look so good.

Even the Pagans knew that mankind does not live up to its potential. If mankind were naturally evil, we would have no hope. In fact, if we were fundamentally evil, we could not even realize that we are evil. But Christ came to HEAL us. Healing means He is restoring us to the original spiritual health God intended.

The Pagans, by nature, are aware of sin, but they deny the Spirit, hence they are helpless to fight it. They are pessimistic about the improvement of behavior, except by biological means, using chemicals. Christians believe that the Spirit of God can restore the human being, through faith in the Son. Consequently, Christians have hope, and they strive to be better. I learned seventy years ago that I can be better if I pray. The Christian doctrine is simple, even a child can learn it. But as adults, we disbelieve the Truth, because we cannot understand how the Power of the Spirit of God works. Thus, we put our ability of understanding in the front, using it as the measure of Truth. If we can’t figure it out, it must be humbug!!

True, “American civilization will increasingly vanish as people abandon the Word of God.” But why are we abandoning the Word of God? Because we are idolizing Reason. As long as we think Reason is the measure of all things, we are idolaters, no better than the Canaanites. We will turn in the right direction as soon as we admit that reason has its limitations. We cannot perceive transcendental reality by reason. We are led to Truth by obedient faith. (Act 5:32)

I was raised in a Calvinist family, but I was not taught that “the benefits of Christianity are the result of human reason.” I was taught that “The just shall live by faith”; and God helps those who help themselves. I was taught that understanding comes by keeping fellowship with God. Apparently, Calvinism “trickles down” in many forms.

And I have a book on the theology of food coming out some time soon.

Feel free to have a wander around. Let me know if you’d be interested in my two books in biblical structure.

Thanks for visiting,
Mike

Basilides,

You seriously misunderstand the biblical story of the conquest of Canaan. If you really do want to understand how the texts are to be understood, you should read Paul Copan’s “Is God a Moral Monster?”.

The killing of the Canaanites was a judicial execution by God. He cut them out of history like a cancer. Except they didn’t did they? Israel disobeyed God and ended up adopting the Canaanite practices.

Your indignation against God is entirely one-eyed if you are ignorant of what God did to Israel under the sword of Babylon when Israel took on the murderous practices of the Canaanites and sacrificed their children. God is not a respecter of persons. Repent, or be judged, man, woman and child.

What is interesting is that, typologically, the sword of death prefigured the gospel, a sword that divides between believers and unbelievers wherever it goes.

And the ancient Israelites, under instructions from the Christian god, considered it a badge of honour to kill every man, woman and child in Canaan.