Does the God of the Old Testament resemble an abusive parent? (Jesus, Moses)

Sunstone · #1 08-06-2005, 09:58 AM

Are there strange similarities between the God of the Old Testament and an abusive parent? What is the psychology of that god?

Ori · #2 08-06-2005, 10:05 AM

Well I do view a lot of the Old Testament stories as metaphorical, but I understand what you mean.
You could argue that God is dealing with people who are still learning, and that have a lot to learn.

Still, it is quite strange the view of God between the old and new Testament.

michel · #3 08-06-2005, 10:29 AM

Well, I am not well versed enmough to debate this without a 'bit of help', and found what seems to be a good article on:- http://www.tgm.org/OTInLtOfNT.html , in which the author puts most of the 'scolding' aspect of God down to the Fact that "Hebrew was for nearly 1900 years a dead language only resurrected after 1948. Much has been learned about the language, but some things are still unclear. "

I think I can understand what the author is saying, but wether his personal opinion is correct or not is beyond my ken.

The article continues from the above to:- Dr. Robert Strong discovered that in translation of the Old Testament, the causative tense was often mistakenly used for the passive tense. Therefore many of the destructive things that have been attributed directly to God causing or making them happen were simply permitted by God. And many if not all of those were only "permitted" due to the fact that His direct intervention would go against what He had already spoken.
A good example of this is in Deut. 28 where in verses 1-13 the blessings of hearing and obeying God's law are listed and in verses 14-62+ are listed the curses of the law. Note that one is either under the blessing or the curse - there is no middle ground - no neutral zone. Note also that the blessings are listed FIRST and that they are conditional to hearing and obeying. Now lets say that I to fail to hear and obey. This is stepping out from under the blessing and into the curse. God did not change, move or take any action at all! I was the one that changed and made the move. The curse is the LACK of being under the blessing. God is not executing the curse - He doesn't have to!

There are so many things that we can see when we look at the Old Testament in light of the New.
One of many – is the vast amount of legal preparation, processes and precedents laid out by the Lord over thousands of years all for one purpose – the legal redemption of mankind – paid for by the shed blood of the very one that did the preparation, created all the processes and set all the precedents. Another thing that I think is so wonderful is how Jesus has always been pictured in all of the Holydays. He is the flawless lamb killed on the 14th day of the 1st month. He is the unleavened (sinless) bread of life. He is the first-fruit the Son sowed as a seed towards a harvest of many sons of God. Fifty days later (Pentecost), He poured out His glory by filling His temple(s) with His Holy Spirit. The rest of the Holydays are soon to be fulfilled -- i.e. the feast of Trumpets, Day of Atonement, feast of Tabernacles and the Last Great Day.

When you study (read) the Old Testament in the light of the New – you see the one we now call Jesus everywhere! He spoke and the universe was created. He walked with Adam in the Garden of Eden. He sealed Noah into the Ark. He cut the blood covenant with Abram and called him Abraham. He spoke from the burning bush. He divided the Red Sea. He was in the cloud by day and pillar of fire by night. He gave the tablets to Moses. He dwelt in the temple of God. He stopped the Jordan River. He drove out the inhabitance and gave Israel the Promised Land. He was the 4th man in the fiery furnace. He was with Gideon in battle. He appeared to Samuel in Shiloh. And, He spoke to Isaiah and the other prophets. And that doesn’t even begin to touch all the types and analogies of Jesus all through the Old Testament. When you study (read) the Old Testament in the light of the New – you open yourself to revelation and a rich depth of understanding that would never be available from the Old Testament alone.

Perhaps someone who actually can speak with some knowledge can expand on this.

fromthe heart · #4 08-06-2005, 10:40 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sunstone

Are there strange similarities between the God of the Old Testament and an abusive parent? What is the psychology of that god?

Some of the Old Testament does seem really harsh...but God punishes out of sincere love and want for growth in His people. Seeing things from that point in time is different from this point in time. Things in folks lives were really tough back then...nothing like today. Given that point I don't think we can even compare it to child abuse of today. When I was growing up my Dad beat me with a razor strap when he chose a reason to do so and today what was done to us as kids back then would NEVER be acceptable today. I was punished the most for things my younger sibblings did...I was the oldest and that made me responsible for what they did how? It's all in the point of view of the times.
JMPO

michel · #5 08-06-2005, 10:50 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by fromthe heart

Some of the Old Testament does seem really harsh...but God punishes out of sincere love and want for growth in His people. Seeing things from that point in time is different from this point in time. Things in folks lives were really tough back then...nothing like today. Given that point I don't think we can even compare it to child abuse of today. When I was growing up my Dad beat me with a razor strap when he chose a reason to do so and today what was done to us as kids back then would NEVER be acceptable today. I was punished the most for things my younger sibblings did...I was the oldest and that made me responsible for what they did how? It's all in the point of view of the times.
JMPO

Oh I am so sorry to hear about the way your Dad punished you FTH; I don't see that as being the way to bring up children, but maybe that's how he was brought up......

cardero · #6 08-06-2005, 10:56 AM

Does the God of the Old Testament resemble an abusive parent?
Yes, which may be why some people confuse GOD as a father figure.

Ceridwen018 · #7 08-06-2005, 11:54 AM

Well, God does kill some of his "children" in the Old and New Testaments, and he even had sex with one of his daughters in the New Testament. That seems a little abusive to me...

Todd · #8 08-06-2005, 12:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ceridwen018

Well, God does kill some of his "children" in the Old and New Testaments, and he even had sex with one of his daughters in the New Testament. That seems a little abusive to me...

He has killed some of his creation specifically the ones that are consistently disobedient. However, he gives us many warnings, and is slow to anger (if he was quick to anger, I would be dead already). I look at God as being a good father figure. He corrects us, guides us, punishes us, and praises/rewards us just like I believe a good Dad should do. Just my 2 cents.

I don't think most Christian doctrines prescribe to the belief that the Abrahamic God had sex with one of his daughters (Mary). Most of us belief that he planted the seed, but as far as what we consider physical sex, I don't think this is the typical belief within Christianity. Maybe planting the seed is what you meant, I just wanted to clear this up.