Violence in the Bible
In episode 15 of “The Bible for Normal People,” the host, Pete Enns, interviews Brian Zahnd, a pastor, and author of “Sinners in the Hands of a Loving God.” The topic of the discussion is violence in the Bible and how to approach it.
Violent Passages
Zahnd begins by acknowledging that there are violent passages in the Bible that are difficult to reconcile with a loving God.
He notes that many Christians have used these passages to justify violence and oppression throughout history. However, Zahnd argues that the violent passages in the Bible should be understood within their historical context and that we should not use them to justify violence in the present.
Key Point
One of the key points that Zahnd makes is that we should read the Bible as a whole, not just individual passages.
He suggests that we should focus on the message of love and compassion that runs throughout the Bible, rather than getting bogged down in specific violent passages.
Zahnd also emphasizes the importance of reading the Bible with an open mind and being willing to question our assumptions.
Conquest of Canaan
Enns and Zahnd then discuss the story of the conquest of Canaan in the Old Testament, in which God commands the Israelites to conquer and kill the Canaanites.
Zahnd argues that this story should be read as a metaphorical representation of the human tendency towards violence and domination, rather than as a literal historical event. He suggests that the story teaches us that violence is not God’s desire for humanity and that we should instead strive for peace and reconciliation.
Gods Character
Zahnd also talks about the New Testament and the role of Jesus in our understanding of God’s character. He notes that Jesus’ message of love and nonviolence is in direct contrast to the violent images of God that we see in some parts of the Old Testament.
Zahnd suggests that Jesus is the ultimate revelation of God’s character and that we should look to him as our model for how to live in the world.
Throughout the conversation, Enns and Zahnd touch on a variety of topics related to violence in the Bible, including the role of the Church in promoting nonviolence, the problem of evil, and the importance of interpreting the Bible within its historical and cultural context.
Conclusion
In conclusion, Zahnd emphasizes that violence is not God’s desire for humanity and that we should strive for peace and reconciliation. He suggests that we should read the Bible with an open mind and focus on the message of love and compassion that runs throughout the text.
While there are violent passages in the Bible, Zahnd argues that they should be understood within their historical context and that we should not use them to justify violence in the present.
Instead, we should look to Jesus as our model for how to live in the world and how to interpret the Bible.