Videos: What WOULDN'T you do for God?

What WOULDN'T you do for God?

1 January 2010

ZJ: In several earlier videos, I discussed the genocides committed in the Bible and addressed Christians who believe that these genocides were the right thing to do. I challenged them to condemn these acts of genocide as unacceptable, just as all genocides are clearly unacceptable. And most of them refused, reiterating their support for biblical genocide.

The most common justification they provided was that God ordered these genocides, and anything God commands is morally right, even morally obligatory. Therefore, it is completely acceptable to wipe out an entire race of people, including children and infants, if God tells you to. They believe that it is right to commit genocide if God commands it. The alleged will of God is all the justification they need.

I find this stunning. And I think it raises a very important question: When something as horrific as genocide becomes acceptable to you if you believe God deems it so, is there anything you would consider unacceptable even if God commands it? Is there anything God could order you to do that would be such an affront to your sense of morality that you would refuse? Let me give you some examples.

In the book of Genesis, chapter 22, God tells Abraham to sacrifice his only son as an offering. Abraham complies, but an angel of God stops him at the last moment. In Islam, Abraham's willingness to obey God is celebrated as the holiday of Eid. Is it acceptable to kill your own child if you believe God wants you to? Yes or no?

In 2008, an 11-year-old girl died of undiagnosed diabetes. Her parents refused to seek medical help, even as her condition deteriorated, because they believed that prayer was the best way to help her. Their church taught them that they just needed faith. Is it acceptable to allow your sick child to die, without ever taking them to a doctor, if you believe God wants you to pray for them instead? Yes or no?

In 2006, a 18-year-old woman in Saudi Arabia was kidnapped and gang-raped by seven men. Under the court's interpretation of Islamic law, she was sentenced to 200 lashes for being alone with a man she wasn't related to. Is it acceptable to whip rape victims if you believe God commands it? Yes or no? And if so, how many lashes?

In 1994, Paul Hill murdered Dr. John Britton at an abortion clinic in Florida. Hill believed that the use of violence to stop abortion was sanctioned by God, and that God had called upon him to murder Dr. Britton. Is it acceptable to kill a doctor if you believe God wants you to? Yes or no?

Throughout the 19th century, the Bible was repeatedly cited by reverends and politicians to justify slavery in the United States. They referred to numerous verses from the Old and New Testament that endorse and regulate the keeping of slaves. Is it acceptable to enslave your fellow human beings if you believe God approves of slavery? Yes or no?

In the 14th, 15th and 16th centuries, witchcraft was widely outlawed in Europe based on Christian doctrine and papal declarations. Accused witches were put on trial and often sentenced to death. They were typically executed by being drowned, hanged, or burned at the stake. Is it acceptable to burn someone alive for practicing witchcraft if you believe God wants them to die? Yes or no?

And if you answered "yes" to some of these questions, and "no" to others, why? If the will of God is sufficient to justify genocide, of all things, then why wouldn't it justify slavery, or lashings, or child sacrifice? And if you think this isn't a good enough reason to kill doctors or burn witches, then why would genocide become acceptable just because God says so?

If God's will is an adequate justification in some cases, but inadequate in other cases, then where do you draw the line? What could God command that would be so repulsive to you that you would not obey? After all, once genocide is acceptable, what isn't?

What wouldn't you do for God? I would really like to know.

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