Comment: – Contrary to what is often claimed, the bible does not promote an
absolute moral code. It presents a relativistic situational ethics. What does the bible
say about morality in things that count? Some people talk about right and wrong
absolute standards and that a Moral Law exists. In my study of the bible, I find the bible
is in favour of a kind of situational ethics, not an absolute standard. From my bible
study I have come to believe the bible standards are purely human ethical standards
reflecting the primitive times when the bible was written. Remember that Jesus is the
same as God of the Bible: John 10:30 I and [my] Father are one.
The following are 10 ethical concerns in the bible. There are more Biblical Laws
that are not absolute (but are laws followed depending on the situation). Near
the end of this document I have added a section Absolutes in
Biblical Moral Law.
More ethical concerns are not included on this page because 10 of them should be enough to make the point about situational ethics.
This article is not saying the commandments and sayings in the Bible that are mentioned below are bad or evil – most of them are naturally accepted as good by most people. This article is saying that the Bible, as a whole, does not present these as absolutes.
A note to people belonging to organized religious groups (and any other group): Beware of the approximately 1% of the population that are psychopaths. Research has shown that nothing, including religion, can change their behavior. They are attracted to organized religions and New Age groups and use religion to manipulate and control others for their own ends. They can be wolves among sheep.
| 1. Killing | 2 Stealing | 3. Lying | 4. Adultery | 5. Honour Parents |
| 6. Covet | 7. Love | 8. Abortion | 9. Sabbath | 10. Images |
| Sermon on Mount | Some Biblical Absolutes |
(1) Killing
Ex 20:13
Thou shalt not kill.
This is not an absolute; there are exceptions depending on the situation. Links
“God of the Bible Murders, Part1 and Part2″
where you can find 68 examples of verses in the bible that confirm that killing by people is actually promoted by the God of the Bible.
Here are 3 examples of many. Note the killing promoted by the god of the Bible often is of women, infants, and sucklings, as well as men:
Tell me, is not destroying or slaying men, women, infant, and sucklings murder, no
matter how you look at it? Unless you are fooling yourself, it definitely is!
1Sa 15:2
Thus saith the LORD of hosts, I remember [that] which Amalek did to Israel, how he laid [wait] for him in the way, when he came up from Egypt.
3 Now go and smite Amalek, and utterly destroy
all that they have, and spare them not; but slay both man and woman, infant and suckling, ox and sheep, camel and ass.
Deuteronomy 2:32
32 Then Sihon came out against us, he and all his people, to fight at Jahaz.
33 And the LORD our God delivered him before us; and we smote
him, and his sons, and all his people.34 And we took all his cities at that time, and utterly
destroyed the men, and the women, and the little ones, of every city, we
left none to remain:35 Only the cattle we took for a prey unto ourselves, and the spoil of the cities which we took.
Joshua 10:40
40 So Joshua smote all the country of the hills, and of the south, and of the vale, and of the springs, and all their kings: he left none remaining, but utterly destroyed all that breathed, as the LORD God of Israel commanded.
One more:
Ec 3:1 ¶ To every [thing there is] a season, and a time to every purpose under the
heaven:Ec 3:3 A time to kill, and a time to heal; a time to break down, and a time to build up;
(This commandment depends on the situation – situational
ethics)
See e-mail comments on kill or murder?
(2) Stealing
Ex 20:15
Thou shalt not steal.
This is not an absolute; there are exceptions depending on the situation.
Only a couple of verses as examples are included:
Tell me, is not taking spoil from someone against their will, stealing? It is, no
matter how you look at it!
Jg 14:19
And the Spirit of the LORD came upon him, and he went down to Ashkelon, and slew thirty men of them, and took their spoil, and gave change of garments unto them which expounded the riddle. And his anger was kindled, and he went up to his father’s house.
Jos 8:1, 2
And the LORD said unto Joshua, Fear not, neither be thou dismayed: take all the people of war with thee, and arise, go up to Ai: see, I have given into thy hand the king of Ai, and his people, and his city, and his land:
And thou shalt do to Ai and her king as thou didst unto Jericho and her king: only the spoil thereof, and the cattle thereof, shall ye take for a prey
unto yourselves: lay thee an ambush for the city behind it.
(Stealing from someone less fortunate than you is alright in these situations –situational ethics.)
(3) Lying
Ex 20:16
Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbour.
This is not an absolute; there are exceptions depending on the situation.
Some verses as examples:
Tell me, is not a lying spirit in the mouth of all his prophets, lying, no matter how you look at it? It definitely is!
1Ki 22:22
And the LORD said unto him, Wherewith? And he said, I will go forth, and I will be a lying spirit in the mouth of all his prophets.
And he said, Thou shalt persuade [him], and prevail also: go forth, and do so.
1Ki 22:23
Now therefore, behold, the LORD hath put a lying spirit in the mouth of all these thy prophets, and the LORD hath spoken evil concerning thee.
2Ch 18:21
And he said, I will go out, and be a lying spirit in the mouth of all his prophets. And [the LORD] said, Thou shalt entice [him], and thou shalt also prevail: go out, and do [even] so.
2Ch 18:22
Now therefore, behold, the LORD hath put a lying spirit in the mouth of these thy prophets, and the LORD hath spoken evil against thee.
1Sa 16:2
And Samuel said, How can I go? if Saul hear [it], he will kill me. And the LORD said, Take an heifer with thee, and say, I am come to sacrifice to the LORD.
(Saul is told to lie)
An example of deception by Jesus:
John 7:8
Go ye up unto this feast: I go not up yet unto this feast; for my time is not yet full come.
9 When he had said these words unto them, he abode [still] in Galilee.
10 But when his brethren were gone up, then went he also up
unto the feast, not openly, but as it were in secret.
There are also a number of false prophesies by God, which is lying in a sense.
One example follows:
Ge 35:10
And God said unto him, Thy name [is] Jacob: thy name shall not be called any more Jacob, but Israel shall be thy name: and he called his name Israel.
Later:
Ge 46:2
And God spake unto Israel in the visions of the night, and said, Jacob, Jacob. And he said, Here [am] I.
(God of the Bible prophesies falsely)
(Lying is alright in these situations – situational ethics.)
(4) Adultery
Ex 20:14
Thou shalt not commit adultery.
This is not an absolute; there are exceptions depending on the situation.
A couple of verses as examples:
Tell me, is not taking a wife away from someone and then having a neighbor use her,
adultery?
It is, no matter how you look at it!
2Sa 12:11
Thus saith the LORD, Behold, I will raise up evil against thee out of thine own house,
and I will take thy wives before thine eyes, and give [them]
unto thy neighbour, and he shall lie with thy wives in the sight of this sun.(Adultery caused by the God of the Bible)
Nu 31:7, 9, 15-18
And they warred against the Midianites, as the LORD commanded Moses; and they slew all the males.
9 And the children of Israel took [all] the women of Midian captives, and their little
ones, and took the spoil of all their cattle, and all their flocks, and all their goods.15 And Moses said unto them, Have ye saved all the women alive?
16 Behold, these caused the children of Israel, through the counsel of Balaam, to commit trespass against the LORD in the matter of Peor, and there was a plague among the congregation of the LORD.
17 Now therefore kill every male among the little ones, and
kill every woman that hath known man by lying with him.18 But all the women children, that have not known a man by
lying with him, keep alive for yourselves.(Women used by men, many of which were very likely married – adultery condoned by the God of the Bible)
About David in the Bible:
1Sa 25:28
I pray thee, forgive the trespass of thine handmaid: for the LORD will certainly make
my lord a sure house; because my lord fighteth the battles of the LORD, and evil hath not been found in thee [all] thy days.
Now Read 1 Samuel 11:2-5 with the above verse in mind.
(Adultery is alright in these situations – situational
ethics.)
(5)Honour parents
Ex 20:12
Honour thy father and thy mother: that thy days may be long upon the land which the LORD thy God giveth thee.
This is not an absolute; there are exceptions depending on the situation.
For instance if Jesus doesn’t honour father and mother then it is OK.
A few verses relating to Jesus as examples:
Tell me, is hating your father and mother, ignoring mother honoring father and mother?It is no matter how you look at it!
Lu 14:26
If any [man] come to me, and hate not his father, and mother, and wife, and children, and brethren, and sisters, yea, and his own life also, he cannot be my disciple.
Lu 2:48 -49
And when they saw him, they were amazed: and his mother said unto him, Son, why hast thou thus dealt with us? behold, thy father and I have sought
thee sorrowing.49 And he said unto them, How is it that ye sought me? wist ye not that I must be about my Father’s business?
Mt 12:46 – 50
While he yet talked to the people, behold, [his] mother and his brethren stood without, desiring to speak with him.
47 Then one said unto him, Behold, thy mother and thy brethren stand without, desiring to speak with thee.
48 But he answered and said unto him that told him, Who is my mother? and who are my brethren?49 And he stretched forth his hand toward his disciples, and said, Behold my mother and my brethren!
50 For whosoever shall do the will of my Father which is in heaven, the same is my
brother, and sister, and mother.
John 2:3 – 4
And when they wanted wine, the mother of Jesus saith unto him, They have no wine.
4 Jesus saith unto her, Woman, what have I to do with thee? mine hour is not yet come.
(Jesus does not honour his father and his mother in these situations – situational ethics.)
(6) Covet
Ex 20:17
Thou shalt not covet thy neighbour’s house, thou shalt not covet thy neighbour’s wife, nor his manservant, nor his maidservant, nor his ox, nor his ass, nor any thing that [is] thy neighbour’s.
This is not an absolute; there are exceptions depending on the situation.
A few verses as examples:
Tell me, is not jealousy by anyone, still coveting?
Jealousy of a God to keep his power is jealousy anyway you look at it!
Tell me, how can an all-powerful God need to be jealous, anyhow?
1Co 12:31
But covet earnestly the best gifts: and yet shew I unto you a more excellent way.
De 4:24
For the LORD thy God [is] a consuming fire, [even] a jealous God.
Jos 24:19
And Joshua said unto the people, Ye cannot serve the LORD: for he [is] an holy God; he [is] a jealous God; he will not forgive your transgressions nor your sins.
Joe 2:18
Then will the LORD be jealous for his land, and pity his people.
1Co 10:22
Do we provoke the Lord to jealousy? are we stronger than he?
(The Jealousy
Commandment doesn’t apply to everyone, God for example – situational ethics.)
(7) Love
(a) Mt 5:22
But I say unto you, That whosoever is angry with his brother without a cause shall be in danger of the judgment: and whosoever shall say to his brother, Raca, shall be in danger of the council: but whosoever shall say, Thou fool, shall be in danger of hell fire.
This is not an absolute; there are exceptions, again, depending on the situation.
A few verses as examples. Jesus says:
Mt 23:17 [Ye] fools and blind: for whether is greater, the gold, or the temple that sanctifieth the gold?
19 [Ye] fools and blind: for whether [is] greater, the gift, or the altar that sanctifieth the gift?
Lu 11:40 [Ye] fools, did not he that made that which is without make that which is within also?
(Jesus says whosoever shall say, Thou fool, shall be in danger of hell fire.
Whosoever means everyone, including Jesus himself.
Jesus calls people fools. Jesus is in danger of hell fire, or is this another exception?)
(Love goes only so far with Jesus. It doesn’t always apply. It depends on the situation. – situational ethics.)
(b)Mt 5:44
But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you;
Again this is not an absolute; there are exceptions depending on the situation.
A few verses as examples. Jesus says:
Is calling someone ‘a generation of vipers’ blessing them that curse you?
Mt 12:34
O generation of vipers, how can ye, being evil, speak good things? for out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh.
Mt 23:27
Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye are like unto whited sepulchres, which indeed appear beautiful outward, but are within full of dead [men’s] bones, and of all uncleanness.
Mt 23:33
[Ye] serpents, [ye] generation of vipers, how can ye escape the damnation of hell?
(Again, loving your enemy doesn’t apply – situational ethics.)
(8) Comment on Abortion
Abortion. Abortion should be avoided if at all possible. But, some anti-choice Christians claim that their stance is confirmed in the bible. Not so! There is nothing in the bible
about abortion, except that the God of the Bible (Jesus claims he is this God) causes fetuses, and innocent infant children to be murdered in cold blood.
A few of the appropriate verses are as follows:
Ho 13:15 -16
Though he be fruitful among [his] brethren, an east wind shall come, the wind of the LORD shall come up from the wilderness, and his spring shall become dry, and his fountain shall be dried up: he shall spoil the treasure of all pleasant vessels.
16 Samaria shall become desolate; for she hath rebelled against her God: they shall fall by the sword: their infants shall be dashed in pieces, and their women with child shall be ripped up.
Ps 137:9
Happy [shall he be], that taketh and dasheth thy little ones against the stones.
Isa 13:13 ,16, 18
Therefore I will shake the heavens, and the earth shall remove out of her place, in the wrath of the LORD of hosts, and in the day of his fierce anger.
16 Their children also shall be dashed to pieces before their eyes; their houses shall be spoiled, and their wives ravished.
18 [Their] bows also shall dash the young men to pieces; and they shall have no pity on the fruit of the womb; their eye shall not spare children.
Anti-choice on abortion may be a moral stance, but it is not biblically based.
There are no verses in the Bible that support the anti-choice position on abortion. The anti-choice position may be supported on humanitarian grounds or by tradition, as Roman Catholics do on many issues, or by leaders such as the Pope that mandates this position as God’s absolute law. Because anti-choice on abortion is not supported by the Bible, there are many Bible-as-inerrant believing Christians that are pro-choice.
There are also Humanists that are anti-choice on the matter of abortion.
(9) Keeping the Sabbath
According to the bible the Sabbath must be kept on the seventh day of the week, which is on Saturday. If it is not kept on that day, the penalty is death:
Ex 31:15
Six days may work be done; but in the seventh [is] the sabbath of rest, holy to the
LORD: whosoever doeth [any] work in the sabbath day, he shall surely be put to death.
To show that ‘the Sabbath is to be on Saturday’ is supposed to be an absolute see the page Bible — Sabbath is on Saturday.
also:
Ex 20:8 – 11
Remember the sabbath day, to keep it holy.
9 Six days shalt thou labour, and do all thy work:
10 But the seventh day [is] the sabbath of the LORD thy God: [in it] thou shalt not do any work, thou, nor thy son, nor thy daughter, thy manservant, nor thy maidservant, nor thy cattle, nor thy stranger that [is] within thy gates:
11 For [in] six days the LORD made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that in them [is], and rested the seventh day: wherefore the LORD blessed the sabbath day, and hallowed it.
This is not an absolute; there are exceptions depending on the situation. A verse as an
example:
Col 2:16
Let no man therefore judge you in meat, or in drink, or in respect of an holyday, or of the new moon, or of the sabbath [days]:
(The commandment about the Sabbath is not absolute,
according to the Bible – situational ethics.)
(10) Images
Ex 20:4
Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image, or any likeness [of any thing] that [is] in heaven above, or that [is] in the earth beneath, or that [is] in the water under the earth:
This is not an absolute; there are exceptions depending on the situation.
A verse as an example:
Ex 25:18
And thou shalt make two cherubims [of] gold, [of] beaten work shalt thou make them, in the two ends of the mercy seat.
Of course, Christians often use images such as the death image — the cross, a torture symbol, (an image that was not used in the early centuries of Christianity), statues of the Virgin Mary, etc.
(This commandment applies only when convenient, doesn’t apply at all, or is completely ignored by most Christians and Jews – this commandment is not absolute, even in the Bible – situational ethics)
Comment: e-mail by
G.:
>If you are really seriously considering locating verses that instruct moral
absolutes of right and wrongs, may I suggest that the New Testament is a veritable haven.
The sermon on the mount, the beatitudes (Matt. chpt 5 to chpt 8) is a good place to review. In fact all 4 of the synoptic gospels, as well as charting the progression on sin in Romans. The entire new testament is described as the new covenant (the new deal) is the fulfillment of the old testament and worthy of reading with an open mind. I challenge you to ask God to open your eyes and then read the gospel as given by John
My reply:
This is very general. I am asking for an actual verse list that declares what is
absolutely right and what is absolutely wrong — in both the New Testament and the Old Testament. I have found in the past that believers talk a lot about the absolute values found in the Bible; but when asked about particulars, supported by particular bible verses, they steer away to another topic. They are general, not specific. Believers say, read this chapter or that book, but do not point out the specific verses and what they say.
Since you haven’t mentioned any particular verse, I will mention and comment on a few verses in the chapters you mentioned:
(1) Mt 5:3
Blessed [are] the poor in spirit: for theirs is
the kingdom of heaven.
(This praises a condition which is not admirable. Are we all supposed to become “poor-spirited”? What does “poor in spirit” mean? This verse does not advocate any specific, positive ethical action. It only says that if you happen to be “poor in spirit” then be happy because you are going to heaven. Verses such as these have been cited to keep slaves and women in their place with promises in “pie in the sky”.)
(2) Mt 5:4
Blessed [are] they that mourn: for they shall be comforted.
(This does not advocate any behavior, unless it is interpreted as a command to go into mourning. Instead, why not encourage people to comfort those who are in mourning? )
Jumping ahead to a good verse:
(3) Mt 5:9
Blessed [are] the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God.
(Now this is positive! This is the best of the Sermon on the Mount. We all want peace. But how do we obtain peace? Was the bomb at Hiroshima peaceful because it ended the war? Was our policy with the Native Indians peaceful and blessed? However, Jesus contradicted his own advice by warning:
Mt 10:34
Think not that I am come to send peace on earth: I came not to send peace, but a sword.
Would these verses be on your list of absolute right and absolute wrong in the Bible?
Some Absolutes in Biblical Moral Law:
(1) Inequality of the sexes
Men are absolutely to dominate women. Men and women are not equal.
See my page “Bible — Sexism”
(2) Slavery
“Slavery” is not condemned, but accepted as part of God’s order.
Slavery according to the bible is absolutely not an evil.
See my page “Bible — Slavery” for verses.
(3) Polygamy
“Polygamy” is not condemned and is absolutely not an evil. Again it is part
of God’s order.
There are many verses of heroes of the bible that practiced polygamy.
A very few examples:
Jg 8:30
And Gideon had threescore and ten sons of his body begotten: for he had many wives.
1Ki 11:3
And he had seven hundred wives, princesses, and three hundred concubines: and his wives turned away his heart.
2Sa 5:13
And David took [him] more concubines and wives out of Jerusalem, after he was come from Hebron: and there were yet sons and daughters born to David.
Talking about David – Solomon, who is referred to here, was David’s son: 1Ki 15:3
And he walked in all the sins of his father, which he had done before him: and his heart was not perfect with the LORD his God, as the heart of David his father.
(This verse says that David was perfect, even though he practiced polygamy.
It follows that polygamy is not an evil to the God of the Bible. Solomon’s imperfection was was not his actual practice of polygamy, but something else.)
Comment: It is natural for a morality to develop in a society. Killing, stealing, sex outside of marriage seem to be evils in most societies — for their own good. The bible morality also developed through natural evolution in the society it was written. In our more developed society polygamy, sexism, slavery are evils; and tolerance of all people, in their variety, is promoted.
The Bible as a whole demonstrates the Ten Commandments, etc. generally, are conditional on the situation.
O. Hooge
Naturalism and Religious Experience 