| Topic: |
Science > Abortion |
| User: |
"biniohas" |
| Date: |
10 Jun 2005 08:24:53 PM |
| Object: |
STONING DISOBEDIENT CHILDREN: HOW GOD WANTS IT DONE |
Stoning Disobedient Children
by Rev. William Einwechter
If a man have a stubborn and rebellious son, which will not obey the
voice of his father, or the voice of his mother ... all the men of the
city shall stone him with stones, that he die .... (Dt. 21:18, 21)
Deuteronomy 21:18-21 contains what is, perhaps, the most vilified law
of the Old Testament. It is widely believed that this law authorizes
the stoning of children who disobey their parents. Accordingly, this
law is used to prove how harsh, severe, and unworkable Old Testament
law is in "the New Testament age of love and grace." When theonomists
advocate the use of the case laws as the standard for ethics and civil
law today, often one of the first remarks they hear is something like,
"So you advocate the stoning of children who disobey their parents."
The supposition is that by merely referring to this "harsh" law, they
have proven that the theonomic view is absurd and cannot possibly be
the standard for Christians today. Detractors of theonomy believe that
the mere mention of the law of "stoning children" in Deuteronomy
21:18-21 will silence the theonomist, and prove to all thinking
Christians that these "cruel" Old Testament case laws should not govern
our lives in this "age of grace."
But as with most attacks on theonomic ethics, this objection to the use
of the Old Testament case laws is based on a shallow reading of the
law, a misunderstanding of the actual case law requirement,1 and an
attachment to sentimental impulses as opposed to a commitment to the
high ethical provisions of Biblical law.2 When this case law, which
applies the moral law of the Fifth Commandment to a specific
circumstance, is understood it will prove to be "holy, just, and good,"
a delight to the heart of God's true people (Rom. 7:12, 22).
This law is given in the standard case law formulation of "if . . .
then." The genius of the case laws is that they establish justice (or
duty) in a specific case so as to enable us to know how to proceed (act
righteously) in all such related cases. The particular case at hand
involves a "stubborn and rebellious" son who will not heed the
admonitions of his parents, nor submit to their discipline (v. 18). It
is vital to proper interpretation and application that the precise
nature of the case be ascertained.
A Grown Son
First, the person in view is a not a small child but a grown "son." The
Hebrew term for "son" (ben) employed here is indefinite. It is
sometimes used of children of both sexes (Ex. 21:5) but most often of
the male offspring of parents, and that is clearly the sense in this
text. Of itself, the word "son" does not give any indication of age. It
can refer to a child or a young man (cf. 1 Sam. 4:4; 19:1; 1 Kg. 1:33);
age must be determined from the context. In this case, the son in view
is not a child, for the sins brought forth in testimony to show his
contumacious manner are gluttony and drunkenness (v. 20), hardly the
sins of the average 6 or 10 year old! The case also indicates that the
parents have tried to restrain their son, but all their efforts have
failed (vv. 18, 20); specifying that he is physically beyond their
control. Furthermore, the parents bring their son to the magistrates to
judge the matter (v. 19); hence, the son would have opportunity to
speak on his own behalf. All of this indicates that the "son" in
question is no mere child, but, rather, a young man at least in his
middle teens or older. As Wright observes, "The law is not talking
about naughty children but about seriously delinquent young adults."3
Severe Disobedience
Second, the problems associated with this son are severe. This is not
the case of a child who has failed to do his chores, spoke back to his
parents, or even committed a serious act of disobedience, but of a son
of dissolute character who is in full rebellion to the authority of his
parent--she holds them and their word in contempt. Thetext says that
the son is "stubborn" and "rebellious" (vv. 18, 20). Both of these
descriptive terms are active participles, thus indicating habitual
action. The son does not display a stubborn streak now and then, or act
rebelliously from time to time, but is continuously stubborn and
rebellious. The word "stubborn" refers to one who is obstinate in his
resistance to authority. It is used in the Old Testament of a wild,
untamed heifer (Hos. 4:16); of a immoral woman who has cast off
restraint and indulges in lust (Pr. 7:11); and of Israel as a stubborn
people who will not submit to God's authority (Ps. 78:8; Is. 1:23). The
word "rebellious" means, literally, to strike or lash, and is used of
those who contend against authority and refuse to heed their words. The
"rebellious" individual lashes out in contempt against those who have
authority over him verbally, and perhaps even physically. In light of
this, it is important to note that the law of the covenant prescribes
death for anyone who strikes his parents (Ex. 21:15) or curses his
parents (Ex. 21:17). There is, therefore, reason to suppose that the
son in this case law has broken the law of the covenant in one or both
of these ways. The parents also describe the character of their son as
being a "glutton" and a "drunkard." These sins are put forth as
examples of a life lived without restraint.
In the case of such rebellion and riotous living, and after all
attempts at discipline and control have failed, the parents are to
bring their son before the magistrates for judgment. If the magistrates
concur in the parents' estimate of the situation, they are to order the
men of the city to stone the rebel with stones so that he dies (vv.
20-21). The purpose to be served in the execution of the rebellious son
is to "put evil away from among you" and that all will "hear and fear"
(v. 21).
The Real Meaning
Therefore, the law of Deuteronomy 21:18-21 is not about stoning
disobedient children. The Bible does not instructs parents to use
stoning in dealing with the rebellious nature and disobedience of their
children, but to use the rod and reproof (Pr. 29:15). Children are to
be trained from a young age by consistent and loving discipline so that
the foolishness that is bound up in them can be driven out (Pr. 22:15),
and they will learn to honor and obey their parents and all those whom
God has placed in authority over them. The case law in discussion does
not apply to young children during the formative years, but applies,
instead, to a grown son (and by extension to a daughter as well) who,
for whatever reason, has rebelled against the authority of his parents
and will not profit from any of their discipline nor obey their voice
in any thing. It is a case of habitual contempt of parental authority
characterized by a young adult living a life without moral restraint
who lashes out verbally and/or physically against his mother and
father. It is a case where the evil character of the son is apparently
set, and there is no reasonable hope of his ever changing.
The kind of rebellion against parental authority described in this case
law is called "evil" (v. 21). It is evil because it holds both God and
his law (i.e., the command to honor parents) in derision. It is evil
because it threatens the very existence of the family, and therefore,
of society itself. It is evil because it signals the rejection of all
God-ordained authority and leads to civil and ecclesiastical disorder.
God considers it such a dangerous evil that it must be extinguished by
death at the hands of the civil magistrate.4
Inescapable Death
Those who consider death as a horrible punishment here must realize
that in such a case as described in Deuteronomy 21:18-21, "death" is
inescapable. Contempt of parental authority, if left unchecked, is the
death of the family, law, and order. The question then is: Who or what
should die? The rebel, or family and society? Furthermore, the life of
a rebel inevitably leads to the grave (sheol; cf.Pr. 30:17); he will
die an early death, and probably take others with him. Finally, God
himself declares that even if such a rebel against parental authority
escapes the judgment of man, his curse is upon that man and he shall be
cut off (Dt. 27:16; Pr. 30:17). Therefore, the execution of the rebel
in view is just, merciful, and preventive. Just, in that the
transgressor deserves to die; merciful, in that his quick death
prevents the destruction of the family, society, and others;
preventive, in that it strikes fear in the heart of other would-be
rebels and restrains them from taking a similar ruinous course.
Theonomists must not be embarrassed by the law of Deuteronomy 21:18-21,
nor should they be chagrined when others try to use it to discredit the
case laws of the Old Testament. Properly understood, it displays the
wisdom and mercy of God in restraining wickedness so that the righteous
might flourish in peace. It is those who reject this case law that
should be embarrassed, for they have cast reproach on God and his law,
cast aside the testimony of Christ,5 and have substituted their own
imaginations (Jer. 7:24) for the blessed word of God.
1 To understand and properly apply the case laws of the Bible requires
diligent work. The Lord anticipates this need by repeatedly reminding
us of the need to "meditate" in the law of the Lord "day and night"
(cf.Ps. 1:2; 119:15, 97-99; Jos. 1:8). The wisdom and justice of God's
law is perceived by those who diligently search for it as for hidden
treasure (Pr. 2:1-9).
2 By nature, we are bent to reject the standards of a just and holy God
for "that which seemeth right in our own eyes."
3 Christopher Wright, Deuteronomy (Peabody, MA, 1996), 235.
4 The family does not have the power of the sword. Only the state has
the authority to execute those who are worthy of death. Therefore, if a
state refuses to follow the law of Deuteronomy 21:18-21, parents are
left only with the option of covenantal death (i.e., disinheritance by
the family and, where applicable, excommunication by the church).
5 Jesus himself specifically endorsed the death penalty for cursing
parents (Ex. 21:17) in Matthew 15:4.
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| User: "Lovin Spoonful invalid@invalid" |
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| Title: Re: STONING DISOBEDIENT CHILDREN: HOW GOD WANTS IT DONE- SLOW AND PAINFULLY |
10 Jun 2005 11:03:45 PM |
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"biniohas" <biniohas@hotmail.com> wrote in message
news:1118453093.144012.31410@g47g2000cwa.googlegroups.com...
5 Jesus himself specifically endorsed the death penalty for cursing
parents (Ex. 21:17) in Matthew 15:4.
He sounds like a real compassionate sweetie....... where do I sign up to
learn about godly murder and mayhem?
LS
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| User: "Somewriter" |
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| Title: Re: STONING DISOBEDIENT CHILDREN: HOW GOD WANTS IT DONE |
11 Jun 2005 06:20:55 AM |
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On 10 Jun 2005 18:24:53 -0700, "biniohas" <biniohas@hotmail.com>
wrote:
Stoning Disobedient Children
by Rev. William Einwechter
Shove it back up your backside.
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| User: "SheBlewHimDidYouBlowHim" |
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| Title: Re: STONING DISOBEDIENT CHILDREN: HOW GOD WANTS IT DONE |
10 Jun 2005 09:42:23 PM |
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yes, we know the loving, caring shithole in the sky is a sick *****.
save the planet, ban religion
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| User: "reece" |
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| Title: Re: STONING DISOBEDIENT CHILDREN: HOW GOD WANTS IT DONE |
11 Jun 2005 03:31:00 AM |
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SheBlewHimDidYouBlowHim wrote:
yes, we know the loving, caring shithole in the sky is a sick *****.
save the planet, ban religion
just 3 things you should consider about divine judgement:
1. it is always deserved
2. it is inescapable
3. it is selective, YHWH never destroys the righteous along with the wicked
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| User: "" |
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| Title: Re: STONING DISOBEDIENT CHILDREN: HOW GOD WANTS IT DONE |
11 Jun 2005 06:15:22 AM |
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*+-> save the planet, ban religion
You are being inconsistent.. you varmint mental geopagans want
population to decrease.. but Islamic countries have the highest
population growth.. so stoning those children..
(with toungue only partially in cheek)
- = -
Vasos-Peter John Panagiotopoulos II, Columbia'81+, Bio$trategist
BachMozart ReaganQuayle EvrytanoKastorian
http://ourworld.compuserve.com/homepages/vjp2/vasos.htm
---{Nothing herein constitutes advice. Everything fully disclaimed.}---
[Homeland Security means private firearms not lazy obstructive guards]
[Fooey on GIU,{MS,X}Windows 4 Bimbos] [Cigar smoke belongs in veg food group]
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| User: "SheBlewHimDidYouBlowHim" |
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| Title: Re: STONING DISOBEDIENT CHILDREN: HOW GOD WANTS IT DONE |
11 Jun 2005 11:41:13 AM |
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it is well documented in the bible that the loving, caring invisible
shithole in the sky likes o commit murder.
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| User: "Ray Fischer" |
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| Title: Re: STONING DISOBEDIENT CHILDREN: HOW GOD WANTS IT DONE |
11 Jun 2005 11:40:41 AM |
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reece <reecegeorge@yahoo.com.au> wrote:
SheBlewHimDidYouBlowHim wrote:
yes, we know the loving, caring shithole in the sky is a sick *****.
save the planet, ban religion
just 3 things you should consider about divine judgement:
1. it is always deserved
2. it is inescapable
3. it is selective, YHWH never destroys the righteous along with the wicked
4. it is always a superstitious explanation for natual events
--
Ray Fischer
rfischer@sonic.net
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