God of Genocide??

I can see the protester's frothing hatred, the vengeance and fire of emotion in the objection, "What gives you the right to say that children, women and men's lives can be taken by the sword of God's judgment!!!?? Who says so? I demand you tell me who determines these things?"

Or the other extreme, a very pleasant woman pastor, in a calm, beautiful sanctuary of a large denomination explaining that because the Old Testament teaches genocide, and slavery,  and abuse toward women, we can't take its prohibitions against sexuality or same sex marriage in a determinative way for our lives, thus justifying her marriage to her wife.

Or perhaps the biggest "gun" of all (sorry) Richard Dawkins, who states, "Most churchmen these days wisely disown the horrific genocides ordered by the God of the Old Testament. Anyone who criticises the divine blood lust is loudly accused of unfairly ignoring the historical context, and of naive literalism towards what was never more than metaphor or myth. You would search far to find a modern preacher willing to defend God's commandment, in Deuteronomy 20: 13-15..."

Well, very simply, when liberal theologians say the Old Testament teaches genocide. It does not. It teaches God's sovereign authority to govern, rule, punish and bless the affairs of all humankind of all times everywhere. You can't have it both ways, a God who pardons and forgives, also has to have the authority to judge and condemn and execute that judgment as He sees fit.

The fact that genocide takes place, and has even taken place in His name wrongly, does not mean that the Old testament advocates genocide. The fact that academia and popular scientists and best selling authors say it is so, does not mean that it has.  Pacifistic opposition to the Old Testament goes back a long way. 

 The fact that a humble parish pastor chooses to defend it doesn't mean it didn't. But the reader, needs to look at it for themselves. Clearly this, and many other biblical issues have brought out the big cannons (I did it again--can't resist), pacifists have objected against this for years.
But consider this, If God doesn't have authority of judgment, He doesn't have authority of forgiveness either.
The revelation of theology has consistently maintained God's right and use of retributive justice. What is it supposed to look like? From Genesis to Revelation its there. Its never pretty, but it isn't supposed to be. And if God chooses to use an agent--then does--He does it in righteousness.
And if Deuteronomy twenty is a problem, Deuteronomy twenty nine and thirty is a bigger problem, because these chapters were fulfilled too.  Peter, the rock, states, "For the time has come for judgment to begin at the house of God; and if it begins with us first, what will be the end of those who do not obey the gospel of God?"  (I Peter 4:17)  What about eternal punishment?
Which brings up the subject of child sacrifice.  In Genesis twenty-two, God tells Abraham to go up to the mountain, and offer his precious adolescent son Isaac as an offering.  Abraham goes.  In answer to the question asked by the sacrifice, where the lamb was, Abraham replies, "My son, God will provide for Himself the lamb..." (v 8).   And just before he lowers the knife to slit the throat of the boy, God stops him.  "Abraham, do not lay your hand on the lad, or do anything to him; for now I know that you fear God, since you have not withheld your son..."  Fast forward fifteen hundred years.  God did provide a Lamb.  This time the sacrifice was especially unsightly.  But it was God's own son.
That blood was necessary for forgiveness, faith, restoration. Take that away and God's love doesn't mean much.
Its all or nothing here folks.  Argue your pacifism against the blood sacrifice of God's only Son.  I'm waiting...


If those of us who have the theological training, and a lot of years of study and practice in the form of diligent preaching and teaching don't stand up to this nonsense, then what will the rest of the public do? 
They will give up and give in. 

So if you have a problem with this, if you believe Dawkins, that these are myths and fiction, go with it. But if not, then you have that right also to hear a response.
So Mrs. pastor in the big beautiful denominational church, you can preach anything you want except,  you can't give the sacraments, (blood) and you can't preach forgiveness of sins, because a God who can't bring judgment, can't forgive either.

That's what I know a Poor full-time Country Preacher.