Deuteronomy 17:2-5

“If there is found among you, in one of your towns that the Lord your God is giving you, a man or woman who does what is evil in the sight of the Lord your God, and transgresses his covenant by going to serve other gods and worshiping them—whether the sun or the moon or any of the host of heaven, which I have forbidden— and if it is reported to you or you hear of it, and you make a thorough inquiry, and the charge is proved true that such an abhorrent thing has occurred in Israel, then you shall bring out to your gates that man or that woman who has committed this crime and you shall stone the man or woman to death” (Deuteronomy 17:2-5).

Question:

Just wondering how to take this. I'm just curious why the Lord is calling for the death of somebody who believes in another religion.

Comment:

There is no question that the early books of the Bible describe the travails of a nomadic tribe only slightly this side of primitive. It stands to reason their concept of God would be equally based. Of course, as we're seeing in the Middle East today, the conviction that one's God demands the death and destruction of all those with different beliefs is unfortunately still with us.

Jesus' own approach to those who used ancient scripture to condemn his teachings was basically to say 'That was then, this is now!' 'You have heard it said ... but I say to you.' He taught that Hebrew scriptures were to be seen as a progressive story of our capacity to understand and embrace the Divine as love and empowerment. Unity cofounder Charles Fillmore followed that guidance in his approach to the Bible, as I do in mine. Deuteronomy describes a god of judgment, anger, and vengeance. Jesus describes a God of infinite love for all creation. The process of getting from one mindset to another is the very purpose of our human experience. So why is Deuteronomy still in the Bible if we have moved beyond its vengeful message? Because we sometimes still need its reminder that this spiritual journey requires our full commitment.

Metaphysically, all characters in the Bible represent thoughts in our consciousness. We must always be willing to completely dissolve those thoughts that seek to distract us to other 'gods'—our addictions to the pleasures of this human existence. No compromise is possible. We must maintain our focus on Spirit and our spiritual purpose.

Blessings!

Rev. Ed