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What are some examples of unpopular Biblical truths?

The Bible is full of stories of the extraordinary and miraculous. With the Scriptures covering the span of thousands of years in human history, much of the traditions, customs, and other common practices found can sometimes be confusing. This confusion leads many to what some may consider unpopular Biblical truths. It’s not until research is conducted that the truth is revealed.

God calls each one of us to faith, but He does not call us to throw away our brains.

It’s quite the opposite actually.

All throughout the Bible, we find God dialoguing with humanity.

He asked questions and wants a relationship with each one of us.

Just go and read the very beginning when He walked in the garden after Adam and Eve sinned.

Or go to when He visited with Abraham and Abraham asked if He’d spare the city.

The God of the Bible is a relational God who cares about us, His creation.

He knew then, and He knows now, that we have questions.

Even questions about unpopular Biblical truths.

We’re going to take a look at a couple of common unpopular Biblical truths found in Scripture and then I’m going to teach you how and what to do when you face similar questions in your studies and conversations with others.

Before we start, it’s important to keep in mind the Scripture that should guide us on our journey of truth and discovery, being reminded that we are to search the Scriptures daily.

These were more fair-minded than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness, and searched the Scriptures daily to find out whether these things were so.

Acts 17:11

Selling Your Daughter As A Sex Slave Is Okay?

I was honestly surprised to see this question come up in my research, but it was at the top of the list.

Let’s start by reading the Scripture the concerned individual is referencing.

7 “And if a man sells his daughter to be a female slave, she shall not go out as the male slaves do. 8 If she does not please her master, who has betrothed her to himself, then he shall let her be redeemed. He shall have no right to sell her to a foreign people, since he has dealt deceitfully with her. 9 And if he has betrothed her to his son, he shall deal with her according to the custom of daughters. 10 If he takes another wife, he shall not diminish her food, her clothing, and her marriage rights. 11 And if he does not do these three for her, then she shall go out free, without paying money.

Exodus 21:7-11

Upon inspecting the passage alone, it’s hard to see what the individual is referring to exactly. Though it could be inferred by verse eight (when reading NIV), it’s not possible to think that in reading NKJV.

I’d like to pause here and note a truth I’ve encountered when speaking with people who are out to prove the Bible wrong or just have a nasty temperament towards all-things God.

In my experience, it’s not so much about what the Bible says, but instead how they feel towards God. Whether it’s an injustice they feel from God towards them or some poor experience with a Christian in their past. A lot of times I find it more helpful to not bicker with these kinds of conversations, but instead, try to understand the other person’s pain more.

Upon a little digging in commentaries online and reading multiple versions of the passage, it’s easily discovered that the intention here had nothing to do with selling a daughter to become a sex slave, but instead selling her as a slave with the intention of marriage.

Furthermore, we must remember that these cultures had different customs in their time. For example, in ancient times a child might be sold as a slave in light of a debt or especially in the case of a female slave, in a dowry arrangement in order to satisfy an existing debt. This sounds nuts to us, but it was normal in the culture at the time!

The Old Testament Condones Killing Children?

The problem with these unpopular Biblical truths isn’t the fact they are true but are misunderstood and perverted by the people who are at war with God. The world, and more specifically the devil, desires to produce–inside every human heart–doubt in the goodness of God. He’s done this since the beginning of time. 

Let’s take a look at the passage used to back up the claim.

18 “If a man has a stubborn and rebellious son who will not obey the voice of his father or the voice of his mother, and who, when they have chastened him, will not heed them, 19 then his father and his mother shall take hold of him and bring him out to the elders of his city, to the gate of his city. 20 And they shall say to the elders of his city, ‘This son of ours is stubborn and rebellious; he will not obey our voice; he is a glutton and a drunkard.’ 21 Then all the men of his city shall stone him to death with stones; so you shall put away the evil from among you, and all Israel shall hear and fear.

Deuteronomy 21:18–21

Again we are faced with the fact the Scripture being referenced clearly doesn’t say it’s okay to kill your children.

We can look at verse 20 if anyone has a doubt in their mind. It states, “a glutton and a drunkard.”

How many drunk kids do you know?

We have to be careful not to take the text out of context. Context helps 9 out of 10 times.

Upon researching commentaries to confirm our thoughts, it’s easily understood that this passage does not point to killing children, but instead adults.

You might still be upset about this fact, which makes sense, it seems extreme for being a rebel, but if you learn the full context of what was going on during this time, it becomes more clear.

You see, God was setting Israel apart from every other nation on the planet.

He chose them to be His people and that meant they needed to be set apart, to be different.

This came with a lot of requirements by God.

God sets us apart today as Christians as well. We are commanded to be ready to answer questions when they are presented. Will you answer the call?

unpopular biblical truths - image of thorns

As a Christian, Is It Necessary To Read The Whole Bible?

Reading the whole Bible for the sake of being able to say the words, ‘I read the whole Bible’ is not in itself a benefit. What is a benefit, and should be a goal for any Christian believer, is to grow in their understanding of God and His Word (the Bible) a little more each day. And to be able to provide answers to the questions people have.

The reality is this isn’t the world our parents grew up in…

Things are different, especially when it comes to questions.

I can’t simply tell my kid, “because I said so.”

Why not? Because they can go Google the question or worse, ask their friends on a dozen different social media platforms.

Sure, when they’re younger we can control it, but that only works for so long.

In today’s world we have to give them more than just a simple, “I said it, therefore you believe it.”

This old saying is not Biblically sound.

One could argue children must respect their parents and elders, but asking a question in of itself isn’t disrespectful.

Scriptures tell us to be ready in season and out of season for the hope that is in us.

It doesn’t say ‘unless their children or of a certain age.’

Here’s the Scripture.

 Preach the word! Be ready in season and out of season. Convince, rebuke, exhort, with all longsuffering and teaching. 

2 Timothy 4:2

This doesn’t mean we’re going to have every answer to everything, but it can mean we will go find the answer and get back to someone, even our kids.

The other thing that is different in today’s world is the fact we can’t just disagree with people.

If you don’t get labeled a bigot or some other term, you’ll for sure be ignored and never spoken to again if you are disagreeable.

I’m not advocating for being silent on truth, what I am saying is to take a look at the life of Jesus.

He was perfect.

Did he ruffle some feathers? You bet, but He did it with the religious leaders that should’ve known better.

He also spoke with the common men and women. He asked questions (young rich ruler), connected on the visible in order to speak about the spiritual (woman at the well).

If we want to reach this generation we have to learn the art of connection.

We have to be willing to provide answers instead of ‘because I said so.’ When we reach out and have a conversation, people learn that we care and then will be more willing to listen.

When unpopular Biblical truths come up in conversation, be ready to answer, willing to do the research, and respond in love.

Are you looking for assistance in finding the answers you need to the questions people might ask? Check out “The Jesus Answer Book” by John MacArthur about the most-asked questions about Jesus.

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