Expert: Clint Harper - 4/1/2004

Question
Hi - I've been saved for 5 years now and have some knowledge of the Bible.
I read the editorial of my local newspaper and there is much heated debates concerning; same sex marriage, Bush and the war/Bush being a "murderer", etc...
Many like to pick and choose verses from the Bible to fit their agenda.  Like those who are pro same sex marriage, they pull verses that suggest multiple wives and concubines to critisize the traditionalist.
Then there are the Bush haters who like to quote  "thou shall not kill"
Where can I find in the Bible that say it is NOT murder in war.
And where can I find when Jesus came, the new covenent that does away with multiple wives.
Thanks for your help


Answer
Esther,

Good questions.  As I see it you have two questions.  I will take them in order.

#1 – Is war murder?

No.  War is not murder.  Those who quote Exodus 20:13 to say that any killing of another human is murder do not understand the scriptures.  The very law that was delivered by Moses, including the Ten Commandments, also gives instructions for capital punishment (Exodus 21, several instances).  Also, we must consider that God instructed Israel to make war on many occasions (Jericho in Joshua 6; Amalekites in 1 Samuel 15).  Then, in Romans 13 Paul instructs us to be subject to the governments that exist and that they have the authority to wage war.

#2 – Where does Jesus do away with the teaching that multiple marriages is acceptable?

Matthew 19:1-9, “1And it came to pass, that when Jesus had finished these sayings, he departed from Galilee, and came into the coasts of Judaea beyond Jordan; 2And great multitudes followed him; and he healed them there. 3The Pharisees also came unto him, tempting him, and saying unto him, Is it lawful for a man to put away his wife for every cause? 4And he answered and said unto them, Have ye not read, that he which made them at the beginning made them male and female, 5And said, For this cause shall a man leave father and mother, and shall cleave to his wife: and they twain shall be one flesh? 6Wherefore they are no more twain, but one flesh. What therefore God hath joined together, let not man put asunder. 7They say unto him, Why did Moses then command to give a writing of divorcement, and to put her away? 8He saith unto them,  Moses because of the hardness of your hearts suffered you to put away your wives: but from the beginning it was not so. 9And I say unto you,  Whosoever shall put away his wife, except it be for fornication, and shall marry another, committeth adultery: and whoso marrieth her which is put away doth commit adultery.”


Hope this helps,

Clint Harper