Don’t take Scripture out of context

Jim Slitor's May 30 letter, “Old Testament not guide for behavior,” took Scripture out of context.

The Bible is God's love letter to humanity. The Old Testament shows us the law that God's holiness demands we all keep perfectly. It tells us of God's mercy by promising us a savior because no human is sinless.

Therefore the Old Testament is as important as the New Testament is as the New Testament tells of the fulfillment of God's promise. God planned from the beginning to send Jesus to save us all. Jesus lived a sinless life, and obeyed the law perfectly, then gave His life on the cross in payment for all sins, for all time, so that all who believe in Jesus will be saved from death, damnation, Satan and hell.

The Old Testament explains God's plan to bring about our salvation. He called the Israelites to be His instrument of judgment on godless, evil nations. Nations that worshipped false gods by indulging in sodomy, ritual prostitution and child sacrifice. The Israelites were to worship the Lord Almighty and teach other nations to know Him. They would also produce the Messiah.

The passages that command the Israelites to kill and destroy other peoples should only be read in that historical context. Scripture is not meant to be taken out of context. When people do, they show their ignorance and lack of faith in God. Read the Bible - it is the word of life.

Lori Coronado

Hiawatha