What IS good, and how do we determine it?

[Randy Carson]

Rape is wrong.

I know it. God knows it.

But did people know it 3,000 years ago? If so, why did it happen?

God intervened in the culture of the people that He chose to form a unique covenant relationship with, the Hebrews. He gave them strict laws which governed many aspects of their lives including how they would deal with sexual misconduct.

A raped woman was no longer a virgin. Her prospects for marriage were slim. God demanded that the man responsible for this crime would have to make restitution to her family or marry the woman and provide for her needs including providing her with children who would care for her in her old age. (If the man and woman were guilty of committing adultery consensually, they were stoned. God wasn't playing. He expected His people to toe the line.)

In doing so, God raised the bar. He changed the thinking of a primitive people.

Unfortunately, giving God kudos for anything is not easy for some people. They enjoy being able to tweak the noses of Christians by claiming that God is a moral monster for condoning rape. Thus, when their error is pointed out, they are NOT happy. Unfortunately for them, they've chose poorly; the charge that God condones rape is demonstrably wrong.

For the benefit of those who may be willing to consider the Christian perspective on this subject, I offer links to two excellent articles written by Jimmy Akin:

Does God Approve of Rape? (Dark Passages)
http://www.ncregister.com/blog/jimmy-aki...k-passages

Does God Expect Women to Marry Their Rapists?
http://www.ncregister.com/blog/jimmy-aki...z3e1H4V9zx

I believe the charge of "condoning" has been answered, and those controversialist who wish to continue making the accusation simply demonstrate themselves to be incapable of reasoning and lacking in goodwill. Further discussion with people of that sort is not a good use of time.