Scripture: Deuteronomy 21:18-21
Now if someone has a consistently stubborn and rebellious child, who refuses to listen to their father and mother—even when the parents discipline him, he won’t listen to them—the father and mother will take the son before the elders of that city at its gates. Then they will inform the city’s elders: “This son of ours is consistently stubborn and rebellious, refusing to listen to us. What’s more, he’s wild and a drunkard.” Then all the people of that town will stone him until he dies. Remove such evil from your community! All Israel will hear about this and be afraid.
Thought for the Day: I referenced this passage in worship on Sunday, and it received a few raised eyebrows and a couple of chuckles. I used it for dramatic purposes as most of us would find the stoning of a child, no matter how stubborn or rebellious, to be immoral and indefensible. Yet our central book that helps define who we are and what we believe states that doing so is necessary for the sake of the community. Was this really what God wanted at one time in history? There is absolutely nothing I could imagine that would make me argue that the God of grace and mercy would demand the stoning of a child. This passage, along with others, appears to be a reflection of the culture and not a reflection of God. In a time when the social structure of a community was fragile, the belief that the sacrifice of one child for the sake of the larger community’s stability was probably argued. Yet in the teachings of Jesus, we learn that one sheep is worth leaving behind the other 99. Every single life matters.
Prayer: You have celebrated my life, O God, even when I have been stubborn and rebellious. You have loved me when I have ignored your guidance. So many others have not honored you as they should, yet I too must show them grace and mercy as you have shown such things to me. Amen.
