PROF. BEN ONYEUKWU (REV.)
NCE (English); Dip (Computer Studies); ND/HD
(Journalism); Dip, BA (Theology) MA, PhD.
THE BIBLE AND INCEST
Devotional
Text: Lev. 18:9-11
Introduction:
According to EN English Dictionary, “incest”, is that “sexual
relations between close relatives, especially members of the immediate family
and first cousins, which is usually considered a taboo in many jurisdictions”… Thus,
the scriptural text of this lesson remarks that, “the nakedness of your sister,
the daughter of your father, or the daughter of your mother, whether born at
home or elsewhere, their nakedness you shall not uncover”. Also, “the nakedness
of your son’s daughter or your daughter’s daughter, their nakedness you shall
not uncover; for theirs is your own nakedness”. Furthermore, “the nakedness of
your father’s wife’s daughter, begotten by your father- she is your sister-you
shall not uncover her nakedness”, (vs 9-11). By way of review, the cited Scripture
covers a circle of both the immediate and extended families, paternal and
maternal, where any sexual affair among members is considered incest, and so,
should be avoided.
GENERAL
REMARKS
(1) Incest is one
of the sins that defiles individuals or nations, (Lev. 18:24)
(2) Incest is
also one of the sins that attracts the punishment of God upon a land or
community, (vs 25)
(3) Incest is
one of the terrible abominations that both the indigenes and strangers of a nation
or
community are asked to avoid, (vs 26)
(4) Incest is
one of the abominations that could cut off a person or nation from God and
society (vs 27-29)
INCEST AS A
TABOO IN BIBLICAL ISRAEL
Socially speaking, a taboo is “an inhibition
or ban that results from social custom or emotional aversion or dislike. In
Biblical Israel, such a ban exists on “incest”, which has already been defined
as “sexual relations between close relatives”… Though, the Biblical Israel does
not tolerate “incest”, it, however, only at extended family level, by certain
legal means, permits marriage among close relatives, which Abraham and Sarah
(Gen 20:1-12), Isaac and Rebecca (Gen.24) and Jacob, with his two wives, Leah
and Rachael, (Gen 28:1-4;29:1-28) are hereby cited, a practice which most
communities of the world of today see as “incest”, as well as a crime. This,
therefore, means that in Biblical Israel:;
(i)
incest is in focus when close relatives engage in sexual affairs
without being legally married, (2 Sam13:1-20)
(ii) incest is
not considered when close relatives
engage in sexual relations when they are legally married, (Gen20:1-12)
(iii) incest
remains a taboo in Biblical Israel by the stipulations of the Law of Moses,
despite the legal exemption, (Lev.18:9-10)
INCEST AS A
TABOO IN MODERN SOCIETY
The modern societies, with just the exception
of a few, see incest as a taboo, as well as an abomination which is capable of
defiling the land, and equally breach the blessings of the people. Though, most
of the people who hold that incest is evil, may not have based their belief on
biblical principles, but on certain customs that favour the gods of the land,
and by so doing, also bring their people into idolatry, (Ex. 20:3-6). Incest is
a sin against God (Lev. 18:9-11) and not just against the people’s customs, and
so, those involved should repent and confess to God, as well as avoid any unbiblical
practice, for the “so called” cleansing of the land, Furthermore, let it be
stated here that incest is a universal phenomenon that affects every society of
the world, ancient or modern, and that the God of Israel, whom Moses
represents, is the God of the universe, and so, His Law against incest remains
a universal law which, therefore, affects every segment of the human society.
To this end, it becomes mandatory for every human society to;
(i)
refrain from incest which is an abomination before the Lord, (Lev.
18:9-11;26-27)
(ii)
acknowledge that the Mosaic Law forbidding incest, is the law of
God, and not just
the traditional law of any human society (Lev.
18:27-28)
(iii)
should see to it that all those who are found guilty of incest in
society are punished in line with biblical provisions,
and not by traditional provisions, which
hinges on gods of the land, and thus, idolatry, (vs 29;Ex.20:3-5).
INCEST AS A TABOO IN THE CHRISTIAN CHURCH The scriptural
expression, “it is reported commonly that there is fornication among you and
such fornication that is not so much among the Gentiles that one should have
his father’s wife (1 Cor.5:1) shows how the early Christian church frowned at
the immorality of taking one’s father’s wife to bed, and no doubt, no one with
a living conscience that is without the conviction that incest, is more
abhorring than having sexual affairs with one’s father’s wife. And so, in
today’s Christian church, any one, clergy or layman, who treats incest with
levity, is on the side of the devil, whose aim is to steal, kill and destroy,
(John 10:10). Incest is a moral sin against God, and the Law of Moses tackling
it, is a moral law inspired by the God of the universe, and thus, a universal
law, covering every generation of humankind, including the Christian church of
all ages. Therefore, if the;
(i)
the law of Moses and modern society abhor incest, the Christian
church of today should toe the same path, (Lev. 18:9-10)
(ii) early
Christian church called for the ex-communication of those
who had sexual affairs with their fathers wives, the present
day church should do same to those who
practice incest, (1 Cor. 5:1-2)
(iii) Christian Church
of today condones incest, it then means that the moral life of the church is
deeply in trouble, (vs 1-2)
In
conclusion,
by this lesson, it has become obvious that the Biblical Israel, the Modern Society
and the Early Christian Church did not treat incest with soft clove. The
Christian church of today should not do otherwise. PLEASE, BE INFORMED.
No comments:
Post a Comment