A Contemporary Pentecostal Theodicy of a Just God on a Killing Spree

Abstract

The portrayal of God in the Old Testament differs from that in the New Testament, suggesting an evolving perception and understanding over time. This has led to confusion and a dualistic view of God among individuals throughout history. Particularly perplexing is the divine sanction for the complete annihilation of the Canaanite population, seemingly contradicting God’s just nature. This study investigates the command to exterminate men, women, children, and infants belonging to the Canaanite nations and seeks to reconcile the notion of a just God sanctioning such perceived cruelty and bias. Analyzing the moral, religious, and theological complexities surrounding this issue, the study aims to shed light on the hypothetical inconsistency in God’s attitude. Ultimately, the study asserts that God’s sanctioned killings were justifiable actions driven by His foreknowledge and intended for the salvation of humanity as a whole. However, the study emphasizes that this divine approach does not justify or endorse any contemporary acts of religious extremism, as such violence serves no salvific purpose in God’s current plan for humanity. Grounded in the principles of action, consequence, and responsibility, the Pentecostal theodicy explored in this qualitative investigation, based on literature review and textual analysis, provides insights into the academic question of why a just God would command the total obliteration of the Canaanites. Through this analysis, this study contributes to the advancement of knowledge on the topic. Keywords: Pentecostal Theodicy, Justice, Canaanites, Violence, Extremism, and Biblical text.