STRANGER THAN FICTION

While they were enjoying themselves, a crowd of troublemakers from the town surrounded the house. They began beating at the door and shouting to the old man, “Bring out the man who is staying with you so we can have sex with him.” Judges 19:22 NLT

The old man stepped outside to talk to them. No, my brothers, don’t do such an evil thing. For this man is a guest in my house, and such a thing would be shameful. Judges 19:23 NLT

Here, take my virgin daughter and this man’s concubine. I will bring them out to you, and you can abuse them and do whatever you like. But don’t do such a shameful thing to this man. Judges 19:24 NLT

But they wouldn’t listen to him. So the Levite took hold of his concubine and pushed her out the door. Judges 19:25a NLT

Everyone who saw it said, “Such a horrible crime has not been committed in all the time since Israel left Egypt. Think about it! What are we going to do? Who’s going to speak up?” Judges 19:30 NLT

Then all the Israelites were united as one man, from Dan in the north to Beersheba in the south, including those from across the Jordan in the land of Gilead. The entire community assembled in the presence of the Lord at Mizpah. Judges 20:1 NLT

In those days Israel had no king; all the people did whatever seemed right in their own eyes. Judges 21:25 NLT

In those days, there was no binding moral consensus.

So people followed their own moral compass.

We want the freedom to do what we want, when we want, with whom we want, as long as it doesn't hurt anybody.

Only the super-rich can afford this.

Generally, this works out better for men than women.

Everywhere that women have rights, they've had to fight for them.

You can't do what's right in your own eyes without eventually hurting someone.

Eventually you hurt you.

You're gonna be mastered by something.

The thing that has mastered you began as an expression of your freedom.

You hurt the people... *with you. *that care about you. *coming along after you.

I should be able to do what I want, when I want, with whom I want as long as it helps somebody.