Why enforce only some of the laws in the old testament?

Question

Apart from the morality which we all need to follow, there are certain "material" or "traditions" in the old testament.

the old testament (Jewish traditions) restricts us from eating certain foods like pigs, reptiles, some birds and insects. It also restricts us from working on Sundays. It also tells us to marry and have many children. It does not allow us to make any statutes and images (pictures) of anything, fearing of the possible idol-worship (spirits-in-statutes-or-images or paganism). It allows a man to have more than one wife. it forbids people to eat with unclean hands. It tells people to be circumcised.

We are all have been redeemed by Jesus and therefore these traditions are no longer valid because what is important is the "heart" - good or evil. Now why some Christians have problem with Catholics who have statues of Jesus or Mary or Saints? Not like they're worshipping the statutes like pagans (no spirits inside). I don't get it. Jesus redeemed us all!

with or without traditions - as long as the heart is good, then it does not matter, isn't it.
Traditions with good faith and deed are still acceptable to God. Not like traditions are bad or anything.

catholics bow down to Jesus. not the woods or irons.

if images are sooo not allowed, why do we keep photos? paintings? statutes in our house?
we are all redeemed by Christ.

I['m a Christian, but God somehow told me that Catholics are really Jesus-followers.

if we are to keep the laws, then how come we eat pigs, none of our men are circumcised and so on.

Answer 1

Very good question.
There were many types of "Laws" from the old testament. Ceremonial, Preistly, Jewish, Moral etc I think 613 in all. Jesus pretty much freed us from all but the Moral Laws commonly reffered to as the 10 Commandments:

Exo 20:3 Thou shalt have no other gods before me.
Exo 20:4 Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image, or any likeness of any thing that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth:
Exo 20:5 Thou shalt not bow down thyself to them, nor serve them: for I the LORD thy God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation of them that hate me;
Exo 20:6 And shewing mercy unto thousands of them that love me, and keep my commandments.
Exo 20:7 Thou shalt not take the name of the LORD thy God in vain; for the LORD will not hold him guiltless that taketh his name in vain.
Exo 20:8 Remember the sabbath day, to keep it holy.
Exo 20:9 Six days shalt thou labour, and do all thy work:
Exo 20:10 But the seventh day is the sabbath of the LORD thy God: in it thou shalt not do any work, thou, nor thy son, nor thy daughter, thy manservant, nor thy maidservant, nor thy cattle, nor thy stranger that is within thy gates:
Exo 20:11 For in six days the LORD made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that in them is, and rested the seventh day: wherefore the LORD blessed the sabbath day, and hallowed it.
Exo 20:12 Honour thy father and thy mother: that thy days may be long upon the land which the LORD thy God giveth thee.
Exo 20:13 Thou shalt not kill.
Exo 20:14 Thou shalt not commit adultery.
Exo 20:15 Thou shalt not steal.
Exo 20:16 Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbour.
Exo 20:17 Thou shalt not covet thy neighbour's house, thou shalt not covet thy neighbour's wife, nor his manservant, nor his maidservant, nor his ox, nor his ***, nor any thing that is thy neighbour's.

Answer 2

Jesus redeems those who repent of their sins and come to Him in faith. The laws of the Old Testament that Jesus fulfilled are no longer required to be kept by Christians. So the sacrificial laws and the dietary laws for righteousness sake do not have to be kept by Christians because Jesus fulfilled those sections of the law for us. (See Romans 8). As for the images the OT forbids images period not just ones used in pagan worship. God never commanded any images of Him to be made. Besides the fact that the images we have are at best guesses of what He actually looked like. What do you do with statues of Mary and the Saints don't you pray to them to intercede for you. Thats what Catholocism teaches and is forbidden in Scripture. (1 Timothy 2:5)

Simple faith is Jesus is the best way to go. Leave the other stuff behind.

Answer 3

I apriciate your question, first let me make it clear that the Christians have NO problem with Catholics, i am from a Catholic famil, i used to say 153 hail Marys, go for Holy Eucatistic mass dail, there are priest and nuns from my family . The Holy mass if fully by the word of God, In the name of the Father to go in peace, the mass is only the word of God, but that has become ritual, the prayers have become like nursery ryms, we simply make the sign of cross and murmer something and go on, The Word of God says " these people worship me with their tounge but their heart is far away from me" Jesus told us to pray in HIS name, ask in HIS name, and He says I am the way, truth and live, so there need not be any recomendations through any body if you and me are filled by the Holy Spirit, the Spirit of adoption interceds for us, even Mother Mary herself said only one thing "do what ever HE (JESUS) tells you to do. i hope things are clear now if not may i request you to read and meditate the Bible, and ask the HOLY SPIRIT to guide you into all the Truth, because HE is the Spirit of Truth.

Answer 4

Jesus came to fallfil the sacrifices needed in the old testiment and told the jewish leaders God wonted there love not traditions

Answer 5

CATHOLICS DO BOW DOWN TO THOSE IDOLS.
IT DOES NOT RESTRICT US FROM WORKING ON SUNDAYS BUT IT DOES RESTRICT US FROM WORKING ON SATURDAYS THE 7TH DAY SABBATH
NONE OF THE LAWS OF GOD ARE DONE AWAY WITH.
Mt 5:17 Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil.
Mt 5:18 For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled.
Mt 5:19 Whosoever therefore shall break one of these least commandments, and shall teach men so, he shall be called the least in the kingdom of heaven: but whosoever shall do and teach them, the same shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven.
7TH DAY SABBATH
Ex 31:16 Wherefore the children of Israel shall keep the sabbath, to observe the sabbath throughout their generations, for a perpetual covenant.
Ex 31:17 It is a sign between me and the children of Israel for ever: for in six days the LORD made heaven and earth, and on the seventh day he rested, and was refreshed.

Answer 6

I have the same issue. I have a tattoo and some people say its wrong because it says so in the bible. Well it says it in the old testament where it also says to stone a child for disobeying. People can be so judgemental! When Jesus came he wiped out the old law. I agree with you!!

Answer 7

people worry too much about the "laws" which were eliminated when Christ died on the cross for all of mankinds sins. His only laws were laws of love. If you follow these laws; you are to love your God with all of your heart, mind and soul, and love your neighbor, you will never fall short of his will in your life.

He just wants us to love HIM and each other- so simple, yet so difficult, eh?

Answer 8

Why enforce any of the biblical laws,rules and so on?Its not Xtian business what I do with my idols and stuff.If I want laws and rules I can use I can get them from elsewhere.

Answer 9

Catholics & most protestants follow Pauline doctrine.

And that is why you have the confusion.

"Christians" are not following Jesus, they are following Paul.

And, he has been repeatedly called the "anti-Christ" for his "anti-Christian" doctrine.

So long as you follow a Trinitarian church, you are not a "Christian," you are a "Paulist."

It's just that simple. Paul is the "anti-Christ" and the author of confusion.

Answer 10

So that you will not have materials to argue with them