You know i asked a question on here about religion and i had some answers where some Christians were saying i was picking and choosing what i wanted and throwing the rest away - which seemed - to them anyway to be a bad thing. OK That's their right. But then why can they answer other questions about why do Christians do "this" or why don't Christians do "that" & they say "that's from the old testament - so it doesn't count. Read the new testament". Isn't that picking and choosing what they want out of it and throwing the rest away? Aren't the Old Testament and the New Testament all in the same Bible? Sounds hypocritcal to me. So i am asking someone to please explain to me why it is OK for Christians to pick and choose what they want out of the Bible and preach it all over...but others do it (and not just me talking about others in general) and Christians get all bent out of shape and say we'll go to hell for it? Or commiting a sin or God will punish you or etc etc etc. ???
2006-08-12 10:19:12 · 27 answers · asked by purple dove 5 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
Edit: First off i am not lumping all Christians together. i said SOME not all. To those that are getting all upset... the reason for my question was 2 part. 1. i sincerely want to know why The Old Testament is dif from the new. Did i word it a little combative? Yes! For my #2 reason for asking. To see if people can back up what they believe. If you can't handle someone questioning your beliefs it makes me wonder how strong they are. Just my personal opinion. So far wonderwoman has given the best answer, She actually took the time to read the question and answer from her heart and her mind with a straightforward - fact (according to the Bible) filled answer. And i want to thank her for taking her time to do that.
2006-08-12 10:39:17 · update #1
I would have to agree with you on that. Christians should not pick and choose what they look or what they don't like in the Bible. But there is something you need to understand between the Old and the New Testament. The Old Testament was under the law and the New Testament was all about grace. The Old Testament taught us what sin was and how much God hated those sins. No one could ever follow all those laws, it was impossible. The New Testament teaches that it is through Jesus we are forgiven and that we are not under the law. We are not required to follow all those laws that we read about in the Old Testament, but we do need to be educated about them. There are certain things that get transferred from the Old to the New. For example, homosexuality was wrong in the Old and guess what, homosexuality is wrong in the New. Serving one God was the law in the Old and serving one God is also in the New. Witchcraft was wrong in the old and it is wrong in the New. The point of what I am trying to say is, it is important to know the Bible and how the literature was written. When specific things get transferred from the Old to the New, it is important that we pay particular attention to those concerns that God has for us. God does require us to love mercy and justice and to walk humbly before him.
2006-08-12 10:30:16 · answer #1 · answered by wonderwoman 3 · 5⤊ 0⤋
St. James wrote, ".....and now there comes forth from God a new righteuousness that is not of the Torah...."
He was explaining that the Old Testament had lapsed and the New Testament had taken effect.
In the Old Testament if one broke Holy Law that was it, the sin could never be forgiven only rolled forward every year by making sacrifice at the temple. By the Old Law, sin could never be forgiven.
In the New Testament, the concept of "forgiveness" was introduced. Simply by sincerely asking God for forgiveness your sins could be forgiven.
True Christians are not "picking and choosing" but following the Holy Law as set forth in the New Testament.
2006-08-12 17:28:38 · answer #2 · answered by Albannach 6 · 2⤊ 1⤋
Christians are walking in faith and many are at different stages of growth and understanding. Unfortunately many do not read the bible for themselves, but just rely on the understanding of the sermons they hear in church.
The old and new testament laws are different because Jesus fulfilled the law. For example, we do not need to sacrifice animals to pay for sins because Jesus is now our permanent sacrifice and when we confess our sins to him he is faithful and just to forgive them. As the fulfillment of the law, Jesus made the law perfect and we are no longer subject to diet restrictions and many practices that were under the law in the old testament. It is not picking and choosing. The laws in the old testament were affective, but man's nature lacked the fortitude to keep them. Therefore, in Christ, the law is perfected and we do not practice those laws because we are now under his grace.
There is a constant battle between the flesh and the spirit, but we have the Holy Spirit that lives in us to lead and guide us away from temptation and sin.
The old testament is still valid. It shows us the coming of the messiah and how the Jews walked in faith.
Try not to battle about the bible. Read it with a good concordance or dictionary. Ask a minister about questions and then go back to your bible with scripture references he may give you and read for yourself!
2006-08-12 17:46:41 · answer #3 · answered by Chris 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Yes it is all one Bible, but when Jesus came the old TRADITIONS of the Old Testament no longer needed to be followed considering that they were being done in waiting for Jesus to arrive. These traditions were called Ceremonial Traditions. I wish I could explain this better to you, but if you care to look into the topic a little, I recommend reading Luther's Catechism, Small or Large, both address the issue.
2006-08-12 17:31:58 · answer #4 · answered by The Reverend 2 · 2⤊ 0⤋
The Old Testament was the old "covenant" (or contract) between God and men. The New Testament is the new contract. Jesus and the apostles explicitly taught that we are to live by the guidelines of the new contract. The Old Testament is still a great insight into God's character and his past dealing with humans, but we are no longer subject to the Law of Moses.
2006-08-12 17:27:07 · answer #5 · answered by Platin 2 · 3⤊ 1⤋
No, you don't understand, ever since the New Testament and the Age of Grace came about, we are no longer bound by the laws of the Old Testament, though alot of them are repeated in the New Testament.
2006-08-12 17:28:27 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 3⤊ 0⤋
The Old Testament is to learn from The New Testament is to live by.
2006-08-12 17:30:40 · answer #7 · answered by JEN 2 · 2⤊ 0⤋
the old and new testaments are IN the same bible, but they are not the same thing...as for things like eating shellfish, ceremonial washings, the constuction and establishment of the temple, proper sacrifices, etc that you find in the old testament-they were part of the old covenant between God and israel...Christ came and, as the Messiah, established a new covenant...He spoke of it during the Last Supper...and it is discussed and explained in the book of hebrews...
2006-08-12 18:03:39 · answer #8 · answered by spike missing debra m 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I am a Christian and sin is sin in the eyes of God. If it is sin in the Old Testament, it is sin in the New Testament
2006-08-12 17:31:30 · answer #9 · answered by PREACHER'S WIFE 5 · 1⤊ 1⤋
You obviously don't pay full attention to the Bible, Old and New Testament. When you do, then you'll understand. God Bless you.
2006-08-12 17:23:42 · answer #10 · answered by ? 7 · 2⤊ 2⤋