Has anyone ever thought of Christianity this way?

Question

Could relationship with God throughout history be understood using a developmental model? For example, did God relate to Israel in the Old Testament as a parent would relate to a young child...right and wrong...black and white. And then in New Testament times, did Jesus come to help us learn how to know right and wrong with an emphasis on understanding the meaning behind the law. If so, might it be that we are now adolescents who are given some freedom to explore gray areas, but still expected to maintain curfew and keep communication open? What do you think?

Following this analogy, could it be that self sacrificing/ loving agnostics and atheists are really, at heart, rebellious teenagers longing for the full privileges of an adult? And that open-minded Christians who read the bible with similar levels of understanding of the nature of love, self-sacrifice, and interconnectedness, differ only in terms of willingness to still listen to "Dad" and know they don't know it all yet?

Answer 1

yes, I have thought of it this way too. I think that maybe after we die we are treated as adults with full knowledge.

Answer 2

No!!. I use to think this way after a while Its Just an attempt to keep the bible relevant. Sorry. Just give it up. Jesus was a myth. Some things written in there are ok, but better is written else where. Try plato.
EDIT:
'self sacrificing/ loving agnostics and atheists are really, at heart, rebellious teenagers"
Isnt that a good thing??? rebellion = self sacrificing & loving. "Become like a child". Sounds like what christianity is apparently meant to be. Ever heard of Socrates? 'The first 'Christian''. early christians were accused of being atheist

Answer 3

This is a good question my friend. You have to look at the Bible as a whole thing though; just to make that point. It all counts, the old has not been done away with. But God gave us "all" the 10 commandments in Exodus 20, even wrote it with his own finger.(Old test) And in the New Test. is also says in John 14:15 "If you love me, Keep my commandments". So they Have Not been nailed to the cross as many ppl think, just the ceromial laws like killing the lamb/goat etc. were done away with at the cross. God left the commandment as a example for us to follow; it is our guide my friend. And yes, when Jesus came to earth in the New Test. era, he did teach and was a example to the diciplies and to others around him. But as the Bible does say, and his own did not except him. And Jesus died on the cross for us, and he is our open commuciation to pray to my friend. I will tell you this. You do NOT need to go to any Preist/Bishop to confess your sins; they are sinners themselves. You need ONLY to confess your sins to Jesus and Jesus only; I mean that is one reason he did die on the cross for us. And yes, Jesus did teach allot of right and wrong to all that were around while he walked the earth. There is NO where in the WHOLE entire Bible where it says you have to confess your sins to another person (priest/bishop=mere man). I am studied religions of many faiths. Do not go by the Catholic cathethecism...you need the BIBLE and BIBLE only as you guide my friend. And pray and as for guidence before opening up the word of God. I hope this help. Amen.

Answer 4

I've never understood the discrepencies between the Old and New Testaments. Like the eye for an eye, tooth for a tooth in the OT, then it's turn the other cheek in the NT. What changed?

Answer 5

I think you are on the right track...

Beginning in Exodus when the people were leaving slavery they were used to being told EVERYTHING that they needed to do...

So they received commandments to tell them every little thing that they needed to do at the moment they needed to do it...

After a new generation had grown without having known slavery then the laws they were given could change...

Jesus then spoke of the spirit of the law to help the people understand that the law was not hard and fixed for absolutely every situation because it was intended to guide them and not to condemn them.

Answer 6

The black and white area you described in the old testament is true. But God loves us and that is why he sent his son Jesus to suffer and die on the cross to save us from our sins, Only if you except him as your savior. God states that only through his son Jesus Christ will we enter the kingdom of heaven.. In a way that is the gray area that you are now asking about. God did give us a gray area from total death of sins, through his son. What more do you want? Complete amnisty from our choice of sins? IT aint going to happen. Think about the gray areas you want to explore and ask yourself if it is worth displeasing God when our judgement day comes, and it will come. You could die at any minute, ask yourself if you are ready. GOd Bless and Good Luck

Answer 7

could be an interesting concept. we have developed into a much different society than in the Old Testament as THE DEITY has allowed us to progress in many different ways, especially in communication areas.There are certain major areas we haven't been able to overcome however. Religious Belief Systems, Greed, and agreements on what is right and wrong in certain concepts of government.

who can say what real truth is for what you believe to be true may not be true to me.

Answer 8

really interesting theory

I mean the logic fits around developmental psychology perfectly...... and I don't believe in accidents or coincidence

I guess it would also be interesting to use theories of attachment to explain the god-human relationship too

however

im not so sure that everyone is out of the 'new testament' stage you speak of

people still love black and white, right and wrong in Christianity.

you see it all the time on yahoo answers

nice thoughts

Answer 9

What you've said is interesting. I've often thought of it in a similar way. God says, "Okay, you couldn't get it right when I gave you everything to be happy. So, I'll be a little more strict. Okay, you messed that up to. Let's try it this way." Each time He gives us a new opportunity to turn toward Him. Each time we fail. Each time He doesn't give up on us. Sounds a lot like a parent doesn't it?

Answer 10

Yes God is our Heavenly Father and we are here to prove ourselves if we would choose to follow Hiim or not. the Jews in those days were stiffnecked people so they needed the law of Moses to keep them on the right track. Jesus Christ fulfilled the law of Moses while He was still obeying it when He was on earth. God's words and truths never change. today we still keep the 10 commandments and love God and others as Jesus loved. as much as those people needed to keep God's commandments, we need to keep His commandments and be clean and good. temptations are stronger and more subtle, so we should be more careful lest we fall into a trap of addiction or misery or confusion etc. for example, why do we say kids can't drink because it is bad for them and drink ourselves? it is still bad for us. There is too much rationalization in this world today. we call eternal good characteristics such as integrity, honesty, chastity or infidelity "old-fashioned". but they are not. they have been tested and tried and are proven to be true and help our lives better. God has commanded them and His words do not fail. We live in a world where people call good bad and bad good. Beware of the snares and the lies of the devil.

Answer 11

Interesting thought - I believe that you might have something there - you have spend some time thinking this process to the end - thank you for thinking about us!@