Christians, although the Old Testament...?

Question

Although the Old Testament is no longer considered to be the premiere law, why was it ever written? It was admittedly more vicious than the New Testament, but still, God told people to do really bad things, right? So even if he sent Jesus to change the laws, why was he a "mean" God beforehand? I'm a little unsure on the issue. You don't have to quote scripture, it might be more helpful if you could just explain in laymen terms (easier to understand for me).

Basically I just want to know why he encouraged death and such before Jesus. I am not intimately familiar with the Bible, its been a good 10 years since I read it.

Answer 1

There's an awful lot more to the OT than just death and destruction. God truly loved people, even then, and He made every effort to get through to people.

Consider the story of Jonah. God told Jonah to go to a city called Nineveh, which was a pagan population, to convert them to the truth. Jonah didn't want to go, because he didn't think the people deserved mercy. But the Ninevites accepted God's message, and God spared the city.

Consider the story of Hosea. God told him to marry a woman named Gomer, knowing full well that she was a harlot who would abandon him. God allowed this infidelity to happen, and then He compelled Hosea to take her back. God used this to illustrate that He believes in giving second chances.

People always complain because God punished the Egyptians before the Jews left. Gee, I wonder why, they had only held the Jewish people in slavery for 400 years.

And to say that Jesus is all bubble gum and lollipops isn't quite right. Jesus spoke harsh words toward the clergy of his time -- he called them poisonous snakes. He blew up in a rage at the temple in Jerusalem because of corruption. And Jesus said, point blank, "if you love me, you will keep my commandments." When he forgave people on the street, he always ended with, "go and sin no more."
Yes, Jesus teaches to love God and love your neighbor. But honestly, that was the whole point of the law all along. The only thing Jesus did away with was blood sacrifices.


.

Answer 2

Actually, the Old Testament is the description of the Old Covenant and the New Testament is the description of the New Covenant. God never did anything without a reason. He knows everything because He is the beginning and end-without Him there is nothing. Therefore, He has a good reason for everything He does. In the Old Testament many prophecies were announced and later Manifested in the New Testament. So, in essence, the Old Testament is the history and reference of the background of Christianity. While the New Testament is a manual for how we are to live today and a guidebook on what will happen in the future.And God will never change. He's the same yesterday, today, and forever.

Answer 3

Imagine going to a movie and coming in the middle of the movie.Would you really understand what was going on?Would you know why it ended the way it did?Of course not!You would have to see the movie from the beginning in order to understand the context of what is going on and why the ending is what it is.The bible is the same way.The old testament is the beginning the new testament is the conclusion.As for God telling people to "really bad things"all children think getting punished is "really bad".The fact is that when some one breaks a law or rules there has to be consequences and some punishments are tougher than others.

Answer 4

I don't really see God in the Old Testament as a "mean" God...he just layed down the rules, and the people decided not to follow them. Those who don't follow the rules get punished. It's the same thing as today - parents lay down the rules, and if kids don't follow them, they get punished. God never encouraged death, but that was the punishment for not following him, which is still true today (although I would say that the death of your soul, i.e. hell, is the punishment today, as opposed to death of your body like it was back in the Old Testament). God never wants us to die, and He didn't back in Old Testament times either. And I don't recall God telling people to do bad things.

And also, He sent Jesus to teach people about the meaning behind the laws He had laid down. Jesus didn't change the laws, he just explained them, and showed us how to have eternal life. I hope this helps clear up some of your questions! :)

Answer 5

Old testament is the only Law that we have. It is referenced in the New Testament. That is why we still follow all that it says other than the things that Jesus told us not too. The old testament is an example of what Jesus's sacrafice was for us. Now all sin is forgiven. God was never mean before hand. He was rightous. He punished those that did not listen to him. If he did not he wouldnt have been holy. I think that the Old Testament is an example of Gods rath, and a guide line for us to live our lives.

Answer 6

God was never a mean God, although HIS punishments could seem so. But look at it from HIS point of view: He gives us a perfect unblemished planet, and we defile it with innocent blood shed, homosexuality, and divorce.

In the new testament, Jesus tells us that the Law God Gave us is still in effect until Heaven and Earth pass; which they haven't. So we are still under law; which shows how good God really is, HE let one of HIS devine Sons die, in your place. This was unprecidented throughout all time, which is why we are now allowed to worship Jesus as the Lamb of God. Despite our evil, we don't have to die the horrible deaths of the old testament, for One died in our place... and He died a most horrible death so that you wouldn't have to.

And since you are familiar with the bible; put yourself in Jesus' shoes for His last days on earth... go back and read it so you don't miss a detail... and then do this... especially if you have children of your own whom you love. Imagine that being your child that those people are doing that to... but you, being the most powerful being in all creation, will not do anything to stop it, because the alternative, would be to destroy all of those people who have done that to HIS Son: All those evil people who murdered HIS Son, who did nothing to deserve it. All because HE loved you.

Is HE really that mean?

Answer 7

Just because we are no longer under the law of the old testament, the word is important. When studying the old testament prophesies you see many already fulfilled in the new testament. Psalms is wonderful for inspiration, Proverbs for wisdom and much more.In the old testament times God sometimes ordered the destruction of lawless, pagan tribes, because they were coming against His people. I would read the new testament first and then the old if I were you. God is fair and just.

Answer 8

God hasn't changed. He is the same God that he was in the old testament. He sent Jesus to die for us so that we could be forgiven, but it specifically says in the bible that Jesus did not come to destroy the old laws.

I'm sure if God had a choice, all of us would follow him and be perfect, but because we humans refuse to do so, he has no choice but to play the judge. It is similar to a person in our country getting the death penalty... the person committed a terrible crime, and according to the law, must be punished.

God has always loved us. He may seem tough, but if you don't reprimand your children they will grow up self-centered and full of bad behavior. He has no choice.

Answer 9

Moses came down the mountain with a higher law, but when he found the children of Israel worshipping an idol knew they could not abide by those laws and receive the promises for obedience.

God gave man the lesser laws, a so-called minimum standard, by which to live. Everything was cut and dry. Do good and blessings will come. Do bad, and punishment will be swift. The children of Israel didn't listen and were "hard to be entreated", so the law of moses existed to help them prepare for a better law, the law originally intended for them.

As for how God treated them, whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, for except he visit them with chastisement they were slow to remember him.

God has never encouraged killing, though sometimes it is acceptable, as in defending your homeland/family.

Answer 10

The Bible says in Romans 15:4 (KJV) that "For whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning, that we through patience and comfort of the scriptures might have hope." Also the Bible says in 1 Corinthians 10:11 (KJV) that "Now all these things happened unto them for examples: and they are written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the world are come." God did not send Jesus to destroy the law but to fulfill it. All the laws back in the Old Testament were prophecies that Jesus Christ was going to fulfill in the Old Testament. Jesus said in Matthew 5:17 (KJV) that "Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil." All the different things that happened in the Old Testament were for our learning as they were examples and they were written for our learning.