Why are so many Christians so quick to disregard the words written in the Old Testament?

Question

Okay, it is still God's word, and God is perfect right, so his word does not lose it's crediblity. There is actually a scripture saying that God's word in the old testament should not be forgotten. So why do so many Christians forget how cruel and heartless God was back then. Why would God find punishment of children okay then, but not okay now? Does this make any sense?

Answer 1

Cos the old testament don't fit their current life style...its religion politics!

Answer 2

I don't know who you've been talking to, but my observation is that most Christians accept both sections of the Bible, since they recognize that the whole thing is God's Word. Unfortunately, some prefer the second half, since that's where Jesus is highlighted. And I've observed also that too many of them pick-and-choose the scriptures they base their beliefs on, rather than accepting the whole package. If you'd read the Bible as many times as I have over the decades you would also discover that it's one, harmonious whole: many prophecies in the first half see fulfillment in the latter half; many writers from Jesus' time refer back to scriptures written centuries earlier.
As to God being cruel and heartless: this is a popular misconception--fostered by Satan, God's enemy, through the churches--but based on misapplied or misunderstood scriptures. If I had the time I could quote you HUNDREDS of scriptures showing the full range of God's qualities. Here's just a few: Isaiah 48:17--he is our teacher; Deuteronomy 32:4--his work is perfect, his ways are justice, a God of faithfulness (he's also called the Rock, meaning he's unchanging, a solid place of refuge); the whole 23rd Psalm--likened to a shepherd (literal shepherds NEVER mistreat their flock, especially during Biblical times); 1 Timothy 1:11--called the happy God (although some translations use "blessed" or something similar); 1 John 4:8--God is love (not HAS love, but IS, because it's his dominant quality); Psalm 37:28--he's a lover of justice; Jeremiah 3:12--he's loyal (some translations say "merciful", also a positive quality); Exodus 34:6--abundant in loving kindness (not just love, or just kindness, but loving kindness, which adds an extra dimension to the quality of love). Is that enough?
As to killing children: (a) God is not going to raise evryone's children for them; each parent is responsible for their own child's well being; so (b) when the Jews disobeyed God and were punished, or when the Canaanites were dispossessed and killed, it was THE PARENTS' fault and responsibility, not God's. Also, one of the reasons the Canaanites, and others, were dispossessed from the Promised land was because they practiced child sacrifice (Leviticus 18:21). The Jews were told quite clearly not to imitate the people they dispossessed (Leviticus 18:24-28). And one final point (yes, the end is in sight!): Luke 20:38--He is the God of the living, for all are living to him; in other words, he is quite capable of resurrecting those who died, or were killed, in the past, and is even eager to do so.

Answer 3

We do not disregard the Old Testament. We need it to be able to understand the New Testament. There are many stories and revelations in the Old Testament which are provisional and incomplete. Examples: teachings on retaliation, adultery, divorce, food restrictions, the Holy Trinity, the Soul, etc. The Bible is about salvation history; so if you pick up something in the Old Testament and say it is God's final word without comparing it with the comparable teaching in the New Testament you will go astray. That is the mistake of many fundamentalist denominations. They forget that Jesus Christ is the fullness of divine revelation and what he teaches is the final word.
Peace and every blessing!

Answer 4

First of all the Christians you write about aren't really Christians. If they were, then they would know the Truth. When God came to us in the flesh as Jesus Christ, yes God is Jesus Christ. He fulfilled the Word, not changing one jot or tittle.

Secondly, you do not sound like a Christian either? If you were you would not be going around saying God was cruel and heartless in the Old Testament.

I'm going to stop here as I'm feeling a little repulsed by all of this.><>

Answer 5

I do not disregard ANY of the Bible. People that do are disillusioned. God is the same yesterday, today, tomorrow, 2,000 years ago, 2,000 years from now. You can call God what you will. Cruel. Heartless. Whatever. You are not the judge of God. But that same God that you call cruel and heartless will one day judge you. Why is it that usually, when one is so concerned with the punishment or suffering of children 3,000 years ago, they often agree with a person's 'right' to kill their unborn children? Where is their compassion then? Yes, God's wrath often fell upon innocent children of wicked people, but that blood is on the hands of the wicked people, not on God's.

Answer 6

the old testament among christians is not lost, what is important for us in the old testament is our understanding of it, try the free lessons at salvationhistory.com for a better understanding,if only for your own understanding. you need only do the first course which has 6 lessons. it is a study but you can just read through it and get a better understaning of gods plan of salvation for mankind.

Answer 7

They believe in some things of the old testament such as the 10 commandments and the Adam and Eve story. They exclude other things by using the excuse, "the times have changed so those scriptures are no longer valid."
It makes no sense to me either.

Answer 8

Good questions. To me the Old Testament is just as relevant as the New Testament.

Answer 9

The Old Testament was written strictly for the Jews and not the Christians. We have a "new" covenant with God. We study the OT for reference and clarification, but we are not bound to it.
If you actually studied the Bible from any logical theological viewpoint you would learn this right away. If you don't you will never figure it out.

Answer 10

here is a lesson in dispensationalism, even though i don't think man people willl care to read it...sorry if that is a hasty conclusion

the first things that must be set in place are the three cornerstones of dispensationalism.

1. the Bible must be interpreted with a literal, historical-grammatical interpretation.
2. the Church is not the equivalent of Israel
3. the purpose of History is not the salvation of man, but the Glorification of God (doxological purpose of history)

okay. that being said, the lesson can start. Dispensationalism is the idea that God deals differently with people throughout the different ages. This doesn't mean that God changes through time, but it means that He DEALS differently with the human race, both revealing more of Himself and requiring more of us. The reason that children were punished in the O.T. is because God had set the Law in place, and any who oppose that law had to be punished according to it.

then, the dispensation changed: Jesus Christ revealed Himself to mankind, manifested in flesh and bone. His death changed the requirement of mankind, freeing them from the Law - not destroying it, but making the ultimate sacrifice in order to atone for anyone who is interested.

The OT was not done away with in the establishment of this new dispensation, but it is still used today. it cannot be used to govern human lives, but it must be used in order to better understand God and His purpose for the Ages.

that is a very, VERY brief explanation. if you have more questions about it, you can email me.

hope that helped a little!

Answer 11

It doesn't make any sense an Agnostic would worry so much about what they think. LOL! The Pagan gods and goddesses could be badasses back in the old days when they wanted to too, so I know I can't throw stones.