Why do Christians quote the Old Testement to...?

Question

condemn gay marraige, criticize tatoos and support the death penalty. But, when you point out that the Old Testement also says you should be condemned for wearing clothes of mixed cloth, touching shellfish and put to death for working on Sundays, they suddenly "remember" that the New Testement is more important. If you tell them Jesus said to turn the other cheek and to love your enemies more than your neighbors, they can't help but quote the Old Testement again.
You do realize that the only people Jesus criticizes in the entire Bible are hypocrites?

Should we follow rules from the Old Testement or not? Or should we just continue to use the verses YOU agree with?

Answer 1

And why do you ignore the word of God to establish your own opinion?
I quote the Old Testament because the New Testament tells me "Now these things happened to them as an example and they were written for our instruction, upon whom the ends of the ages have come."
And again "Now these things happened as examples for us, that we should not crave evil things as they also craved." (I Corinthians 10:6,11)
And again, "Neither let us act immorally as some of them did, and were destroyed by the destroyer."
(verse 8)
That some things are to be interpreted figuratively is plain by Paul's interpretation of Deuteronomy 25:4 (You shall not muzzle the ox while he is threshing.")in the preceding chapter, where he interprets this as referring preachers earning their living through the preaching of the Gospel. (I Corinthians 9:9)
Doesn't the real issue come down to this: "If any man will do His (God the Father's) will, he shall know of the doctrine (whether it is of God or of man) ?(John 7:17)
You are free to do what you please, but if I believe what you are doing is contrary to the will and word of God, I will tell you so, because I have a commandment from God to love others as myself, and not wanting to come under the judgment of God myself, neither do I wish others to. Paul said "For many walk, of whom I often told you, and now tell you even weeping, that they are enemies of the cross of Christ, whose end is destruction, whose god is their appetite, whose boast is in their shame, who set their minds on earthly things." (Philippians 3:18,19)
So you can go on crying about how those mean old Christians are judging you, even as you judge them. The fact remains each of us must face the judgment of God.
My conscience is clear.

Answer 2

Those christians that use the OT hopefully will realize that Jesus covered everything in the OT with His death on the cross. Now, do I have the obligation to inform others of their wrong decisions? Yes. How do I do that? With the Holy SPirit that resides within me. The Holy Spirit is much more powerful than I am and is wiser beyond my own wisdom. Therefore, when someone needs to hear the word of God then I will be prompted to speak. To speak the truth in LOVE is much more powerful then to speak the truth in hate or some way that will drive others away from God.

Now is it wrong to partake in things of the world? Depends upon what that thing is. Should I condemn others for being homosexuals and having same sex marriages? No, because I would face condemnation too. Unfortunatelly in our world today, by telling others of Gods love, I can either be killed, shot, beaten, sued, or a plethora of other things. Will that stop me from bringing the truth to Gods creation? No. So how will I go about presenting God to others? Through my actions and the Holy Spirit.

Answer 3

The rules of the Old Testament were and are for the Jews. Once JESUS was crucified for the sins of all people we came under Grace. There are still rules and sins that GOD has deemed totally corrupt and vile. Homosexuality is probably the most widely debated sin. Described by the Word as a man lying with a man as he would with a woman or a woman lying with a woman as she would with a man as an abomination. The apostle Paul called it shameful the result of being given up by GOD to vile passions. He also declares homosexuality as rebellion against GOD. The world is filled with hypocrites both Christian and non. All we can do is our best for HIM and know that when we look into the mirror we cannot lie to ourselves as to whether we are hypocrites or not. I used to tell the offenders at the prison where I was a Correctional Officer that the only ones I am responsible to are the face in my mirror and GOD. I do not pick or choose which verses to follow. Follow all the rules all the time every day the same.

Answer 4

Some of the laws in the Old Testament were written only for the Jews, but of course you would not understand that unless you are a Christian. Jesus also said that understanding of the Word is only given to those who will except Him as Lord and Savior but you would not understand this unless you know Him, and if you know Him you will not question His Words or the Words of the Bible, so stop crying and get in the Word read it, go to Romans 10:9-13 follow instructions and then you will understand.

Answer 5

You are right, many people pick and choose the verses that fit their thinking.

But the Old Testament and the New, both condem homsexuality.

I oppose the death penalty, I don't like tattoos but that's a personal choice.

But hypocrisy runs rampant...not just in religion...in all aspects of life. Do as I say, not as I do. It's not okay and you are right to call people on it. They should be consistent, at least.

But a lot of people, Christians too, do not truly understand the Bible. The spiritual teachings...they only see the literal meanings and miss the more powerful underlying meaning.

Answer 6

I'm Christain and I don't do that-I think the Bible is the best spiritual book on the planet but read many more- its a guide book to growing spiritually,but most people don't use it that way. Its also a parable and history book-of course its like turning a book into a movie-the translations have all but messed it up. I read many other books too- literal Christains just need that "wall" of words to back up their areas of shakiness or feel like they have a weapon in arguments- (my Mom used to call them kindergarten Christains because that's how far their growth had matured) a real Christain would live by example and be one and not be so "political" I think personally. Be well!

Answer 7

Jehovah inspired all of the bible writers to relate to his people what he wants from him. Jesus and the apostles often quoted from or read from the old testament.Jesus did away with the actual rules and regulations but implied if we love our god Jehovah and our neighbor we would automatically obey him because of the sacrifice of Jesus that we might be saved.

Jehovah is a loving god and doesnt want any to be destroyed at armeggodon so someone who accepts the things he hates would be destroyed.Homosexuallty is something he hates along with murder, a false tounge, fornicator, drunkard,and a few more.

Answer 8

Christ did not say, "Sit down and write Bibles and scatter them over the earth, and let every man read his Bible and judge for himself." If Christ had said that, there would never have been a Christianity on the earth at all, but a Babylon and confusion instead, and never one Church, the union of one body. Hence, Christ never said to His Apostles, "Go and write Bibles and distribute them, and let everyone judge for himself." That injunction was reserved for the Sixteenth Century, and we have seen the result of it. Ever since the Sixteenth Century there have been springing up religion upon religion, and churches upon churches, all fighting and quarreling with one another, and all because of the private interpretation of the Bible.

Christ sent His Apostles with authority to teach all nations, and never gave them any command of writing the Bible. And the Apostles went forth and preached everywhere, and planted the Church of God throughout the earth, but never thought of writing.

Answer 9

But so many Christians
are like deaf people at a concert.
They study the programme carefully,
believe every statement made in it,
speak respectfully of the quality of the music,
but only really hear a phrase now and again.
So they have no notion at all
of the mighty symphony which fills the universe,
to which our lives are destined
to make their tiny contribution,
and which is the self-expression
of the Eternal God.
— Evelyn Underhill (The Spiritual Life)

Answer 10

A bit more education is in order! When Jesus died, He overturned the Jewish laws concerning the temple and its system of sacrifice. He also made it clear that through law keeping, there was no hope of heaven. He did NOT, however, overturn the moral code. We are no longer judged for whether or not we have worn mixed fiber clothing, eaten unclean meat, etc, but by whether or not we are 1) born again, and 2) to what degree we have violated the moral code.

Jesus' death stopped the sacrifice, but it did not sanction my lying, stealing, murdering, raping, killing etc.

For a more complete look at this, take a look at the Book of Hebrews.

In Christ,
Tom

Answer 11

We quote it because the Old Testament is our tutor for what God requires. (Galatians 3:24) It is the standard, the plumb line, if you will.

We cannot meet the standards generally, which is why we need a Savior. That is why Jesus came.

And many of those things were still reinforced in the New Testament. The dietary laws were eliminated when Jesus said, "For it doesn't go into his heart but into his stomach, and is expelled as waste." (Thus he declared all foods clean.)" (Mark 7:19)