Respectful Questions for Christians?

Question

Kay, here they are...

I have quoted very violent and rather nasty Bible passages/verses in the past, and Christians always tell me they are obsolete because they are from the Old Testament. But don't we follow the Ten Commandments from the Old Testament? Isn't the verse condemning homosexuals (many Christians use that one) also in the old Testament?

1. So why is the Old Testament obsolete? Remember that Jesus said He was NOT here to abolish the Old Law (Old Testament) but to uphold it.

2. And if it is "obsolete", why do we still live by and use verses from it?

3. If the Old Testament in NOT obsolete in your opinion, how do you reconcile your faith to it, when it contains many seemingly violent and bigoted verses? (For example, it is okay to rape a woman as long as you pay her father and marry her. Also, you should "stone to death" rebellious teens, among MANY others)

4. If God is a loving God, why was he so wrathful and violent in the old Testament? What changed?

Please be respectful to all, and thanks to everyone who answers thoughtfully!

Redtoes---I am 28, married, and have 2 children.

Answer 1

"1. So why is the Old Testament obsolete? Remember that Jesus said He was NOT here to abolish the Old Law (Old Testament) but to uphold it."

That's right. He was the one one who COULD 'uphold' it. That's why we need to lean on Him for salvation: He accomplished the Law. Obsolete can be a misleading term. We are obsolete. That's why we could not fulfill the Law ourselves. I would recommend reading Romans 3.

"2. And if it is "obsolete", why do we still live by and use verses from it?"

Many are confused on the whole thing, especially Christians. What I see them doing is attempting to meld James with Paul. It is the most common thing and typical of the Pharisaical movement all too common in Christianity today. The main thing Christians need to remember is: Trust God, and He will raise you like a child. It's that simple.

"3. If the Old Testament in NOT obsolete in your opinion, how do you reconcile your faith to it, when it contains many seemingly violent and bigoted verses? (For example, it is okay to rape a woman as long as you pay her father and marry her. Also, you should "stone to death" rebellious teens, among MANY others)"

That was the Law of Moses. And yes, it sounds like I am saying that it is obsolete. Jesus said, " Stop judging by eternal standards" and that was the spirit of the Law: Could you stone the woman? Could you rape and then marry a woman you so wronged? Would you have the heart for it? What will she be like after that? You think that she will favor you? She might take it out on your Rice Crispies! Or do a Lorraine Bobbit on you! lol You as a rapist would live in your shame; a constant reminder of your guilt. ( Unless you have no conscience; which is worse!)

"4. If God is a loving God, why was he so wrathful and violent in the old Testament? What changed?"

He promises to be just as wrathful, even more so in the New Testament! ( Why do people always miss that part? ) He loves those who trust Him. That's the main theme throughout the Bible. Not perfect people: None of us are! But those who trust Him, and value what He thinks, not what other men think.

Answer 2

The OT is no obsolete that's people that don't understand. There are verses in the NT that talk about homosexuality I read one two nights ago in Galatians and a week ago in Matthew they're all over the place but homosexaulity is equal to any other sin just the world likes to point it out so much that we like to point out in the Bible where it says that's wrong. The rape thing is taken out of context and never would that be right. When Jesus came to die on the cross he had enough with man they would do things wrong and not care for the consequences. God gave us the choice between right and wrong it was His way of saying if you want to do wrong I wont stop you and you can come back all you have to do is repent and truly believe in Christ yet so many dont want someone ruling over them so they choose not to believe even though it's so easy to get out of going to hell. In a way it's like you'll do something stupid your parents will punish you but they will always love you. It's also like obey the law or go to prison. Things in the OT were changed such as stoning for sins God sent His son to take the PUNISHMENT for our sins.

Answer 3

It's called a retcon. They do it in comic books all the time. For instance throughout his creation in the 1930s Superman just kept getting stronger and getting more powers. By the 80s it was simply ridiculous all the stuff Supes could do so they gave him a retcon. They scaled back his powers and gave him some more realistic character traits. They did the same thing in the bible. Old Testament God is vengeful and mean. He floods the world and tells guys to kill their own son. When they came up with the new testament they realized that nobody was going to dig worship this smite in your sleep kind of God. So they made him more relatable hey they even gave him a son to make him seem closer to humans. It's all about controlling people so they have to make God an appealing deity to worship. I say if you want some a book that will teach you good life lessons skip the bible and pick up some old Spider-man comics the morality in comic books is a little more sound than what is in the bible.

Answer 4

Thank you for being respectful. I'll attempt to reply your questions as nice as I can, however allow me express regret upfront if my solutions don't seem to be excellent. a million. The Harry Potter sequence was once written as fiction. Never has it been implied by way of the writer that any element of what she wrote was once actual. The Bible writers (of which there have been approximately forty) believed what they wrote so firmly that they had been inclined to die for it. While I understand that humans will die for his or her ideals at all times, and it doesn't suggest whatever, it does imply anything if anyone dies for anything that they are competent to grasp for a truth whether or not it is actual or no longer. Eleven of Jesus' twelve apostles died terrible deaths when you consider that they might no longer say that what they had been preaching was once a lie. If it have been a lie, they might have recognized it, and so they must have admitted it. Why did not they? There's no rational cause of it. two. I feel in heaven typically on religion. If God exists, there may be justice. If there may be justice, then the well will probably be rewarded, and the unhealthy will probably be punished. In order for the well to be rewarded, heaven have to exist. three. I suppose a few Christians are afraid that in the event that they admit different humans have doubts, they will have doubts themselves, and so they suppose that having doubts is detrimental. I do not believe that, however I suppose that is the way in which a few Christians suppose. For me, I feel that a man or woman can simplest discover solutions if they are asking questions. So doubt is flawlessly traditional and healthful. I do agree that a few, even might be many, Christians and different devout humans comply with blindly, when you consider that it is what they had been advised to do, and what they had been anticipated to do. But no longer all, by way of an extended shot. I grew to be a Christian as an grownup when you consider that it is what *I* desired, no longer what my loved ones and peers desired. I desire my solutions support.

Answer 5

Here are some other translations of Matthew 5:17 to help you get a fuller understanding of what Jesus meant
Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them.(NIV)
“Do not think I came to destroy the Law or the Prophets. I came, not to destroy, but to fulfill; (NWT)
Do not think that I came to abolish the (A)Law or the Prophets; I did not come to abolish but to fulfill.(NASB)
Note that the word "uphold" is more accurately translated :fulfill.
The purpose of the law covenant was to be a tutor leading to Christ.(Galatians 3:24) It helped those under the law to recognize their need for Christ. No matter how scrupulously they kept the law, they still sinned and needed to constantly offer sacrifices in atonement. But these were unable to completely cover their sins. Only the blood of Christ could. On the night before his death, Jesus instituted a new covenant with his anointed followers.(Luke 22:29) The old covenant, which included the precepts you mention, was nailed to the torture stake with Jesus Christ.(Colossians 2:13-14) At the moment of Jesus Christ death the huge curtain that divided the Holy from the Most Holy in God’s temple was rent in two, from top to bottom. This beautifully ornamented curtain was some 60 feet high and very heavy! The astonishing miracle not only manifested God’s wrath against the killers of His Son but signified that entry into the Most Holy, heaven itself, is now made possible by Jesus’ death.

Answer 6

1. Study the difference between the new and old covenant. A new covenant is in effect for us not.

Rom 10:4 For Christ [is] the end of the law for righteousness to every one that believeth.

Jesus fulfilled it...now Christ is an end to the law for anyone who believes in Him.

2. christians don't live by the verses of the Old Covenant. The Old Covenant is overused by some christians, but is not applied to christian living. It was written to the jew...not the christian.

3. N/A

4. We are already guilty and the punishment is death. The Judge has the right to implement that death penalty in any way He chooses. God is not just a God of love but a God of wrath. Some ppl can't wrap their minds around that but it's true. The change is that Christ took the payment, now there is no condemnation to anyone who believes. Those who don't believe are still under wrath.

Answer 7

You are asking some tough things. It has a multi faceted response, but I will give my nickel's worth. (thanks for being respectful by the way)

The OT is not obsolete in that it gives us the basis of understanding of what God wishes for us to accomplish. The 10 commandments, the Mosaic laws and such existed to show a very idolatrous and backwards Israel a way forward. They are really bedrock statements that should be "common sense" but Israel came out of slavery and had no moral compass.

There are certain things such as stoning and rape that interpreted in the cultural context of the time seem barbaric to us, but then it was normal. For Ex. Christians to this day still say if you have sex with a woman you are married to her. We see sex as a physical seal on a covenanted relationship with God. That has not changed, but we do not stone them. We instead follow the command of Jesus to "love thy neighbor". When they were stoned in the OT the act of love was to stone them to spare them the shame. They would never get married because no man (one right with god anyway) would marry a non virgin. Stoning was the "loving" thing to do. The same goes for a rebellious teen. A rebellious teen was divested of ALL the inheritance they had and would be reduced to being a begar. They could not work, they could not marry or be productive. The "loving" thing was to kill them and stop the shame they would bring on themselves and society.

#4 is rather loaded. God was and is a loving God, but he allowed this to happen because in the beliefs of the time it was the "right" thing to do. When Jesus came he flipped things around by reaffirming the value of life, by atoning for our sins and showing us the Grace of God in abundance (and that GOD for that)

Answer 8

1. Actually he said "fulfill" not uphold and that was in reference to the area of sacrifices being necessary for the atonement of sin.

2. Some of it is obsolete, some isn't.

3. See #2

4. He's not JUST loving, he's also perfect in righteousness and judgment. People seem to ignore this. Also, he was establishing the nation of Israel which required some violence.

Answer 9

I laugh at Christians who tell me the OT is obsolete... Christ said he came to fulfill the law, not do away with it....

Some "Christians" pick and choose what they wish to believe.. But if the OT is obsolete, is it now suddenly okay to stone wayward children outside the city gates.. What about when you kiss sweet ole grannie on the cheek for that one last goodbye when you are at her funeral.. OT is clear on touching a corpse... It renders you unclean... The 10 commendments are also in the OT.... Should we no longer honor our mothers and Fathers so that they days of our lives be long?

The OT is still very valid.. The only difference... Christ's death opened the doorway to forgiveness...

Answer 10

Nothing changed, God is a God of war as well as peace.
God is slow to anger and abounding in love.
But there is a time for everything under the sun.

As far as te old and the new law, we arnt held under the law as a jew is beacuse we live by grace, but thats not an excuse to sin.
Some of the things writen in the old testement, (clean and unclean) God himself changed like when he talked to Paul and told him to eat animals that where before consiterd unclean.
also some of the other law beacuse of Jesus's sacrafice, its those laws that we dont live under.
other laws like markng the dead and stuff people relate to tattos but they dont read in context and realize it ment dont tatto dead people with religious symbols (as people did back then)