How do bible followers decide which old testament laws to follow, and which to ignore?

Question

Many of the rules being pushed, at least in here, are from the old testament. Most of the laws in the old testament, according to posts in R&S, do not apply now. How do you decide which is which?

Answer 1

I don't know, I think they just listen to what their "leaders" tell them. If most people actually read the book, more would see how insane it is!

Answer 2

I just love reading posts like this one:

"I like the fact that some people are posting all these quotes from the Old Testament, when Jesus is the New Testament! And it has nothing to do with (even if that stuff is in the Bible, all though not meant to be taken literally...I am Catholic so I don't know the Bible inside and out ;-)."

Such ignorance of their Bible that they claim to know so well! I love it when Christians say that part of the Bible is not meant to be taken literally! *laughs*

These contradict those other posts who say that OT laws do not apply now:

The Bible states that the Old Testimate laws are binding for ever (see Exodus 12:14, 17, 24; Leviticus 23:14,21,31; Deuteronomy 4:8-9; Deuteronomy 7:9; 1 Chronicles 16:15;
Psalm 119:151-2; Psalm 119:160; Malachi 4:4; Matthew 5:18-19; & Luke 16:17).

In Matthew Jesus approves of the law and the prophets - he hasn't any objection to the cruelties of the Old Testament.

5:17 Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil.

Answer 3

Well it says that all the laws of the old testament apply to the new one as well.

So you should follow all of them, no questions ask.

Or you could always wake up, smell the coffee, and realize the foundations of Christianity are flawed to the core.

Answer 4

Good question. I can't answer for other Christians, but I can for myself. In John 15:12, Jesus says, "I command you to love each other in the same way that I love you." Jesus loved us by coming into a world of sin (when He hates sin), not using the power at His command unless the Father or Spirit wanted Him to -- going hungry, thirsty, bleeding, being hungry, and not having a place to sleep -- all to identify with His people. Ultimately, He was tortured and put to death -- and He knew it was coming and came anyway. Practically the first thing He said on the cross was, "Father, forgive them for they know not what they are doing." His mother, brothers, friends and disciples didn't understand Him. His enemies rejected Him. Yet He came knowing all this and lay down His life for us. He wasn't doing that just because God told Him to, He said in John 10:15 that He lays down His life.

That is the commandment, that we love others in this way. Many OT laws were pointing to Christ, or were meant as a covering for sin which God suplied through Christ, and Christ willingly followed through with. Now that the penalty is paid, we are told to love.

What is the best way to do that? Do unto others what you would have them do unto you is a good way. Eating foods, clean or unclean, does not impact on love. That's our one check post. Whenever we do anything, we ask, "Does this promote love?"

Now, by love, I don't mean total acceptance. Sometimes saying "no" is the best way to love. If my kids wanted to play in the streets, it would cause more "peace and acceptance" to let them -- but they could die in the street, so out of love I'd say, "No, don't do that." They might whine or complain and drive me crazy (and that gets annoying), but love wants them alive and in health.

So, again, that's the best answer I can give. Do what best promotes love in each situation -- and you won't have to worry about whether or not it is an OT law, or even if it is a New Testament law. God wants our hearts, and our lives. For Christians, He said He'd write the law on their hearts, and that law is the law of love.

Answer 5

Leviticus 19 has some great rules and, because they are in the common five books, they apply to Jews, Christians, and Muslims alike.

Some are reasonably clear and easy to accept:
19:18 …. thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.
19:29 …do not prostitute thy daughter, to cause her to be a whore…

Some are more uncomfortable to follow and enforce:
19:33 …and if a stranger sojourn with thee in your land, ye shall not vex him.
19:13 …do not withhold the wages of a hired man over night.

And there are some that do not sound meaningful or even wise to enforce:
19:19 ….do not wear clothing woven of two kinds of material
19:27 …you shall not round the corners of your heads, neither shall you mar the corners of thy beard.

If I understood the last two I might be inclined to follow them. I hope God only expects us to follow the rules we understand.

Answer 6

that would require a bit of study time... basically the dietary and ceremonial laws were voided by Christ... as well as the priestly laws, because there are no priests in The Church...except The High Priest which is Christ Himself.... a lot more to it of course but that is not for this kind of forum

Answer 7

Q: "How do you decide which is which?"
===

Find the living, authorized prophet, who is the mouthpiece for God, and he will direct us to which commandments we should obey and which we shouldn't. Now, this is not to say we should all be stupid followers and not think for ourselves. But specific counsel comes only through one authorized channel, from God to his authorized, living prophets. And if there aren't living prophets, then that counsel will not come from God until there is a living prophet. That is how he maintains Order!

It has always been like this. Moses, Jesus, Peter, James, and John. These were the authorized prophets in their day. Your duty is to find the ones living today.

I'll give you a hint: The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Living prophets and apostles today, the only ones widely available and authorized to guide the Saints today.

With living prophets and apostles of the God described by the records found in the Bible (and not necessarily the God that people imagine by their private interpretations of the Bible), can you see how easy it would be to know which commandments to follow and obey?

Answer 8

people pick and choose what they want to follow and ignore. jesus actually never said that people can ignore any of old testament law, so those who pick and choose really don't understand their own scripture and religion

Answer 9

The moral law- 10 commandments- still applies. The ceremonial law- sacrifices, foods, holy days- was fulfilled by Christ and no longer applies. The civil law- that is open for debate.

Answer 10

Here's a list:

Gay = bad
Poly-cotton blends = ok
Pre-marital sex = bad
Divorce = ok
Murder = only in war where innocents are acceptable bystanders
Shaving the sides of your head = ok
Adultery = bad
Letting women speak in church = ok