im interested in becoming a christian, but i would like to know why the old testament morals differ so much...

Question

to the new testament ones, even though it's the same God.
i mean, God can't change his mind, surely?

Answer 1

Whenever we start to analyze the differences in rules between the Testaments, we get into areas where various Christians tend to disagree with each other.

But, I will give you one take on the answer.

When reading the Old Testament, it is important to understand the culture and people of the time.

Many of the punishments in the Old Testament seem harsh, but compared to the common practices of the time, they were a big step towards mercy and justice.

I have also noticed that, even as harsh as Old Testament law was, it was more merciful than many current practices.

Since we're told that God does not change, we have to look at something else. We're told that we are created in God's image, so perhaps we can see some of this in our own parenting practices.

When my son was very young, he was not allowed to cross the street on his own, touch the stove, or stay up past 8 PM. These rules were for his benefit, and put into place because his mother and I love him.

Now, he routinely goes places on his own, although he is required to tell us where. He's learning to cook and while I still insist on 10 PM for school nights, he's allowed to stay up as late as he wishes on other nights.

But I really haven't changed that much, and I certainly still love the kid. So, why the differences in the rules?

Obviously, he has changed. Rules that were appropriate for a toddler are not appropriate for an adolescent. "Don't do that" has often been changed to "be careful when you do that".

Not because of any change in me, but because of changes in him.

The early bronze age nomads that were the Hebrew tribes were only nominally civilized. An "eye for an eye" is a big step forward from a life for an eye.

As the Hebrews became more civilized, you'll notice that the emphasis changed. Early Hebrews were a brutish people, with little use for mercy or justice. God gave them laws appropriate for them.

Later, He gave us prophets that expanded on the law, explaining that God preferred mercy and justice to strict obedience.

"Do justice, love mercy, walk humbly with your God" - Micah 6:6-8

“ ‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbour as yourself.’ All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.” - Matthew 22:37-40

Just as my love for my son has not diminished, God's love has not changed. The basis behind the rules has also not changed, but our ability to understand and abide by the spirit of those rules has.

Answer 2

At year 2513, Moses was at Exodus, 3560 years ago.

The morals of civilized people are naturally better than that of the earlier people, if violence filled the earth, God brought in under controll with the distructions of it as it involved angels and man. Then by the time Abraham gets the Promised Land Covenant the earth is being filled with lawless
trespassing land pirates Gen.14:1-18;
Moses is age 80, Exo.7:7; at Exodus, 430 years after Abraham's Promised Land covenant, in the next 40 years there will be 603,550 heirs to be law keepers, givers and enforcers, so that slowly civilized people will come to be.

Are we more civilized now than when Jesus was here? At 2007 after Christ the world has had the bible in circulation 396 years, bible 303 years to WW1 for the next 42 months, 1260 days or 3 1/2 years, see if that can be found in Revelations, bible 334 years to end WW2 & holocaust, bible 363 years to end Vietman conflict, bible 380 [ 391 prophecy ], 396 years, Euphrates area conflict at Iraq.

HOW MUCH HAVE THE PEOPLE CHANGED IN 6073 YEARS FROM EDEN?

Answer 3

Malachi 4:6 And he shall turn the heart of the fathers to the children, and the heart of the children to their fathers, lest I come and smite the earth with a curse.

God was sick of the human race. Jesus is being talked about in this verse. This would have been the end of all if Jesus would not have came. This was closing the old and opening the new. This is why it is so different. Jesus closed the Old Testament and we are living in what is called a day of Grace. Jesus fulfilled the Old Testament.

Answer 4

The Lord is all knowing and HE does NOT change! This does not mean that everything always stays the same, as far as his plans are concerned! Different times and situations call for different ways of dealing with things! For instance, when you watch a football game, there are tactics the coach uses during the first part of the game, and then in the last two minutes, different plays are used, but it`s still all part of the same game plan! The Lord has known ahead of time what was going to happen, and what would be the right way to handle things! He knew what needed to happen in the old testamant, and he knows what needs to happen today!
Just like he knew what was going to happen in the garden with Adam and Eve, and how things would be after the garden, his plan included the different aspects of taking care of his people because they would be in different situations outside the garden than inside the garden!
It`s like driving a car with a standard transmission. you start off in first gear, then as the car speeds up, you change gears, ending up in high gear, knowing ahead of time what changes would be needed in the future! Gods plan has been perfect from the beginning and nothing has ever caught him by surprise! Just like he knew you would post this question at this time and have someone here to give you this information to help you start your relationship with him!
John 3;16 "for God so loved YOU that he gave his one and only son. so that when YOU believe in him, YOU would not perish but YOU would have ever lasting life!"
May the Lord bless you and keep you and make his face to smile upon you all the days of your life!

Answer 5

there is not any difference interior the morals of the previous and the hot testomony. it extremely is purely that interior the previous they looked forward to the Messiah (Jesus) and the hot tells of His coming. interior the previous they have been under the regulation and interior the hot they have been set loose from the regulation to be guided by employing the Holy Spirit. however the morals of a guy or woman in no way replaced. some Christians could use this freedom to sin, yet this could be a misuse of the liberty. Jesus pronounced no longer even the smallest mark of the previous testomony could bypass away. A2Z - Is as full of BS through fact the quaran itself. God in no way ameliorations His thoughts. that's what makes Him the Rock we are in a position to hold on the element of.

Answer 6

God through Moses had to set up a whole new set of guidelines and laws because the Hebrew people had been living in Egypt for 400 yrs. and took up a lot of their practices. When Jesus came he fulfilled and defined the law. Instead of sacrifices we have Jesus who died for us so there would be no more separation from God. We still live by the ten commandments and what God expects from us most is obedience.

Answer 7

Foals,

It's not about morals - it's about covenants.
God established a covenant with Moses. That covenant had a set of laws (The Law of Moses).
God spoke of a new covenant He was establishing with His people (Jeremiah 31:31ff).
Jesus confirmed the New Covenant (Matt 26:26ff), and it was further discussed in Hebrews 8:7-13.

It isn't about God changing His mind, it's about furthering His relationship with His people.

"Ranger"

Answer 8

Jesus was not on earth then.Jesus came to give us life.The difference between old and new testament is---Old testament is outside repentance(sacrifices and all and a lot of laws(like eating meat)the new is inside.Jesus brought conviction through the spirit.And all we have to do is ask for forgiveness.
Jesus brought life and life to the fullest.

Answer 9

Religion has evolved because God has slowly revealed His truth about Himself to us. It all started with Abraham who lived in Ur (a city in present day Iraq). People in those days were pagans. They worshiped many gods, and made human sacrifices to them. It was common practice to abduct women for men's pleasure and then abandon them. Rich men had many wives, most of whom were slave women captured after defeating an enemy. By the time of King David (1,000 BC), God had lead His people out the slavery of Egypt, given them the Ten Commandments, Moses, prophets, inspired scriptures, and the Aaronic priesthood to guide them. God revealed Himself, when the people were ready to accept more of His truth.

Christ said that He was the promised one, in the scriptures, that would lead ALL people to God (my emphasis). Do you wish to start the journey? It must be done with prayer.

Answer 10

Why don't you check out the Brights community instead. The bible has been totally ruined by organised religion. You will only be further confused by all the contradictions, which, incidentally, begin in Genesis.