How do I live like the Messiah Yeshua? How does the Old Testament connect to the New Testament? Is there unity between them?
It is very odd to me that a lot of Christians that I meet do not really know much about the Bible that is the Special Revelation of their Savior. Even fewer people know anything about the Old Testament besides maybe Proverbs, Psalms, and a few of the Genesis stories.
Unfortunately, it still amazes me how few Christians know much or anything about the Old Testament. If they do know a little, it is used counter to the New Testament, in a negative tone. It is commonly said, “That was in the Old Testament.” Harmonization and unity of the Old and New Testament is not even thought about as a possibility of the normal Christian that I’ve met.
Somehow, all the Old Testament entails are outdated, legalistic, restrictive laws of Moses. Christ came to do away with this abominable Scripture. Somehow, they still say G-D the Father and G-D the Son are the same and that G-D does not change. But it seems like I hear different words when I speak to people. It is like they do not really believe G-D the Father spoke at all in the Old Testament besides to tell of Jesus. How does G-D the Father of the Old Testament relate to G-D the Son of the New Testament? Does Jesus do away with the Father’s Ways? Does Jesus change what the Father began? Is Jesus the G-D of Love and the Father the G-D of Wrath?
Furthermore, how does Israel and the Church relate? When the Old Testament mentions “Israel”, can we simply replace this with “the Church”, especially when it comes to promises and rewards? When the wrath and judgments and violence occur, can we simply just keep “Israel” as the directive of G-D’s statements?
By no means do I think anyone would flat out say these things but it does seem like the under tone of conversations that go deeper than surface level. The Psalms are cool to quote. Proverbs can give you some feeling that you are seeking true wisdom. Which, I’m not saying there not but usely the most quoted of the Old Testament without really knowing the context they’re coming out of. I don’t imagine too many know of the promises, predictions, history, or who is being spoken to in them.
There is no grace, no love, no mercy, but only wrath, anger, judgment, violence. It equates to certain laws to them of appointed times, dietary laws, and capital punishment. It is like sexual immorality, lying, murder, fornication, adultery, homosexuality were not part of the law given by G-D and is not part of the law now. However, I do not know any one that would not say that we should not strive to be sexual pure, abstain from lying and bearing false witness but somehow these are not part of the law to them. It is simply a separating out what one thinks good or not good in this culture. What guidelines of ethics and laws do we follow? If it does not say it again in the New Testament, does this automatically mean that it does not apply to us? How do we live like Christ? How do we decide what is right or wrong? How does the Law and Grace relate to each other?
This frightens me because what has happened to the authority of G-D’s Word when it is defined in a subjective way. Does it not supercede cultures? However, I’m not saying all the Old Testament laws apply to everyone in the same way but to have so little understanding of the Old Testament and such a discontinuity of the whole Bible puzzles me. Can the New Testament stand without the Old Testament? Is the Old Testament complete without the New Testament?
This is part of the reason that I purchased Walter C. Kaiser Jr.’s book, “Recovering the Unity of the Bible: One Continuous Story, Plan, and Purpose.” The back cover notes that Kaiser received a PhD. from Brandeis University and is a distinguished professor emeritus of Old Testament and president emeritus of Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary. He has written over forty books. More information about Kaiser can be found at www.walterckaiserjr.com.
Just from scanning his website, I already see two other books that look interesting to me, “Four views on: Moving Beyong the Bible to Theology a Principalizing Model: Walter C. Kaiser Jr, A Redemptive-Historical Model: Daniel M. Doriani, A Drama-of-Redemption Model: Kevin J. Vanhoozer, A Redemptive-Movement Model: William J. Webb. Series ed. Stanley N. Gundry, Gen. ed. Gary T. Meadors (Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 2009″ and “What Does the LORD Require? A Guide for preaching and teaching Biblical Ethics by Walter C. Kaiser Jr., 2009″.
I hope to write a blog per chapter but I am a sporadic reader and writer:). So, we’ll see. May the L-RD continue to help us grow in knowing Him more, loving Him more, and walking faithfully led by the Holy Spirit, in Christ Jesus!
Grace and peace,
Coley
April 17, 2011 at 3:33 pm |
I look forward to your forthcoming notes on this book. I think the continunity/discontinuity of Scripture convervsation needs to be fleshed out and thought through more in it’s ramifications on our theology, especially when our theology borders on contradicting itself in word if not in deed. A major challenge would be cascading a continuity message down to the laymen each week without cascading a discontinuity message the following week. A lot of sermons I’ve heard over the years feels like I’m riding a rollercoster in this regard.
January 14, 2012 at 10:52 pm |
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