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Way back when I used to actually attend church, I remember that some of my peers use to actually feel a certain sense of pride that they rarely read the Old Testament. They often said things to me like, "we're no longer under the law." Their forays into the O.T was to read an occasional Psalm, quote a Proverb or two, read up on a few "prophecies" [supposedly] predicting Jesus and the end times and a stop into the book of Leviticus to find an argument to condemn gays. Beyond that, most of them couldn't tell you where the Book of Habakkuk was or whether there was even such a book.
I also ask because it is clear all over the internet that one of the strongest arguments that critics have that I know must annoy Christians to no end is their constant harping on the repetitious bloodletting, sexism and other madness found in the O.T supposedly ordered and/or ordained by God. You have stories of God killing men for refusing to impregnate their dead brother's wife, laws discriminating against men with damaged "balls" along with illegitimate children as well as laws forcing rapists to marry rapees and I guess, vice versa.
I don't think many Christians even want to deal with trying to explain away these things in their beloved "word of God" and so the New Testament which is devoid of much of that madness gets far more attention. This has created an interesting thing, however. The critics actually learn more about the Bible then the actual believers. I have seen this in action first hand. I often get this look of bewilderment when certain Old Testament passages are pointed out. It's one of those "what the pluck?" moments I see in their eyes. You can tell they have never read or even heard of the passage.
Amazingly, I have even heard the admission that "it's great to have unbelievers around because they drive us to the word." Isn't that rather telling?
Ah...just my observation.
Last edited by Condemned; 12-02-2008 at 04:18 PM..
I don't think true believers are ever embarrassed by the Old Testament because they really believe it's the word of God. When I've gotten into discussions about certain contradictions and missing information with someone who believes in the Bible literally and I know they're just plain stumped for an answer they'll generally say something like "that's only something that God can understand". I think they're sincere in their statements but if you don't really understand all of the details of your own beliefs then what exactly is it that you believe in the first place?
Way back when I used to actually attend church, I remember that some of my peers use to actually feel a certain sense of pride that they rarely read the Old Testament. They often said things to me like, "we're no longer under the law." Their forays into the O.T was to read an occasional Psalm, quote a Proverb or two, read up on a few "prophecies" [supposedly] predicting Jesus and the end times and a stop into the book of Leviticus to find an argument to condemn gays. Beyond that, most of them couldn't tell you where the Book of Habakkuk was or whether there was even such a book.
I also ask because it is clear all over the internet that one of the strongest arguments that critics have that I know must annoy Christians to no end is their constant harping on the repetitious bloodletting, sexism and other madness found in the O.T supposedly ordered and/or ordained by God. You have stories of God killing men for refusing to impregnate their dead brother's wife, laws discriminating against men with damaged "balls" along with illegitimate children as well as laws forcing rapists to marry rapees and I guess, vice versa.
I don't think many Christians even want to deal with trying to explain away these things in their beloved "word of God" and so the New Testament which is devoid of much of that madness gets far more attention. This has created an interesting thing, however. The critics actually learn more about the Bible then the actual believers. I have seen this in action first hand. I often get this look of bewilderment when certain Old Testament passages are pointed out. It's one of those "what the pluck?" moments I see in their eyes. You can tell they have never read or even heard of the passage.
Amazingly, I have even heard the admission that "it's great to have unbelievers around because they drive us to the word." Isn't that rather telling?
Ah...just my observation.
Well, this is almost the same question I posed a couple of weeks (or months ago) regarding inconsistency between the OT God and the NT God. I don't understand the transition of character, and I have yet had a Christian who explained it logically.
The answer was always that God is mysterious, that we do not understand his ways, and that he can do what he wants.
Well, this is almost the same question I posed a couple of weeks (or months ago) regarding inconsistency between the OT God and the NT God. I don't understand the transition of character, and I have yet had a Christian who explained it logically.
The answer was always that God is mysterious, that we do not understand his ways, and that he can do what he wants.
Gretchen as I mentioned in the opening post, I have been on both sides of the fence and I have used that same defense (if it can be called one) a million times myself, however, I never could really understand why the God of the universe was giving us reading material that were shrouded in mystery and then expect of us to get it right. When we feel we've got it, it's because "the spirit of God revealed it to me" and when we have no answer it's because "God works in mysterious ways" or "his ways are not like our ways." Talk about having your cake and...
I don't think true believers are ever embarrassed by the Old Testament because they really believe it's the word of God. When I've gotten into discussions about certain contradictions and missing information with someone who believes in the Bible literally and I know they're just plain stumped for an answer they'll generally say something like "that's only something that God can understand". I think they're sincere in their statements but if you don't really understand all of the details of your own beliefs then what exactly is it that you believe in the first place?
Point taken MG, but not all 'true believers' are educated believers and vice versa.
I don't think true believers are ever embarrassed by the Old Testament because they really believe it's the word of God. When I've gotten into discussions about certain contradictions and missing information with someone who believes in the Bible literally and I know they're just plain stumped for an answer they'll generally say something like "that's only something that God can understand". I think they're sincere in their statements but if you don't really understand all of the details of your own beliefs then what exactly is it that you believe in the first place?
Well, I do think they say that as some sort of cop-out. If you think about it, creationists are quite willing to use ID to attempt to "reason" with the scientific community. Yet, as soon as "reason" fails, they fall back on these kinds of hazy, cloudy, nonsensical statements that are not really subject to a logical reasoning process. It's sort of like a fall-back defense in a way.
Do you think some Christians are embarrassed about the Old Testament? I can only speak for myself and no I am not. I believe ALL of the Bible is the inspired Word of God. The truth of the OT transcends time.
Do you think some Christians are embarrassed about the Old Testament? I can only speak for myself and no I am not. I believe ALL of the Bible is the inspired Word of God. The truth of the OT transcends time.
Does this include all the crazy commands too ILNC?
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