Relevance of Old Testament in Modern World

[MrFun]

I did not want to continue my thread-jacking in the thread about Mark Sanford and his past affairs.

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The Old Testament is still relevant for modern-day Christians. So why do Christian right-wing fundies pick and choose only parts that are convenient for them to follow instead of following ALL the OT rules/laws?

And a question for Apolytoners who are Jewish or are knowledgeable about Judaism. The Old Testament continues to be relevant for many Jews around the world today. Do ultra-conservative or orthodox Jews pick and choose what rules/laws in Old Testament such as in Leviticus are convenient for them to follow? Or do they advocate a return to following ALL the OT rules/laws?


If we were to take right-wing Christian fundies and ultra-conservative or orthodox Jews seriously, here are some of the rules/laws we believers would have to follow:

Children who talk back to their parents or show disrespect are to be put to death.

Adulterers and adulteresses are to be put to death.

Gay people are to be put to this death.

No planting seeds of different plants in the same field.

Ownership of slaves who are foreigners or alien residents is morally acceptable.

No wearing clothing of mixed material or fabric.

No eating shellfish.

[SlowwHand]

None of those things are a viewpoint of a "right wing Christian", no matter how many times you say it.

[Drake Tungsten]

The Old Testament is not entirely relevant anymore for modern-day Christians. So why do Christian right-wing fundies continue to rely on chapters such as Leviticus?

Because your first sentence is a self-serving lie and Leviticus is the Word of God.

[MrFun]

Okay, so Leviticus is indeed relevant for modern-day Christians.

Why aren't parents putting their children to death for talking back to them or disrespecting them? Or follow any of the other rules/laws in the Old Testament?

[SlowwHand]

Oh, good. Once again we have an atheist convention in development.

[Drake Tungsten]

Why aren't parents putting their children to death for talking back to them or disrespecting them?

Because godless folks like yourself have made it illegal to follow God's Word. You're trying to do the same thing by legally enshrining sin through the institution of gay marriage.

[MrFun]

Hey Drake, if you don't want to contribute to this discussion, then don't post in this thread.

[MrFun]

Oh, good. Once again we have an atheist convention in development.

I'm not an atheist.

[Provost Harrison]

However I am and I say: You're all mad

[DinoDoc]

Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil. For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled. Whosoever therefore shall break one of these least commandments, and shall teach men so, he shall be called the least in the kingdom of heaven: but whosoever shall do and teach them, the same shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven. For I say unto you, That except your righteousness shall exceed the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, ye shall in no case enter into the kingdom of heaven. Matthew 5:17-20 (Jesus Christ on how relevent the Old Testament is)

[Ben Kenobi]

The Old Testament is still relevant for modern-day Christians. So why do Christian right-wing fundies pick and choose only parts that are convenient for them to follow instead of following ALL the OT rules/laws?

Well you'd have to read your New Testament.

1. It still says honour thy father and thy mother, but we are not Israel, and under the new covenant, we are not under the law but under Grace. So the requirement is the same, the punishment is not.

2. Adultery is still sinful.

3. Homosexuality is still sinful.

4. Modern equivalent is property rights. When your livelihood is planting olives, and someone plants a foreign weed, it can be notorious difficult to remove.

5. Paul says that no one can own another person. That we all belong to Christ, so how can a slave to Christ, own another slave?

6. Prohibition mainly about adulterating fabric. The modern equivalent would be consumer protection laws.

7. Again, as Paul says, it's not what goes into a man that makes him unclean, it's what comes out.

[Ben Kenobi]

I have a question for you, Mr. Fun.

What parts of the New Testament do you find authoritative and binding?

[Provost Harrison]

Well you'd have to read your New Testament.

1. It still says honour thy father and thy mother, but we are not Israel, and under the new covenant, we are not under the law but under Grace. So the requirement is the same, the punishment is not.

2. Adultery is still sinful.

3. Homosexuality is still sinful.

4. Modern equivalent is property rights. When your livelihood is planting olives, and someone plants a foreign weed, it can be notorious difficult to remove.

5. Paul says that no one can own another person. That we all belong to Christ, so how can a slave to Christ, own another slave?

6. Prohibition mainly about adulterating fabric. The modern equivalent would be consumer protection laws.

7. Again, as Paul says, it's not what goes into a man that makes him unclean, it's what comes out.

And of course Ben, you agree with these being dealt with by capital punishment too?

[Drake Tungsten]

Hey Drake, if you don't want to contribute to this discussion, then don't post in this thread.

You can't accuse me of not contributing to the discussion just because you don't want to hear the Truth.

[MrFun]

Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil. For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled. Whosoever therefore shall break one of these least commandments, and shall teach men so, he shall be called the least in the kingdom of heaven: but whosoever shall do and teach them, the same shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven. For I say unto you, That except your righteousness shall exceed the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, ye shall in no case enter into the kingdom of heaven. Matthew 5:17-20 (Jesus Christ on how relevent the Old Testament is)

So this shows that the Old Testament remains important for modern-day Christians. Christ said that he did not come to destroy or undo the rules/laws as written in Old Testament.