Actually I would enjoy talking with you as a friend. I had many pastors as patients when I was practicing and I would usually ask them if they were an "Old Testament" guy or a "New Testament" guy. Most would say both. I was raised Catholic which pretty much sticks to the New Testament in it's teachings. When a pastor would tell me both, I would ask them how to reconcile the God of fire and brimstone with the Jesus of tolerance and forgiveness. None could give me a good answer.
So it made me wonder, did the interpreters of the Old Testament get it wrong about a vengeful God and is that why Jesus became man, to set the record straight on how we treat not only our neighbors but also our enemies. Peace be with you.
Ah, thanks for giving me your background. I have a lengthy theological background and biblical studies out to a doctorate. So a lot of education. My regret in our country is how poorly equipped both Protestant and Catholic, denominational and independents alike are under- or poorly educated. That weakness has produced multiple generations of earnest Christians who are gullible targets of persuaders with all sorts of aims. Usually self-serving. On the conservative side it is being lockstep with the GOP, right now essentially under adherence to only one man. On the liberal side the Christians involved seem to me less zealous politically in terms of their faith but just as captive to the Democrats. Both parties aim to keep adherents defining the other side as “enemies”.
To learn to think biblically requires a lot of work, but it’s essential for developing a distinctively “Christian world and life view” which transcends being a Republican, a Democrat, a socialist or a capitalist.
In our connection to the Global Church the biggest and most rapidly growing threat is the American “health and wealth gospel” with its empty promises. Joel Osteen js perhaps its most famous personality. It is bankrupting impoverished people in what we’ve called Third World countries. In those regions Christian conversions are outpacing birth rates. But wholistic biblical teaching is hardly available whether Protestant, Pentecostal, Catholic, Orthodox or Copt.
So our organization entirely focuses on enabling aspiring Christian scholars in those countries to be educated to Ph.Ds in Old and New Testament studies, biblical theology and so forth. We serve without distinction these emerging scholars whatever kind of church they know. They wind up teaching. Then we publish their books using printing firms in their countries. And we run training programs for clergy because only about 6% have any formal education. For instance, we’re bringing out the second edition of our Africa Bible Commentary, all 70-80 scholars African from evrrywhere. It was the first commentary on the Bible by African scholars in the history of the continent.
I’m a supporter, not on staff. My point in this is that they have on the whole a very distinctive and different Christian prospective than you find among many, many Christians in the USA. We have support centers on every continent. Each year a bunch of us meet in a four-day conference to listen to them and worship together. They teach us! We were in Scottsdale last spring and at Amelia Island this year.
As for Old and New Testament differences, it has to do with fulfillment. Over and over tge writers talk about Jesus’ actions, teachings and suffering “in order to fulfill what the Scriptures said…” it means literally that Jesus filled to the full measure the Old Testament promises.
Jesus talked far more about the realities of hell than heaven, quoting the OT, warning people that every life has ending consequences. The OT and NT are not in conflict. But Jesus perfectly fulfills obedience to God that Israel in the OT, and each one of us, failed or now fail to do. That’s why both Isaiah and the apostles John, Paul and Peter declare that our “sin” and its consequences were laid on him. He died for me! You’ve got to understand the OT through its New Testament lens. But you it’s vital to embrace both.
I hope that helps. PM me if you wish. Tell me what you think.
With every good wish!
