O.T. versus N.T understandings
Submitted by Bach on March 21 2002 09:08:15
In reply to Love God & Love Your Neighbor submitted by Splash! on March 20 2002 02:29:55
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But I wonder, if Moses permitted them to sin (divorce = adultery, Matthew 19:8-9), was this also a sin to Moses for his allowing it to happen? Or was it okay for "ethical" reasons, to obtain the greatest good out of a hard-hearted people? I ask these same questions when it appears that God condones violence. Why does God "fight" for the people of Israel and command them to kill? Why does Jesus say to "love" your enemies? It's a similar quandry... I believe that God stays the same, and we change. God's will for us is not entirely revealed, for we "see through a mirror darkly". As such, the people of God do not have full understanding of His will. My personal conviction is that God has always wanted Creation to be in harmony, as it was in the Garden of Eden, and that the commandement to not kill was absolute. Of course, human need got in the way and we have a growing awareness with the coming of Jesus as to just how important it is to value all human beings, and not to act in our own selfish interests. In this light, I don't believe that Moses was sinning... he merely had an understanding of God that was different from ours today. Likewise, the Jewish observences in Leviticus can be taken to be that people's understanding of God at that time. With the coming of Jesus, the law was fulfilled, and we are called to obedience in love rather than duty and act. I'm not sure if I would express this as "greatest good" or "lesser evil" because Moses was not making a choice... for him, it was the reality that he felt was within God's will. So, again, it appears that when we're "hard-hearted" or if an obstacle blocks our relationship with God, it is more ethical to give in to the lesser sin than to be overtaken by the greater sin? Is that right, or am I seeing this wrong? If an obstacle blocks our relationship with God, we must make an honest attempt to re-establish our relationship with God. If we are single, but lusting for others in a way which prevents us from an intimate relationship with God, then I think Paul is suggesting that we seek out a human relationship to fulfill that human need, so that we can then concentrate on our spiritual quest to an intimate relationship with God. On the other hand, if our human relationships are not allowing room for God, then that is a problem - which is perhaps why Paul felt it was more realistic to remain single and commit all your energy to God. This example suits the "lesser evil" paradigm more easily. And Paul uses the words "it is better", which reinforces that thinking. But in every case what the Christian is seeking is an intimate relationship with God, and to remove the obstacles to that relationship - whether they be lust or idols or whatever. Is not one of the exceptions that we're under Christ? Under the headship of Christ is not an exception, its the Greatest Truth. You made reference to "law" and "grace". The Old Testament reality was the law, and that is why we can talk of exceptions to rules... But the New Testament reality is Grace through faith in Lord Jesus, and here we cannot talk of exceptions, for that faith is all-encompasing. There is no exception in the Kingdom, all are one exception. Christ is our sacrifice and exception. Everything we do is in honour of Christ's sacrifice on the Cross. The Law is no more, and Love is the rule. Now, as I've said previously, this *does not* mean that we can do whatever we wish - far from it! It means that we are *doing* out of love, rather than in order to obey the law. Why is this important? Because it completely changes our paradigm. What is or isn't okay to do in an adult-minor relationship?
The reference at the beginning of the quote is to John 20:17. "Do what love requires" are very powerful words. Most often they mean that a sexual relationship outside of a covenanted relationship is wrong. Most often they mean that sexual contact with minors has great potential for harm. If our relationships hold love above all else - above selfish lust, above self-gratification, above social convention - then God will show us how to "do what love requires". In my heart, in 2002, I cannot imagine any scenario where I would think that love required me to have sexual contact with a young person. Peace of Christ, Bach |
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