Broken Theology?

[Aussie Pete]

My issue with that interpretation goes back to my original question about violence; how can the unchanging God demand violence at certain times yet seek to show the futility of violence at other times? I would have to point out Jesus' rebuke when asked why His disciples don't wash their hands: He called them out for not executing children that revile their parents!

(ESV)Mark 7:9 And he said to them, “You have a fine way of rejecting the commandment of God in order to establish your tradition! 10 For Moses said, ‘Honor your father and your mother’; and, ‘Whoever reviles father or mother must surely die.’ 11 But you say, ‘If a man tells his father or his mother, “Whatever you would have gained from me is Corban”’ (that is, given to God)— 12 then you no longer permit him to do anything for his father or mother, 13 thus making void the word of God by your tradition that you have handed down. And many such things you do.”

Deuteronomy 21:18-21 If a man have a stubborn and rebellious son, which will not obey the voice of his father, or the voice of his mother, and that, when they have chastened him, will not hearken unto them:

19 Then shall his father and his mother lay hold on him, and bring him out unto the elders of his city, and unto the gate of his place;

20 And they shall say unto the elders of his city, This our son is stubborn and rebellious, he will not obey our voice; he is a glutton, and a drunkard.

21 And all the men of his city shall stone him with stones, that he die: so shalt thou put evil away from among you; and all Israel shall hear, and fear.

The "different covenant" answer is lacking because a change in covenant cannot explain a change in intent or character. He is the same yesterday, today, and forever; He does not change.

God does not change. People who sin will face judgement sooner of later. God's dealings with Israel were not repeated in the rest of the world. There were many nations apart from those in Israel and the surrounding nations. They were not in covenant relationship with God. Therefore God did not deal directly with them.

The covenant with Israel was quite simple. Obey and be blessed. Disobey and be cursed. The New Covenant is grace. We are still required to obey God, but it is on an entirely different basis. God gives His people a new nature, not a different set of rules. If we choose to live out of the new nature, we will be well able to walk in obedience. Otherwise we will struggle and fail. The consequences are different. No one stones adulterers these, except some Muslims. But the consequences can be severe just the same. Broken marriage, loss of children, loss of family, loss of church fellowship, financial loss and a blot on the offender's reputation.

 

[Jake Arsenal]

God gives His people a new nature, not a different set of rules. If we choose to live out of the new nature, we will be well able to walk in obedience.

That is my point.

Jesus did not declare a new law; instead He explained the intent of the law. (Matthew 5-7)

 

[Aussie Pete]

That is my point.

Jesus did not declare a new law; instead He explained the intent of the law. (Matthew 5-7)

Agreed. Jesus was warning people that outward observance was no longer enough. Only those with new life can live according to the new covenant.

 

[Jake Arsenal]

Agreed. Jesus was warning people that outward observance was no longer enough. Only those with new life can live according to the new covenant.

Jeremiah 17:10 “I the Lord search the heart and test the mind, to give every man according to his ways, according to the fruit of his deeds.”
1 Kings 8:39 Then hear in heaven your dwelling place and forgive and act and render to each whose heart you know, according to all his ways (for you, you only, know the hearts of all the children of mankind)
Proverbs 21:2 Every way of a man is right in his own eyes, but the Lord weighs the heart.
1 Chronicles 28:9, 1 Samuel 16:7, Proverbs 4:23, Psalm 51:10, etc.

Outward observance was never enough. Why would the Lord need to search the heart and test the mind in order to give every man according to the fruit of his deeds? Wouldn't a man's deeds be outward? No. Only God knows a person's motives, and He judges accordingly. Isn't this why David was called, "a man after God's own heart," in the first place?

I have used only OT verses in order to show that Jesus taught nothing new; the NT is the fulfillment of the OT.

 

[Dorothy Mae]

I have included an image. Can someone explain to me why a man after God's own heart did not love his enemies?

1 Samuel 13:14 But now thy kingdom shall not continue: the Lord hath sought him a man after his own heart, and the Lord hath commanded him to be captain over his people, because thou hast not kept that which the Lord commanded thee.

Acts 13:22 And when he had removed him, he raised up unto them David to be their king; to whom also he gave their testimony, and said, I have found David the son of Jesse, a man after mine own heart, which shall fulfil all my will.

John 2:15 And when he had made a scourge of small cords, he drove them all out of the temple, and the sheep, and the oxen; and poured out the changers' money, and overthrew the tables;

There’s a time for peace and a time for war. All it takes for evil to succeed at times is for good men to do nothing.

 

[Jake Arsenal]

There’s a time for peace and a time for war. All it takes for evil to succeed at times is for good men to do nothing.

They are cowards if they do nothing to stop evil.

Revelation 21:8 But as for the cowardly, the faithless, the detestable, as for murderers, the sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars, their portion will be in the lake that burns with fire and sulfur, which is the second death.”

 

[Dorothy Mae]

They are cowards if they do nothing to stop evil.

Revelation 21:8 But as for the cowardly, the faithless, the detestable, as for murderers, the sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars, their portion will be in the lake that burns with fire and sulfur, which is the second death.”

It is true, they are cowards. But it is sometimes encouraged to just hunker down and wait for Jesus to come and let the people of the world go to hell. This is sometimes called faith when it really is, as you say, cowardice.

 

[Jake Arsenal]

It is true, they are cowards. But it is sometimes encouraged to just hunker down and wait for Jesus to come and let the people of the world go to hell. This is sometimes called faith when it really is, as you say, cowardice.

I doubt there are many among us who have not been tempted to do this, but I remind myself to "fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.”