I am currently making my way through the Pentateuch again, and as before I find myself reacting, sometimes to the point of repulsion, to the way God is portrayed by the authors. This God commands the Hebrews to wipe out their enemies, take their women, and punish sinners in ways we would consider too ruthless. He saves Lot, who offered his daughters to be raped, from the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah, but turns his wife into a pillar of salt simply for looking back towards the ruin. I could list off many other examples, but I am sure that would be unnecessary.
This God seems very different than the Christ revealed in the New Testament and through the Church. I by no means think that Christ was all niceness and rainbows. He clearly had a wrathful side, and rightfully so, but never to the extent that is portrayed in the Old Testament.
How do you reconcile the God of the Old Testament with the Christ of the New Testament?
This God seems very different than the Christ revealed in the New Testament and through the Church. I by no means think that Christ was all niceness and rainbows. He clearly had a wrathful side, and rightfully so, but never to the extent that is portrayed in the Old Testament.
How do you reconcile the God of the Old Testament with the Christ of the New Testament?