THIS is NOT fair

[lambofgod43985889]

Why people mention people from the old testament as greater people than contemporary Christians?

 

[Sabertooth]

Who says that...?

 

[lambofgod43985889]

Who says that...?

Everybody

 

[Jesus is my Superhero]

Contemporary Christians have yet to accomplish what the list of believers did as listed in Hebrews chapter 11 to Heb. 12:1.

 

[com7fy8]

Everybody

I don't say that people of the Old Testament are greater than contemporary Christians. And I think there are others who also do not say this.

So, not everybody says this.

In the Old Testament there are people who are examples of what is good. And it can help to read and pray about the good examples of people in the Old Testament. Just saying they are greater is not what we need, I would say. But talk about how someone is a good example for us to follow.

Also, doesn't Jesus say not to worry about being greater than someone else? And what does Jesus say is great? How does Jesus say to be great?

Be humble, simply obey God, and this is great. And Jesus has us loving any and all people. This is great.

 

[lambofgod43985889]

I don't say that people of the Old Testament are greater than contemporary Christians. And I think there are others who also do not say this.

So, not everybody says this.

In the Old Testament there are people who are examples of what is good. And it can help to read and pray about the good examples of people in the Old Testament. Just saying they are greater is not what we need, I would say. But talk about how someone is a good example for us to follow.

Also, doesn't Jesus say not to worry about being greater than someone else? And what does Jesus say is great? How does Jesus say to be great?

Be humble, simply obey God, and this is great. And Jesus has us loving any and all people. This is great.

People admire Solomon and he had like 700 concubines and 300 wives

 

[Jesus is my Superhero]

People admire Solomon and he had like 700 concubines and 300 wives

This is why he's admired! (Joke).

 

[Jesus is my Superhero]

A person should strive to be accepted by God and not man. Seeking acceptance from man will put you at odds with God.

Jer. 5:7 7“How shall I pardon you for this?
Your children have forsaken Me
And sworn by those that are not gods.
When I had fed them to the full,
Then they committed adultery
And assembled themselves by troops in the harlots’ houses.
8They were like well-fed lusty stallions;
Every one neighed after his neighbor’s wife.
9Shall I not punish them for these things?” says the Lord.
“And shall I not avenge Myself on such a nation as this?

22Do you not fear Me?’ says the Lord.
‘Will you not tremble at My presence,

 

[com7fy8]

People admire Solomon and he had like 700 concubines and 300 wives

That is not considered to be our good example to follow. So, if he was great, that is not why.

David also is considered a great person of the Old Testament, but he did commit adultery and murder. But God corrected him about that, and there are very good things that David did, which are good example things to help us.

You might read 1 Samuel chapter 30 and see how David could be wrong, but then he did what was right and things worked out very well while he was doing what God had him do.

So, instead of only thinking about if an Old Testament person is greater than us or not, we can evaluate how someone is a good example and if and how a person isn't.

"Test all things; hold fast what is good." (1 Thessalonians 5:21)

One thing great about David is he could get correction after he messed up . . . or before he really messed-up big-time. You can read how he was getting ready to do a major bad thing, but Abigail helped him not to do that > 1 Samuel 25. What is great is how he listened to her and glorified God for using her to stop him.

 

[Silly Uncle Wayne]

Why people mention people from the old testament as greater people than contemporary Christians?

You should stop comparing yourself to others": ..If anyone thinks he is something when he is nothing, he deceives himself. Let each one examine his own work. Then he can take pride in himself and not compare himself with someone else.

When you have done that, then other people pointing out the greatness of others won't matter to you.

 

[Justin BT]

Why people mention people from the old testament as greater people than contemporary Christians?

Scripture clearly teaches that we are to look to certain people as role models. Scripture doesn't teach that these role models are perfect. Nor does scripture teach a person must be, and must have always been perfect in order to be a possible role model. There are great things to learn through reflection and meditation on the lives of these role models. If you approach these Old Testament and New Testament figures with a mindset of wanting to learn from the successes and failures of these people, then I am convinced you will be greatly blessed. (Assuming you allow yourself to understand the definition of success and failure within the framework Israels legal and ethical framework).

 

[Beanieboy]

Why people mention people from the old testament as greater people than contemporary Christians?

Could you be more specific? As others have posted, who are they, because Zi have never heard anyone say this. Can you give examples?

 

[SkyWriting]

People admire Solomon and he had like 700 concubines and 300 wives

Gotta love em!

 

[Soyeong]

Why people mention people from the old testament as greater people than contemporary Christians?

God used flawed people to do His will throughout the OT.

 

[Strong in Him]

Everybody

I don't, and I haven't heard of anyone who does.

It does seem that a few people in the OT had great faith and/or didn't question God as much as maybe we do today. For example, God called Abraham to follow, Abraham said "where to?", God said "I'll tell you when we get there" and Abraham went. When God told Noah to build an ark, he did. And Moses may have made excuses, but, at the age of 80, he obeyed God, went back to Pharaoh and led the Israelites out of Egypt - not to mention raising his staff and parting the Red Sea, striking a rock to get water and so on. David had faith that God would protect him from an 11 foot, armour wearing Goliath. Whereas today, the whole issue of calling seems far more complicated, and people might say "he wouldn't want me to do that at my age."

Maybe that's what these folk - whoever they are - mean when they say that OT people are greater than Christians. They were not greater; they were ordinary people like you and me. But they showed great/unquestioning faith and obedience, trusted that God would do as he said/promised - and God + 1 is always a majority.

But the heading on this thread say "this is NOT fair" - why isn't it fair?

 

[Strong in Him]

People admire Solomon and he had like 700 concubines and 300 wives

He did eventually.
But when he became king, God spoke to him and said "Ask for whatever you want me to give you", 1 Kings 3:5, and Solomon replied "I'm only a child and do not know how to rule these people; show me how and give me a discerning heart", 1 Kings 3:6-9.
That pleased God because he could have asked for anything, but asked for the ability to do what God had called him to do. He put God first. Even after he built the most magnificent temple, he worshipped God and said "but how can a building like this contain the God who made the universe?" 1 Kings 8:27.

I don't think people admire him for having many wives and falling away from his faith, but because of his great trust in God.