From: kilroy@gboro.glassboro.edu (Dr Nancy's Sweetie)
Newsgroups: talk.religion.misc
Subject: Christians following the Bible (was OCA)
Date: 16 Oct 92 19:14:56 GMT
Organization: Glassboro State College


I said that I oppose interfering with other people's lives in almost all
cases, because I don't know of any instructions from Jesus that I should.

Tom Albrecht replied:

> Your problem may be that you view the Old Testament as God's Word Emeritus.
> [...]  God didn't write an Old Testament and a New Testament.  He wrote one,
> complete book of His revelation.  Read it all some time.

Gee, I haven't been condescended to all week.  It's a pity you're so bad at
it.

I have read the whole thing, Mr Albrecht.  Let me share one of my favorite
parts:

	You have heard it was said, `Eye for eye, and tooth for tooth.'
	But I tell you, Do not resist an evil person.  If someone strikes
	you on the right cheek, turn to him the other also.  And if someone
	wants to sue you and take your tunic, let him have your cloak as
	well.  If someone forces you to go one mile, go with him two miles.

Presumably, had you been there when Jesus was speaking, you'd have corrected
him: "Your problem is that you view God's instructions to Moses as no longer
important.  But you're just a carpenter, so what do you know?"

Christianity is well-known -- and often criticised -- for encompassing a
number of `Sunday Truths'.  This is when you have some belief that you insist
upon and defend against attack, and you talk about it in church, but when it
comes to living your life you act as if the belief was false or irrelevant.

I know a lot of people who claim to be `Sola Scriptura', but who hold ideas
with no solid Biblical justification.  How many people read the words of Jesus
above and think how insightful they are, but who also think that fighting in
self-defense is perfectly acceptable?  If you were taken hostage, would you
try to escape or would you help your kidnappers carry their load?

What would I do?  I don't know.  Maybe the same as you, maybe something
different.


Much of the Old Testament was given to Israel for the running of their
country.  But we don't live in Israel, and Jesus specifically told his
followers NOT to follow certain OT rules.  Based on the revised instructions
that he gave us, I don't believe we are supposed to use OT law as a basis for
establishing governmental violence.

When Jesus sent out the twelve, he said "If anyone will not welcome you or
listen to your words, shake the dust off your feet when you leave that home or
town."  Nothing about taking over the town, establishing governments, or any
other kind of force.


To convince me of your position, you'll have to do several things:

 a) Demonstrate that the OT laws you want to enforce legally are different
    in kind from the OT laws you think we can all ignore (don't want to be
    a Cafeteria Christian, now, do we?).

 b) Demonstrate that Jesus wanted his followers to coerce the behaviour of
    non-Christians.

 c) Demonstrate that you know of a way to accomplish (b) that won't drive
    people away from Christ instead of drawing them in.

In the past, you've ignored challenges to produce arguments that support your
positions; you'll probably ignore this one too.  The wicked irony is that you
will then turn around and say that I am a lousy Christian, and that you are
better than me.


Darren F Provine / kilroy@gboro.glassboro.edu