But why do Christians pay the Old Testament's commandments any mind? After all they stopped keeping Kosher centuries ago, when Jesus wiped the rulebook clean except for the ethical code--e.g., the Ten Commandments. And the Judeo-Christian ethics don't say anything about sodomy. The whole apparatus of condemnation rests on three letters from Paul, decades later, in which he called homosexuality "against nature."
What I have found interesting over the years is the inherent problem with the question. Two hundred years ago such a statement would never be considered with any seriousness at all. In fact, it would not even be asked because of the obvious answer. Today however, even one of my pastors would ask a similar question, "Would you enact the death penalty against convicted homosexuals too?" It is a sad thing when Christian pastors (supposedly pastors) argue against the Bible in the same fashion as unbelievers do.
This drives to the heart that the modern Christian's understanding of the Old Testament is weak at best. If Christians are going to cite the Old Testament at all, they sure seem inconsistent to ignore dietary laws and civil laws pertaining to National Israel. So again, what has changed since the puritan's view? In my humble opinion...Dispensationalism.
Dispensationalism seems to be the most common theology of Evangelicals. Yet when questions of homosexuality (among others) arise, the answers vary as wide as the spectrum of Dispensationalism has become (if anyone may even define it anymore.) The problem is that Dispensationalism does not have a consistent view of God's law and how it applies under the different covenants.
Let me offer an example. How many Christians concern themselves with the Sabbath? "Nahhh, that is an Old Covenant Law." "The New Covenant does not concern itself with the Sabbath" it is often said. We have been freed from the Law and are now under grace. Yet, as any thinking person will ask, "Are you allowed to murder then?"
The obvious answer starts in Genesis, but because most of us Evangelicals do not read the Old Testament, the answer quite often eludes us. Another problem is that many do not even consider the book of Genesis a part of the Torah or Law. Yet it is the foundation for the rest of the Law. For example, the Tithe may be traced back to the Genesis account. Another would be the Sabbath. Another would be murder (Does Cain murdered Abel sound familiar?). What is really interesting is Jesus' reliance upon the Genesis account for the Law based in the creative act of God in the roles of men and women and their coming together in marriage. Jesus actually cites the text as if it were Law! In other words, we may gather certain foundational laws based in the Creation account. Imagine that God would actually create with a purpose and define how reality should be!
Some time ago I confessed my turning to Covenant Theology. Reason being is that it is by far the most consistent view. It explains how Adam was under the covenant of works (still is) and has failed to live according to the Law of God. It explains how God took the Law and made special application of it under the Old Covenant with National Israel. It explains how the dietary laws were nullified at the dissolving of that Covenant. It explains how the Law of God is applied to the Christian under the New Covenant in Christ.
It also explains why men are religious. They are still attempting to fulfill the Covenant of Works. Yet they have exchanged God for an idol and changed the Law to something they may handle. Even then they still break their own laws! (The White Horse Inn has a great discussion of this. Listen here.)
In conclusion I will simply say this. If Christians had a clearer understanding of the Law of God and how Christ has fulfilled the Covenant of works in behalf of His people, if Christians had a clearer understanding of how the Law of God is applied to the new and regenerated heart under the New Covenant, then perhaps questions by homosexuals would not be so difficult. I am not saying they would not be difficult, for the unregenerate man knows no bounds in his attempt to suppress the truth of God and His Law. Yet perhaps this will give the Christian a more confident and consistent basis to stand and proclaim God's truth.
Mohler rightly cites Jesus at this point:
"For truly, I say to you, until heaven and earth pass away, not an iota, not a dot, will pass from the Law until all is accomplished. Therefore whoever relaxes one of the least of these commandments and teaches others to do the same will be called least in the kingdom of heaven, but whoever does them and teaches them will be called great in the kingdom of heaven. [Matthew 5:18-19]"
Soli Deo Gloria
3 comments:
Howard,
You had me nodding my head in agreement right up to the point that you laid the Biblical illiteracy and lack of common sense of modern Evangelicals at the feet of Dispensationalism.
Charles Ryrie, in his books on premillenialism and dispensationalism, shows that the covenants are not at odds with a dispensational view. Also, Dan Phillips recently wrote a great article about the logical consistency between being Reformed and being Dispensational. You can read it here: http://bibchr.blogspot.com/2006/11/twenty-five-stupid-reasons-for-dissing.html .
Christians may have a lot of disagreements, but I have found one's view of God's Law may conjure up some very serious discussions and some strongly held views. That is why I started by using the example of the Sabbath. One's view of that Law will show how one approaches the law in general.
I realize that Dispensationalism has explanations for this discussion. In fact, one thing I have noticed in debating different theological issues over the years is that everyone can make their system of thought explain the evidence. My point is logical and reasonable consistency.
Dispensationalism is so branched out, it has shown itself to be a system that is based on presuppositions that may come to a very wide variety conclusions.
The fact that you hold to a more consistent view of the law may be simply because of your high view of Scripture and your intuitive view of God's Law.
I will be sure to read the articles this evening.
God Bless
Thinking about this some more.
"Biblical illiteracy and lack of common sense of modern Evangelicals at the feet of Dispensationalism"
I wasn't really saying Christians are illiterate. It is their viewpoint and method or approach to the text. Many Evangelicals could tell you all about the Seventy Weeks of Daniel or many other prophecy passages. Yet how many would have even recognized my argument about the Sabbath being a law of Creation based on the Creation event itself by God?
My point is simple. Dispyism has a tendency to see God saving people throughout the different dispensations in different ways. I know this is not shared by all Dispys, but I have personally experienced this in a wide venue, from my local church in NH (which had quite a variety) to the internet.
The fact that Dispys can not even agree as to how many dispensations there have been doesn't disprove the system, but shows it is based on something a little more subjective than what probably should be acceptable.
Also concerning the law, look at Dallas Theological Seminary. You have terrific teachers such as Swindoll to an outright heretic such as Bob Wilkin. How can they co-exist? Only a vague and open-ended system could provide that.
Post a Comment