I've been thinking about Old Testament Law recently. How important is it? Do we follow it or ignore it? I did not think either seemed balanced. An "Eye for an Eye" doesn't seem to reflect Christ's love. "Go and sin no more" doesn't seem to reflect God's justice.
Today I re-read part of the sermon on the mount in Matthew 5. Christ says he has not come to abolish the law but to fulfill it. Then he gives six examples of the law, after each example he says "But I tell you" and gives an example of grace and love.
I think the "but" is the important line between the law and the life of one who imitates Christ. Christ is telling us to live on his side of the "but" while respecting the law on the other side.
Two observations
First, Christ's standard is higher than the law's and more difficult to meet. Under the law I wasn't allowed to kill my brother. Christ has upped that. Now I can't even express my anger at him. While Christ has upped the standard, he also upped the grace. Under the law no-one was dying for your failure. But now Christ has died because you can't make his standard.
Secondly, it is messy knowing how to live as Christ tells us to while respecting the law (which is still valid). How do we maintain justice and take an "eye for an eye" while turning the other cheek?
In the Schleitheim Confession Michael Sattler wrote "The sword is an ordering of God outside the perfection of Christ" I find this concept of ordained by God but outside the perfection of Christ to be helpful in understanding how we relate to both the law and the commands of Christ. The law is ordained of God, but outside the perfection of Christ. My goal as a follower of Christ is to live towards the perfection that Christ demonstrated and to leave the law part behind. I will not protest when others execute the law, because it is ordained of God. I simply believe that Christians should choose to live by the higher standard that Jesus taught.
What are your thoughts or comments? I'd be interested to hear them.
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
1 comment:
I have many thoughts on that. But when I went to set up a Google account (not knowing Al's info) it erased everything I wrote down and I am not up for it again this evening!
But it is a tremendous subject. I think we have made the mistake of thinking that since (as Christians) the law is no longer our measuring stick, we now can ignore it.
A very interesting and helpful book that touches the subject of the law is 'Hell's Best-Kept Secret' by Ray Comfort
Highly recommend it.
Post a Comment