Reading Directionally Discussion

Week 6 - Alex

Week 6 - Alex

by Alex Nagy -
Number of replies: 3

Which of the 4 "Do nots" listed at the beginning do you find most people struggle with?

I think most people struggle with reading the NT as if the OT doesn't exist and I'm personally guilty of that. The OT can seem so irrelevant because we live under the NT. I think most people wonder what something that's so old with such out of date traditions can teach me about todays world.

How does putting Christ as the center of the 2 Testaments change the way you interpret the Bible?

I guess I've never really thought about the bible this way. I mean I have but not intentionally. To me this almost makes it easier to explain the Bible and why both testaments are important. This may not be the right way of looking at it but it's like saying without the OT the NT doesn't matter in the same way and visa-versa. Someone correct me if I'm wrong on that thinking.

In reply to Alex Nagy

Re: Week 6 - Alex

by Joe Amini -
Alex, so good, like what does a pastor killing a lamb and splashing the blood on the alter have to do with me today? Its like algebra in school. Speak of that what is your favorite OT story?
In reply to Alex Nagy

Re: Week 6 - Alex

by Audrey Morris -
Hey! I really appreciate your second paragraph. So, this week in Small Group we were talking about the level of preparation that was required to be considered "clean" to go into the Temple. Sometimes I think that is a miss in the focus on the New Testament readings in modern time - people don't realize the posture of people's minds and attitudes as they were heading to Temple. They miss how radical it was that Jesus was amongst those who were unclean & yet it didn't stop him. His ministry continued. His outreach continued. Instead of adhering to the tradition of the Jewish culture & the ritual acts of purification. He lived as a Jewish person at the same time living out grace. I think when we lose sight of the OT we can diminish the very grace that we claim. This was just an example of why we need both OT & NT in our current time. Just a thought or five. (smile)
In reply to Alex Nagy

Re: Week 6 - Alex

by Jim Damman -
Its become a personal challenge of mine to find ways that the NT reinforces the OT - I look to Jesus a lot for those. The example in Mark where Jesus observes the widows generosity reinforces the OT tithe as an example.