Reading Directionally Discussion

Week VI Joe

Week VI Joe

by Joe Amini -
Number of replies: 2

After listening to the lecture, share your thoughts on the following:

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

I think I am about to say this right the "Do Nots" I see people mostly struggling with is reading the NT like the OT doesn't exist. I see and experience that people often get fixed on the love of Christ as a cheap grace and forget that in the OT His love was displayed in battle, judgment, and death at times. 

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

I heard a while back someone say that Jesus is the linchpin between the OT and NT, and that has helped me remember it all as one unified story, just like the Bible Project people say. Doing so helps me understand the character of Christ and His faithfulness. 


In reply to Joe Amini

Re: Week VI Joe

by Jim Damman -
Joe that is GOOD - it is easy to see a love that we can identify with in the NT because of Jesus being on the scene...BUT...God also displays love in the OT (it just feels more foreign to us). For example, Gods love in the OT was heavy on discipline: He was an angry dad who sometimes punished. Perhaps that is not as common in homes today but consequences must still be a part of parenting and love.
In reply to Joe Amini

Re: Week VI Joe

by Ashley Duval -
Joe I'd agree with you - and maybe even be guilty of it myself. It was harder for me as an unbeliever and new Christian to reconcile some of the bigger questions of the Old Testament (I.E the destruction of the human race, slavery, stonings, etc.) with the idea of a good and loving God so it was easier to client to the New Testament where we are told to "Love God and love each other". We often want to characteristic of unconditional love and grace without acknowledging the justness within the character of God. Perhaps the second question is the answer to the first - that Christ is the linchpin and the answer to the reconciliation of the relationship between God and His creation and the ultimate fulfillment of grace...but to have that we need to understand the story of the Old Testament.