@stats, make sure you pick a passage from the New Testament as modern day Christians (a la BADecker) believe that the coming, death and resurrection of Jesus effectively wiped out any relevancy of the Old Testament in regards to sins and how to live their lives.
They still use the Old Testament when it's convenient though to explain other things, like how the Earth was made etc. It's a bit like a
Choose your own Adventure book in that aspect.
you're spot on
old testament is like a sleeve dagger, it doesn't have to be used but if there is a chance to use it for something, it will be used, otherwise it's hidden for a long time...
Old Testament was for 3 basic things:
1. Ancient Israel government, and for Israel today if they will follow it;
2. The predictions surrounding the coming Messiah, Jesus;
3. Standard moral laws that fit all people because all people are essentially built the same.
The form of government God gave ancient Israel might be the best form. But we don't have to follow it. It was not meant for us. We can form our governments similar to the O.T. Israel government if we want. But it was for them, not us.
The predictions regarding the Messiah have mostly been fulfilled, although there are a few left to be fulfilled. But the benefit of the O.T. regarding these is to show us the miraculous power of God regarding how He did it. A few of the predictions are yet to come.
Since standard moral laws of the O.T. fit all people, it benefits us,greatly, to observe these laws personally, and to incorporate them into our families and governments.
Christianity has some contradictions in it's own preaching like we must not make sins or we'll end up in hell, but on the other hand they say that god loves us as his own children and will forgive and that he will forgive our sins. But if he doesn't forgive us sins and let's us in heaven regardless of sins than he maybe doesn't loves us as much and that proves that he will punish you if you don't obey him... sounds like Dictatorship...
Christianity doesn't contradict. People might use contradictions in their understandings and explanations of Christianity. But Christianity, itself, doesn't contradict.
For example. Take any two words that have opposite meanings out of the New Testament. Look at just those two words. They seem to contradict, because they have opposite meanings. But put them back into the N.T., and look at the message with the words in context, and suddenly their apparent contradiction shows a clear message.
The New Testament (like the Old) is to be read within context of the paragraph, the chapter, the particular book, and the entire Bible. Take anything out of context of the whole thing, and you will find that you are getting a misleading, and maybe even false, message.
Get the Word of God, the Bible, into yourself by reading and listening to Bible CDs, so that the Holy Spirit has material to work with to save you. Understand what you can understand. Believe God. Let the Holy Spirit handle the rest of it.
