The old and new testaments

There is NOWHERE in the New Testament where Jesus nullifies the barbarism and codes of conduct of the Old Testament. In fact Jesus affirms the entirety of the Old Testament when he said: "Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them. I tell you the truth, until heaven and earth disappear, not the smallest letter, not the least stroke of a pen, will by any means disappear from the Law until everything is accomplished." (Matthew 5:17-18)

Of course many Christians like to interpret this as saying Jesus accomplished everything, and therefore the Old Testament rules are no longer applicable. Yet, if that was what Jesus meant, he would have said that he was the one that fulfilled the Old Testament law, and no one needs to follow it, but instead he concluded that the law is applicable “until the heavens and earth disappear.” The earth, obviously, has not disappeared.

Therefore, it is logical to conclude that all the bigotry, misogyny, stringent rules concerning dress and behavior that are in the Old Testament, are still applicable today, and the fact that Christians don’t follow them, is a testament that they pick and choose only that which is convenient for them to follow. The only to areas where the New Testament does do away with Old Testament mandates is in the area of circumcision and the prohibition of certain “unclean” foods. Yet, in both instances, Jesus is not the one who is making exceptions to these rules, but it is instead Peter and Paul, men who are flawed and NOT divine, and who are therefore capable of making mistakes.

What Christians have chosen to follow from the Old Testament, and what they have chosen to ignore is based on convenience for themselves, their own prejudices (i.e. hatred of homosexuals) and the willingness to relax moral and behavioral codes so as to retain and maintain membership in their congregations. What they follow, and don’t follow in the Old Testament, or in the New Testament, has nothing to do with what the Bible actually says. Sorry, Christians, but you cannot have your cake and eat it too, and still be credible.

Lawrence Louis

AITC note: There are many who believe Jesus did fulfill the law.