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From: romain@pyrnj.uucp (Romain Kang)
Newsgroups: net.religion.christian
Subject: Re: The horrifying Old Testament
Message-ID: <112@pyrnj.uucp>
Date: Tue, 15-Oct-85 14:33:24 EDT
Article-I.D.: pyrnj.112
Posted: Tue Oct 15 14:33:24 1985
Date-Received: Thu, 17-Oct-85 02:19:33 EDT
References: <350@cylixd.UUCP> <598@k.cs.cmu.edu.ARPA>
Organization: Pyramid Technology Corp, Woodbridge, NJ
Lines: 32
Summary: Old covenants and new

With your indulgence, may I muddy the waters a bit more?

The Old Testament is really the story of the "old" covenant between
YHWH and the descendants of Abraham.  There weren't too many people who
could consider themselves part of this select group.  Further, if these
people were to violate the Law, the channels of redemption were limited
at best.  The means of punishment, of course, were numerous and spiced
with the extrapolations of persecuted people living in a hostile
environment.  Throughout the Old Testament, as a whole, I perceive a
greater emphasis on transgression and retribution than in the NT.

The New Testament brings out a new covenant that anyone is free to
enter, even those who have entered the covenant earlier and broken it.
Because of this, God has also obtained more ways to exercise love (as
well as judgement and justice.)  You might look at the OT as an example
of what things would be like had our sins not been paid for.  And
remember, salvation has been secured for everyone, it's just that not
everyone has claimed theirs.

What about the Jews?  They remain God's people, too.  (The Man wouldn't
go back on His Word to them, now, would He?)  As I perceive it, though,
the deal they have isn't as good as the one spelled out in the New
Testament.

Gee, I don't think I've been trained to do this sort of thing...
-- 

--Romain Kang, Pyramid Technology Corporation

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