It’s a common criticism: Christians are inconsistent, cherry-picking which Old Testament laws to follow while ignoring others. They disregard dietary restrictions, Sabbath punishments, and clothing rules, yet condemn homosexuality. Is this a valid claim? This article explores the relationship between the Old and New Testaments, aiming to provide clarity on this complex issue.
To understand this, it’s crucial to recognize that the entire Bible, from Genesis to Revelation, centers around Jesus Christ and God’s plan for redemption. Dismissing the Old Testament outright displays a misunderstanding of its purpose and its connection to the New Testament.
The Old Testament: Sacrifice, Cleansing, and Foreshadowing
The Old Testament dedicates significant space to describing sacrifices performed in the Tabernacle and later the Temple. These sacrifices were meant to atone for sin, allowing worshippers to approach a holy God. This sacrificial system included complex rules regarding ceremonial purity: specific foods to eat or avoid, certain clothing to wear, and restrictions on touching various objects. This system served as a constant reminder of humanity’s spiritual uncleanness and the necessity of purification before entering God’s presence.
However, even within the Old Testament, writers alluded to the fact that these sacrifices and Temple regulations pointed to something greater. Prophets like Samuel, and writers of the Psalms, hinted at a deeper spiritual reality beyond the ritualistic practices (1 Samuel 15:21-22; Psalm 50:12-15; 51:17; Hosea 6:6).
Christ: The Fulfillment of the Old Testament
The arrival of Christ marked a turning point. He declared all foods “clean” (Mark 7:19) and disregarded Old Testament purity laws, touching lepers and corpses. His actions weren’t arbitrary; they signified the fulfillment of the Old Testament’s foreshadowing.
Christ’s death on the cross tore the veil in the Temple, symbolizing the end of the sacrificial system and its associated purity laws. Jesus became the ultimate sacrifice for sin, cleansing us and granting us direct access to God.
The book of Hebrews elaborates on this concept, explaining that the Old Testament ceremonial laws were not abolished but fulfilled by Christ. Praying “in Jesus’ name” allows us to “have confidence to enter the Most Holy Place by the blood of Jesus” (Hebrews 10:19). To continue adhering to ceremonial laws would contradict the Bible’s overall message.
Moral Law vs. Ceremonial Law: A Crucial Distinction
The New Testament offers further guidance on interpreting the Old Testament. Paul, in Romans 13:8ff, emphasizes that the moral law of the Old Testament remains binding. The coming of Christ transformed worship practices but not moral conduct.
The moral law reflects God’s character – his integrity, love, and faithfulness. Principles like loving your neighbor, caring for the poor, generosity, healthy social relationships, and commitment to family are still in effect. The New Testament reaffirms prohibitions against murder, adultery, and reiterates the Old Testament’s sexual ethic (Matthew 5:27-30; 1 Corinthians 6:9-20; 1 Timothy 1:8-11). Commandments reaffirmed in the New Testament remain applicable today.
Changing Penalties, Unchanging Sins
Another significant shift lies in the consequences for sins. While sins remain sins, their penalties have changed. In the Old Testament, acts like adultery or incest carried civil penalties, including execution. This was because God’s people were then organized as a nation-state, where sins had legal repercussions.
However, in the New Testament, the people of God are a global assembly of churches operating under various governments. The church isn’t a civil government, so sins are addressed through exhortation and, in extreme cases, exclusion from membership. Paul’s handling of an incest case in the Corinthian church (1 Corinthians 5:1ff. and 2 Corinthians 2:7-11) illustrates this shift. This change reflects the gospel’s expansion beyond a single nation, reaching all cultures and peoples.
Christ as the Cornerstone: A Coherent Biblical Framework
Granting the central premise of the Bible – the supreme significance of Christ and his salvation – allows the various parts of the Bible to fall into place. Christ’s sacrifice repeals the ceremonial law, and the church’s role transcends that of a nation-state imposing civil penalties.
However, rejecting Christ as the Son of God and Savior renders the Bible a confusing collection of inspiration and wisdom, much of which would be deemed foolish or erroneous.
Conclusion: Consistency and the Core of Christian Belief
Ultimately, there are two possibilities: If Christ is God, this interpretation of the Bible is coherent and consistent with its central premise. Alternatively, one can reject the fundamental tenet of Christianity – the resurrection of Jesus Christ – and then view the Bible as an unreliable guide.
However, it is unfair to accuse Christians of inconsistency for adhering to the Old Testament’s moral principles while not practicing its ceremonial laws. Perhaps a fitting response to the accusation of inconsistency is to ask, “Are you asking me to deny the very heart of my Christian beliefs?” If pressed further, one could explain, “If I believe Jesus is the resurrected Son of God, I cannot adhere to the ‘clean laws’ of diet and practice, nor can I offer animal sacrifices. Doing so would be denying the power of Christ’s death on the cross. Therefore, true believers in Christ must follow certain Old Testament texts while not others.” This is not inconsistency, but a recognition of the transformative power of Jesus Christ and his fulfillment of the Old Testament prophecies.
