ModernHeretic

My understanding was that there were different opinions in the early church as to who should be required to obey the OT laws. Peter was a proponent of observing the law, and required the gentiles to convert to Judaism if they would become Christians. Paul, however, was more lenient in this area, and didn't require gentile Christians to observe the Jewish law. Eventually, Paul's view won out, as apparently he was able to convince James, the head of the Jerusalem church, and possibly the brother of Jesus.


Some of Paul's ideas on this can be found in Romans 14:

Basically, it seems like Paul was less concerned over whether or not people followed the law, which he considered "disputable", than whether or not they had faith. This rejection of legalism is typical of modern-day Christianity, although it was actually a big issue in the early church.

Gamera

This is Christianity 101. The OT Law doesn't apply to Christians. That's one of the defining differences between Christians and Jews and the subject of numerous passages in the epistles.

Regrettably, the issue is muddied by the Chrisitian right, which has a vested political interest in the OT Law, mostly to fuel their homophobic clientele.

At any rate historical Christianity, based on these clear passages below, has no problem stating the the Law does not apply to Christians. Period.

2 Corinthans 3:6 "He has made us competent as ministers of a new covenant--not of the letter but of the Spirit; for the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life."

Romans 7:4 - Likewise, my
brethren, you have died to the law
through the body of Christ, so that
you may belong to another, to him
who has been raised from the dead
in order that we may bear fruit for
God.

Romans 7:6 - But now we are
discharged from the law, dead to
that which held us captive, so that
we serve not under the old written
code but in the new life of the Spirit.


Galatians 2:19 - For I through the
law died to the law, that I might live
to God.

Galatians 3:10 - For all who rely
on works of the law are under a
curse; for it is written, "Cursed be
every one who does not abide by all
things written in the book of the law,
and do them."

Galatians 3:23 - Now before
faith came, we were confined under
the law, kept under restraint until
faith should be revealed


Galatians 5:3 - I testify again to every man
who receives circumcision that he is bound
to keep the whole law

Galatians 5:4 - You are severed
from Christ, you who would be
justified by the law; you have fallen
away from grace.

Galatians 5:18 - But if you are
led by the Spirit you are not under
the law.

Ephesians 2:15 - by abolishing
in his flesh the law of
commandments and ordinances,
that he might create in himself one
new man in place of the two, so
making peace,

Hebrews 7:12 -
For when there
is a change in the priesthood, there
is necessarily a change in the law
as well.

Hebrews 10:1 - For since the
law has but a shadow of the good
things to come instead of the true
form of these realities, it can never,
by the same sacrifices which are
continually offered year after year,
make perfect those who draw near

James 1:25 - But he who looks
into the perfect law, the law of
liberty, and perseveres, being no
hearer that forgets but a doer that
acts, he shall be blessed in his
doing.


James 2:10 - For whoever keeps
the whole law but fails in one point
has become guilty of all of it.

Steven Avery

Each verse can be a wonderful exegetical study.

One point is foundational, however. Many Christians understandably see a distinction between the Decalogue, written by the finger of God (and affirmed by James, after he discusses loving thy neighbor he specifically affirms the Decalogue laws against adultery and killing) and the Mosaic ordinances. Also worthwhile is to look at what Jesus spoke in Matthew

This explains to a degree the historic Reformation view that does in fact affirm the Decalogue (even if having difficulty in full acceptance in action and rest).

And on top of that Mosaic ordinances are seen as helpfully designed, and not just culturally or covenantally. e.g. The ordinances against scavengers are designed by the Creator for our health and well-being and the digestive mechanism today is the same as back then.

Shalom,
Steven Avery

Gamera

I'm not implying that historical Christianity determined that the Decalogue was pernicious; rather following it because it is a law is bad from a Christian perspective. Jesus converts the prescriptive nature of the law into a relational question -- don't kill people because the law says not to, don't kill them because you love them. Intent becomes paramount as a way of determining the ethical nature of an action.

That's what makes Matthew 5 (which I assume you're refering to) so revolutionary. Jesus declares that your rationale, your intent determines the moral quality of your conduct, and thus created the idea of an internal life, which was pretty foreign to the Hellenic world. A bad intent that result in a good result is worse than a good intent that results in harm.

Hence his radical claim that not loving people is as bad as murdering them:

Matthew 5:22 21 "You have heard that it was said to the men of old, 'You shall not kill; and whoever kills shall be liable to judgment.' 22 But I say to you that every one who is angry with his brother shall be liable to judgment; whoever insults his brother shall be liable to the council, and whoever says, 'You fool!' shall be liable to the hell of fire. 23

Joan of Bark

From Acts 15 of the NIV

1Some men came down from Judea to Antioch and were teaching the brothers: "Unless you are circumcised, according to the custom taught by Moses, you cannot be saved." 2This brought Paul and Barnabas into sharp dispute and debate with them. So Paul and Barnabas were appointed, along with some other believers, to go up to Jerusalem to see the apostles and elders about this question. 3The church sent them on their way, and as they traveled through Phoenicia and Samaria, they told how the Gentiles had been converted. This news made all the brothers very glad. 4When they came to Jerusalem, they were welcomed by the church and the apostles and elders, to whom they reported everything God had done through them.
5Then some of the believers who belonged to the party of the Pharisees stood up and said, "The Gentiles must be circumcised and required to obey the law of Moses."

6The apostles and elders met to consider this question. 7After much discussion, Peter got up and addressed them: "Brothers, you know that some time ago God made a choice among you that the Gentiles might hear from my lips the message of the gospel and believe. 8God, who knows the heart, showed that he accepted them by giving the Holy Spirit to them, just as he did to us. 9He made no distinction between us and them, for he purified their hearts by faith. 10Now then, why do you try to test God by putting on the necks of the disciples a yoke that neither we nor our fathers have been able to bear? 11No! We believe it is through the grace of our Lord Jesus that we are saved, just as they are."

12The whole assembly became silent as they listened to Barnabas and Paul telling about the miraculous signs and wonders God had done among the Gentiles through them. 13When they finished, James spoke up: "Brothers, listen to me. 14Simon[a] has described to us how God at first showed his concern by taking from the Gentiles a people for himself. 15The words of the prophets are in agreement with this, as it is written:
16" 'After this I will return
and rebuild David's fallen tent.
Its ruins I will rebuild,
and I will restore it,
17that the remnant of men may seek the Lord,
and all the Gentiles who bear my name,
says the Lord, who does these things'[b]
18that have been known for ages.[c]

19"It is my judgment, therefore, that we should not make it difficult for the Gentiles who are turning to God. 20Instead we should write to them, telling them to abstain from food polluted by idols, from sexual immorality, from the meat of strangled animals and from blood. 21For Moses has been preached in every city from the earliest times and is read in the synagogues on every Sabbath.

At least one scholar interprets verse 20 as implying that Christians should only eat kosher food. I can't see any Christian agreeing with that.

hominid4

Cege, good points about the big Ten. For argument sake, if the Ten Commandments are meant to be "law" these days, and if a son didn't obey his parents is his punishment still to be stoned to death, or is the new punishment not being able to go to heaven?

Cege

hominid4, the son's fate is no longer stoning and he'll have his lifetime to repent and be able to go to heaven according to the NT, so that particular OT law has been culled from contemporary application. (There are many laws where no later examples are given in the OT, describing the laws as carried out. We can't read of any son or daughter in the OT being stoned for disobedience or smart-talking their parents)

But also note that the Ten standing alone don't include that OT law regarding rebellious children. Modern Christians make their own interpretations and applications regarding the big Ten (even if they can't name all 10)--at least within the scope of the laws of the country where they live.

Ask your friend how Christ's Law (cited by Paul in the NT) differs from God's OT Law?

I. C. Unicorns

If Christianity is the teachings of the gospels, then I disagree.

I. C. Unicorns

There was arguments within the churches whether it was okay for gentiles to eat animals that were used as sacrifices of other religions. Some thought it was wasteful not to since after all, those gods didn't exist and others thought it was sacrilegeous. I think this doesn't involve kosher laws and is just another example of Paul letting things slide in order to gain converts. Old Soft-sell Saul.

Gamera

The gospel and Jesus' teachings are distinct matters. But the implication of the gospel narrative, as Paul, James, and the author of Hebrews point out, is that the Law has no application to a christian's life.