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Ask Andy September 10, 2007 Dear
Andy, Over the years, I've had the opportunity to witness to a co-worker through various conversations and my distinguishing lifestyle choices. Recently she's shown interest in reading the Bible and has a goal to read it in its entirety. Upon reading the Old Testament she's been made aware of the battles and bloodshed that took place during that time period. I've tried to explain this to the best of my knowledge, but she always comes back with the question, "How can a loving God authorize such horrible acts of violence as recorded in the Old Testament, and how is this any different than the modern day Muslim declaring war in the name of their god?" What advice can you offer or are their any books you can reference that may guide me when discussing these issues with her?
Puzzled in Peoria
Great question. Hope you’re not expecting an unequivocal answer ‘cause I don’t have one and the research tells me that nobody else does either. My immediate reaction, after reading your quandary, was that I don’t have my own theology settled on that one! I will give you a glimpse of my process.
There are few things as foreign to us as the brutality of the Old Testament. Forget the annihilation of cities under the banner of Jehovah—how about stoning my daughter for refusing to keep curfew? We just don’t get it and we probably never will.
I believe that the Jesus of the New Testament is the Jehovah of the Old. I believe that the Blesser became the Blessing. That being said, His directives (at least how we act them out) seem to differ dramatically.
In the OT the entire city of Jericho (men, women, children, elderly) was destroyed with the exception of those in a prostitute’s house, II Chronicles reveals how the Israelites danced and enemy armies began to kill themselves, and an angel killed 185,000 Assyrians in an evening of activity. That produces a lot of fatherless kids.
In the NT Jesus tells us to love our enemies and He lets Peter know that “all who draw the sword will die by the sword” (Matthew 26:52, The Message, referencing Genesis 9:6). Paul tells us that the warfare we’re in doesn’t require “carnal” weapons (II Corinthian 10:4), but that our fight is “spiritual.” Maybe that’s the difference … the Old Testament is about flesh and the New Testament is about spirit. The enemies of Old Testament Israel were defined by the natural characteristics of culture, language, and skin color. The enemies of New Testament Israel are to be spiritually discerned.
The challenge that your friend brings up relates to a culture that kills in the name of God. It is an interesting parallel. In some respects, the United States, spearheading the military operation, is fighting an Old Testament enemy with Old Testament tactics. Old Testament means will bring an Old Testament end. Since the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, I hope we, as the Church, are not missing the point.
I was driving the other day and saw a bumper sticker that kept my attention for many miles—many days, in fact. It said, “When Jesus said to love your enemies, I think He meant don’t kill them.” I’d have to agree.
I know this: Peter’s act of swordsmanship in the Garden of Gethsemane was not motivated by faith or a connection to the divine purpose. It was a reaction, not a response. It was fear-based. God has not given us a spirit of fear. The battle was His in II Chronicles and the battle is His today. The weapons and armor have simply changed. Maybe the enemy has changed, too.
Andy
“If any lack wisdom, let them ask of God who gives liberally and doesn’t hold back.” James 1:5
ninetyandnine.com
©2007, Andrew Smith
---------- Andrew Smith, who has a master’s in family counseling, provides pastoral care and family life education for a living. But he answers your Apostolic questions for free! Email them to editor@ninetyandnine.com and see what Andy says.
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