From: bivalve (bivalve@mail.davidson.alumlink.com)
Date: Sat Jul 19 2003 - 14:19:14 EDT
>The law has two basic functions:
> 1) It maintains order in the world (civil use).
> 2) It makes people aware of their sin (theological use).
...
> I think the question at issue here is whether or not the law has a "3d use" as a guide for the Christian life.<
I am not sure entirely how it fits into these categories, but the Law does provide useful examples. Like the narrative passages, this is not a strictly prescriptive use. For example, the requirement to leave some of your crops available for gleaning, rather than harvesting every last grain or grape, is not directly applicable for most of us, and probably is not culturally appropriate for any farmers on the list. However, as an illustration of the principle of caring for the poor, it illustrates the kind of thing that we ought to do.
Likewise, many regulations which seem strange in their details illustrate the importance of purity and the seriousness of sin. Some forbit pagan practices that are no longer an issue for us, but the underlying principle of avoiding man-made approaches to God remains.
The basic moral law (e.g., the ten commandments, in light of NT interpretation such as the sermon on the mount) remains applicable as guideance, though in a way this fits into category 2-what behaviors are inappropriate responses to salvation. What then becomes more difficult is the extent to which OT details of application of the moral law are universal explications or culturally specific. E.g., regulations about marrying relatives of one's spouse constitute explications of the command agianst adultery. However, they also reflect the assumed possibility of polygamy. Views on how much they might apply today have varied. There are comments on the subject in the original Westminster standards, but these were dropped by the American Presbyterian church. Based on the allusions in Iolanthe and Three Men on the Bummel, it seems that British law contained prohibitions on the subject in the late 1800's.
>>When I say "trash all laws" I'm using provocative language again; what I mean is, can we express all individual laws that are still valid for NT Christians as derivatives of the law of love? For example, stealing is clearly a sin in most cases, but it is so because it violates agape. I can imagine cases where stealing would be in keeping with agape and hence not sinful. In such cases we'd look to agape as the standard by which to judge.<<
Yes, it is possible to do so; it is also possible to express the OT laws that are superceded as derivatives of the law of love. (Of course, all of it can be linked through "If you love me, obey my commands". More specific examples: the sacrificial regulations point to God's love in providing the ultimate sacrifice and the need for repentance as a part of our love. Civil laws illustrate ways of loving our neighbors...) However, we are so good at making excuses that "it seems loving to me" is not a very good guide to acceptable behavior. Stealing something to give to my wife is not OK even though I love her. Stealing nefarious plans from a criminal mastermind and delivering them to the police is probably justifiable, but hardly a situation most of us find ourselves in. Stealing food because my family is starving seems questionable when there are a wide range of programs providing for the needy. (Not that many people do not have such available but that, if such is avail!
able, chosing to steal instead is a questionable decision.)
>>I do want to address this nit. Compare Matt. 12:1-2 with Numbers 15:32-36. Harvesting grain on the Sabbath is not qualitatively different from gathering firewood on the Sabbath, so to be consistent with the Numbers incident Jesus' disciples should have been stoned to death for their infraction. Jesus in effect says they're hungry, so let them go ahead, in violation of the Sabbath law. Compassion overruled law, as it was always meant to do. <<
But Jesus declares that compassion was the point of the law. People need to take time to rest and to focus on worship. Picking a handful of grain to snack on on the Sabbath is qualitatively different from treating the Sabbath as an ordinary workday.
Dr. David Campbell
Old Seashells
University of Alabama
Biodiversity & Systematics
Dept. Biological Sciences
Box 870345
Tuscaloosa, AL 35487-0345 USA
bivalve@mail.davidson.alumlink.com
That is Uncle Joe, taken in the masonic regalia of a Grand Exalted Periwinkle of the Mystic Order of Whelks-P.G. Wodehouse, Romance at Droitgate Spa
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