January 25, 2010 - Dut 10:20 & Mt 5:34

These are just a couple of the passages where the Bible seems to contradict itself. Trying to understand when the Bible says two different things, and still believing that God's word does not lie can sometimes be a challenge. Ready? Here goes:

"You shall fear the Lord your God; Him alone shall you worship; to Him you shall hold fast, AND BY HIS NAME YOU SHALL SWEAR" Deuteronomy 10:20

But in the sermon on the mount, Jesus says: "Again, you have heard that it was said to those of ancient times, 'You shall not swear falsely, but carry out the vows you have made to the Lord' But I say to you, DO NOT SWEAR AT ALL, either by heaven, for it is the throne of God, or by the earth, for it is His footstool, or by Jerusalem, for it is the city of the great King. And do not swear by your head, for you cannont make one hair white or black. Let your word be "Yes, Yes' or "No, No'; anything more than this comes from the evil one."

Is this simply a case of "that was then, this is now?" Jesus turned a whole lot of the old rules on their heads. No more "an eye for an eye," stuff. No more forbidden foods. Did those "ancient" peoples just have it wrong all along and Jesus came along to set things right? Or, as I suspect, as the people grew out of the barbaric stage, they were ready for a set of rules that were more compassionate? In primitive times, retaliation was the name of the game. Even God Himself told the Israelites to wipe out entire communities: men, women, children, and even all the animals! So here Jesus comes out of the blue and to let your neighbor not only whack you up oneside the head, but to turn and let him do it again!

So, were the rules "wrong" in the beginning? After all, God spoke them. They couldn't be wrong. Was our understanding wrong? Maybe. Or were those rules simply appropriate for that particular time and place? Much as Paul's rules regarding women no longer apply today. (THAT'S another whole post!)

Personally, I prefer the kinder, gentler God of Jesus to the harsh, vindictive, bloodthirsty God of the Old Testament. I don't recognize the Old Testament God as the One I know and love and worship. And yet...are they or are they not the SAME GOD? If God is unchanging, then why does He seem so different?

I welcome your comments...