The Bird & Babe Public House

We offer pithy pontifications by the pint-full, and the best brain-food this side of Blogsford. There's no cover charge, and it's all you can eat/drink (although we strongly encourage moderation). Like any other pub, we always appreciate a good tip.

Monday, October 29, 2007

Over and Done With

I am convinced that the concept of covenant has been misunderstood by Christians, at least by many of the people in the circles in which I run. I have heard people variously say things like, "God made the covenant with Israel and God wont break his oath even if we break ours." Such statements have been used to justify a great deal of things regarding national Israel, their continued chosen status, their right to various promises which have not been literally fulfilled and how it all relates to the church. The problem is that we believe, or at least should believe, that God made a NEW covenant, meaning, among other things, that the old one is over.

We, as Christians, need to stop thinking either that we are God's JV squad that got put on the field while He teaches his starters a lesson; or that Israel is defined in any other way than as those people who follow God through His chosen Messiah.

For those who disagree, I give two pieces of information:

First: the words of Jeremiah from Chapter 32 showing the Israel BROKE the old covenant:

31"Behold, days are coming," declares the LORD, "when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah, 32not like the covenant which I made with their fathers in the day I took them by the hand to bring them out of the land of Egypt, My covenant which they broke, although I was a husband to them," declares the LORD. 33"But this is the covenant which I will make with the house of Israel after those days," declares the LORD,

Second: a blog by a NT scholar talking about covenants, how they operate in the OT, and the nature of the covenant the God made with Israel.

posted by steve | 7:44 AM

5 Comments:

Anonymous Anonymous said...

I find a certain danger in this line of thinking, not the least of which is the concept of replacement theology. One reason the church in Germany did not actively oppose the holocast was the thought that the church had replaced the Jews in God's plan and that God had thus written off the Jews. I'm not suggesting that you hold that position, but I do sense some arrogance in your post .. "The problem is that we believe, or at least should believe,..."

Dr. Witherington's blog demonstrates that we can hold different positions and show grace to one another rather that saying it is Over and Done with.

November 22, 2007 10:31 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

I find a certain danger in this line of thinking, not the least of which is the concept of replacement theology. One reason the church in Germany did not actively oppose the holocast was the thought that the church had replaced the Jews in God's plan and that God had thus written off the Jews. I'm not suggesting that you hold that position, but I do sense some arrogance in your post .. "The problem is that we believe, or at least should believe,..."

Dr. Witherington's blog demonstrates that we can hold different positions and show grace to one another rather that saying it is Over and Done with.

November 22, 2007 10:31 PM  
Blogger Paul Johnson said...

It's funny how the teaching of Jesus sounds dangerous when they are echoed by others. In Mark 12 Jesus teaches a parable, it is too long to reproduce here, (tell me if i've wrenched it from context) its main point is that the Owner of the vineyard "will come and destroy the vine-growers, and will give the vineyard to others." Those are strong words, dangerous words. The meaning is obvious, the people who had been placed in charge had abused the property of YHWH and were to lose their position. It was obvious to the religious leaders as well..."And they were seeking to seize Him, and yet they feared the people, for they understood that He spoke the parable against them And so they left Him and went away."
I am not condoning the slaughter of Jews but just because someone misconstrues and twists an idea to serve their own purpose doesn't mean that it is wrong and should be avoided. I think that what is being stuck at is not a "people" but a system (covenant) in Mark Jesus is saying, 'the way things have worked in the past is changing.' I like NT Wright's analogy of a highway. When you set out to build a highway people still have to have a way to get where they need to go so you have an alternate route, but when the highway is complete the detour is superflous. The old covenant, in a way, is a detour. Now don't go falling in the ditch on the other side of the road and say that Israel was a mistake. It was a planned detour that "worked." Jesus also said that He was not trying to abolish the law or the prophets but to fulfill them, which He accomplished.
Also, Try not to resort to ad hominem attacks in blog responses.

November 24, 2007 9:53 AM  
Blogger DrewDog said...

Also, when using the anonymous feature, please identify yourself in your comment. It adds a measure of accountability and decorum to the conversation.

Cordially,
Anonymous.

November 24, 2007 2:48 PM  
Blogger Paul Johnson said...

why do the really good posts always end too soon?

January 08, 2008 8:54 PM  

Post a Comment

<< Home