How does a Christian today reconcile with Deuteronomy 13:6-10?
151341
One thing to keep in mind, when reading the O.T. is that even though you read it literally, you must keep in mind the literary context of the passage, and the culture and time it was written in. \nFirst, this was written to a young nation, just coming out of slavery, and facing some formidable enemies.\nSecond, They had seen miracles unike anything any nation before or since, has seen, so they had a higher level of accountability for their actions - For an Israelite of this time to entice another to turn from God would be a great offence, because they were responsible for a huge amount of revelation from God.\n\nI think the modern-day equivalent would be executing a Traitor or a spy - not at all unheard of even in the last century. Because Israel at this time was a Theocracy, idolotry would be the same as becoming an "enemy of the state".\n\nwrathpuppet, I know you don't believe the Bible is God's Word, but you still might consider taking an introductory course on Biblical exegesis - I think you would find it quite interesting (and maybe even profitable).\n\nBackground studies may be divided into two areas — semantics and pragmatics. Semantics is the study of the language of a text, while pragmatics is the study of the circumstances surrounding the individual linguistic expressions. Exegesis must give equal weight to both areas.\n\n(The particular passage in question was a national law for the fledgling nation of Israel, which was a Theocracy remember.)\n\nFinally (and I think this is your main concern in posting this question), there is application - i.e. what does this text tell me to do today? When you have a problem with the application of a verse, passage, etc, remember this: no Scripture is of any private interpretation - Scripture always interprets Scripture, so just keep reading and the application will present itself. In Romans 12:21-13:10 it says \n12:21 Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good. \n13:1 Let every soul be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and the authorities that exist are appointed by God.\n2 Therefore whoever resists the authority resists the ordinance of God, and those who resist will bring judgment on themselves.\n3 For rulers are not a terror to good works, but to evil. Do you want to be unafraid of the authority? Do what is good, and you will have praise from the same.\n4 For he is God’s minister to you for good. But if you do evil, be afraid; for he does not bear the sword in vain; for he is God’s minister, an avenger to execute wrath on him who practices evil.\n5 Therefore you must be subject, not only because of wrath but also for conscience’ sake.\n6 For because of this you also pay taxes, for they are God’s ministers attending continually to this very thing.\n7 Render therefore to all their due: taxes to whom taxes are due, customs to whom customs, fear to whom fear, honor to whom honor.\n8 Owe no one anything except to love one another, for he who loves another has fulfilled the law. \n9 For the commandments, “You shall not commit adultery,” “You shall not murder,” “You shall not steal,” “You shall not bear false witness,” “You shall not covet,” and if there is any other commandment, are all summed up in this saying, namely, “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.”\n10 Love does no harm to a neighbor; therefore love is the fulfillment of the law.\n\nSo, there you have the answer, in modern application of the Deuteronomy 13:6-10 \n1. Evil is to be overcome with good, 2. we know that we must obey the governing authority, and the laws they impose, and 3. that we must love our neighbor, it is not good to kill my neighbor, it is unloving to kill my neighbor, and it is unlawful to kill my neighbor.\n\nConclusion: As a Biblical Christian, I must not kill my friend when he invites me to participate in a pagan ritual or attend a yoga session.\n\nP.S. Schneb's study on the Law  bel
686469
Christian god needs repairing and reshaping. I will be happy to repair her but I am busy with repairing the Jewish and muslim gods for the time being. After I repair the christian one, your problems will be solved ... believe me...
568556
EDIT: I didnt have my Bible with me when I was at work yesterday, but I knew of some scripture I wanted to share with you, some that have helped me - I brought it today.\n\nEPHESIANS 6: 10-18\n10 Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might.\n11 Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.\n12 For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.\n13 Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.\n14 Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness;\n15 And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace;\n16 Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked.\n17 And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God:\n18 Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints;\n\n1 CORINTHIANS 10: 13\nThere hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.\n\nHEBREWS 2: 18\nFor in that he himself hath suffered being tempted, he is able to succour them that are tempted.\n\n\nOne non-scripture book that I have read, "Putting on the Armor of God," provides practical expersices to build faith and strength in relying on the Lord, to see you through any manner of addiction.  This book helped save my life, in some ways.  I dealt with issues such as the one you described - related to pornography, among others, the addiction of drugs and alcohol.\nIt is written by an LDS author, but is meant for all, and is not full of missionary stuff to convert, only real life experiences, and a lot of study and prayer, and exersises for one to practice to learn to rely more wholly upon the healing and overcoming power of Christ.\nIt applies to recovering and obstaining from any addiction, and I highly suggest you read it.\nOne suggestion in the book, which I still use, is to make up some small cards and write some empowring scripture verses on them.  Carry them with you, and when you are tempted, you pull them out and read them.  This puts your mind on the things of God, causing the evil whisperings of Satan to dissapear, filling you with Gods Spirit and strength.  Just one mans suggestion.\nGod Bless you.\n\nhttp://lds.about.com/gi/dynamic/offsite.htm?zi=1/XJ&sdn=lds&zu=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.cedarfort.com%2Fcatalog%2F1555172830.html
1070812
Say: "O People of the Book! Let us rally to a common formula to be binding upon both us and you: That we worship none but God; that we associate no partners with Him; and that we erect not, from among ourselves, Lords and patrons other than God." (Qu'ran, 3:64)\n\nThis is our call to the Jews, a People of the Book: As people who believe in God and obey His commands, let us come together in a common formula of "faith." Let us love God, the Lord and Creator of all of us. Let us abide by His commands. Let us pray to God to lead us further on the path of righteousness. Let us bring love, compassion, and peace to each other and the world, not hostility, bloodshed, and anguish.\n\nThat is where the solution to the Palestinian tragedy and other conflicts in the world lies. The deaths and suffering of so many innocent people remind us every day what an urgent task this is.\n\nSee the following site:\nhttp://www.palestiniantragedy.com/
399086
its amazing to me that christinans say that the Torah has been in some way fulfilled when the Bible clearly states that it is a eternal decree for the nation of Israel for all generations. As for the Ten Commandments they do not follow them. It says to keep the sabbath it also says not to light a fire in your home on the sabbath. I do not know of a single Christian that obstians from doing that. Oh and the commandments the Jews have are 613 biblical Commandments. \n\nand yes everyone should study the 7 noacide laws.
141235
There is no "old Covenant," because there is no new one.\n\nBut if you mean the Prophets of the Hebrew Scriptures, then what they said is From Gd.\n\nFor example, Ezekiel. The whole of chapter 18 of the book of Ezekiel is about the idea that no one can die for someone else's sins. This chapter of Ezekiel teaches us that all we have to do for Gd's forgiveness is to stop doing the Bad and start doing the Good, and Gd will forgive us.\n\nI also like Hosea, for example Hosea 11:9, where he said, "For I am Gd and not a man."\n\nI also love Jonah. In Jonah, the People of Ninevah do three things in order to be forgiven by Gd. They fast, they pray for forgiveness, and they stop doing the Bad and start doing the Good, and Gd forgave them!\n\nJonah 3:7-10 And he caused it to be proclaimed \nand published through Ninevah, by the decree \nof the King and his nobles, saying, Let \nneither man nor beast, herd nor flock taste \nanything; let them not feed nor drink water; \nbut let man and beast be covered with \nsackcloth, and cry mightily unto Gd; yea, let \nthem turn every one from his evil way, and \nfrom the violence that is in their hands. Who \ncan tell if Gd will turn and repent, and turn \naway from his fierce anger that we perish not? \nAnd Gd saw their works, that they turned from \ntheir evil way; and Gd repented of the evil, \nthat he had said that he would do unto them; \nand he did not do it.\n\nPlease notice that Jonah tells us that Gd saw their WORKS, their deeds, how they turned from their evil ways, and Gd forgave them. It does not say that Gd saw their blood sacrifice, they never offered one. It does not say that Gd forgave them because they had the right faith, but rather it says that Gd forgave them because of their deeds!\n\nSo, yes, the Prophets who spoke as Gd instructed are wonderful!
411281
Salvation for the Old Testament believers was the same as it is today for the New Testament believers.\nBy grace through faith in the coming Messiah (OT), and by grace through faith in the Messiah who came, and will return (NT).
842255
You are right.  There are a lot of things recorded in the Bible that make us cringe.  I am not going to make excuses for it (like "oh well that was God's law back then.")  Slavery is wrong.  It was wrong then and it's wrong now.  Period.  \n\nFirst, you have to understand what the Bible is.  It's a collection of writings -- some of which were passed down orally for centuries before ever being written down -- all different kinds of writings.  Each book is different; written for a different purpose.  Do you really think that all Christians believe every word in the Bible is a direct dictate of God?  Okay, some Bible fundamentalists do, but not all of us.  It's the difference between being dictated by God and inspired by God.  "Inspired" is not quite so dogmatic.  \n\nThis particular verse, I believe, is a record from when Moses and the Israelites were in the desert.  It records the early development of the modern concept of the rule of law.  At the time, most tribes had kings, and kings were the law.  Under Moses, the Israelites developed consistent laws and the concepts of legal interpretations and precedents.  This is what you are reading.  While most Christians see the ten commandments as revelation from God, most Bible scholars don't see the long list of rules and penalties as divine revelation in the same sense.  \n\nThat's why religious leaders study the Bible throughout their lives.  They try to understand its wisdom -- its beauty -- and they take what is best and make that their way of life.  \n\nJesus was a real master at this.  His famous summary of the ten commandments into two actually came from the Old Testament:  Love the Lord your God with all your heart and all your soul and all your mind and all your strength, and love your neighbor as yourself.  \n\nThis is the foundation of Christianity.  What a beautiful faith.  What a wonderful way to live your life.  This is why I am a Christian.  I do not let a handful of inconsistent verses from 3500 years ago rob me of what keeps me connected to God and to my neighbor and fulfills my life.\n\nBest of luck in your search for Truth.
937216
Apologies for pasting so many verses, but what better to answer this question then the book that holds the answer?\n\nHebrews 9:16-28 NIV\n\n16In the case of a will,[there is a note here in the NIV that the Greek word "diathēkē" that is translated "will" in both vs. 16 and 17 is the same word used in, for example, Heb. 8:9 that means "covenant"] it is necessary to prove the death of the one who made it, 17because a will is in force only when somebody has died; it never takes effect while the one who made it is living. 18This is why even the first covenant was not put into effect without blood. 19When Moses had proclaimed every commandment of the law to all the people, he took the blood of calves, together with water, scarlet wool and branches of hyssop, and sprinkled the scroll and all the people. 20He said, "This is the blood of the covenant, which God has commanded you to keep."[Ex. 24:8]21In the same way, he sprinkled with the blood both the tabernacle and everything used in its ceremonies. 22In fact, the law requires that nearly everything be cleansed with blood, and without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness. \n\n 23It was necessary, then, for the copies of the heavenly things to be purified with these sacrifices, but the heavenly things themselves with better sacrifices than these. 24For Christ did not enter a man-made sanctuary that was only a copy of the true one; he entered heaven itself, now to appear for us in God's presence. 25Nor did he enter heaven to offer himself again and again, the way the high priest enters the Most Holy Place every year with blood that is not his own. 26Then Christ would have had to suffer many times since the creation of the world. But now he has appeared once for all at the end of the ages to do away with sin by the sacrifice of himself. 27Just as man is destined to die once, and after that to face judgment, 28so Christ was sacrificed once to take away the sins of many people; and he will appear a second time, not to bear sin, but to bring salvation to those who are waiting for him.\n\nAgain, sorry about the length of the pasting, but this should answer your question pretty well.  God bless!
1129976
Oh, the cry of the Christian. "YOU'RE TAKING IT OUT OF CONTEXT!" I love it when they say that, because Gen. 6:6 clearly says that God repented of having created mankind.  If you "repent" of something, it is because you regret having done it--otherwise, you would not feel the need to repent. In other words, God changed his mind. Poor, sad Christians, who are stuck with explaining why God says, in some places that he never changes, repents, or lies; while in other places, he repents of having done something, or changes his mind about doing something (as in Jonah 3:10). \n\nYou can't have it both ways. Either God NEVER changes at all, for any reason, or he sometimes does. How can an all-knowing God change his mind?? He already knows what's going to happen in the future--if he knew he were going to change his mind about a decision, he would never bother to make the decision in the first place!
808640
In the Old Testament he was reactive.  That's cause the people brought that out in him.  In modern times he is not reactive, but neither is he proactive; he's taken a wait-and-see attitude.  Why do you ask?  Are you an atheist looking for an argument?
545132
I asked some people about that yesterday. Apparently it was only supposed to apply to the Israelites... At least that's what they all said but I haven't fact checked it yet.\nThe abominations are the same.\n\nhttp://answers.yahoo.com/question/index;_ylt=AqnbbDeGVoLENsNqVkflpGvsy6IX?qid=1006051123125\n\nHere's a link to the questions I asked in regards to leviticus...
1135939
for 2,000 years, there's always been a "contemporary" period. And that means in the year 2150, those people will think they are "contemporary" and we are near-ancient.\n\nSo the real challenge here,.. are we so much different in this "contemporary" period as say... those folks were 200 years ago?? Does the Bible (typically) address outside events, or rather the nature of man's heart, his need for relationships, even with his maker, and how to cross over from sin and error to righteousness and success?\n\nThese things are 'timeless', - no matter how modern you think you are.
13832
I am in total agreement with you.  If you ever want Biblical proof of God's abiding love, just recall Jesus' parable of The Prodigal Son.  Each one of us is the Son, and God is the father.  All God wants us to do is come home, and all will be forgiven.  It's what Jesus died for--payment for the sins of the world for all time.
364688
There are elements of truth in a lot of the answers - there is probably one big answer which incorporates a number of these concepts. I'll add a couple of points to consider:\n\nMatthew 7:21-23\n 21Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven.\n 22Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works?\n 23And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.\n\nMatthew 25:41 "Then He will also say to those on His left, 'Depart from Me, accursed ones, into the eternal fire which has been prepared for the devil and his angels;\n\nLuke 13:23-28\n 23Then said one unto him, Lord, are there few that be saved? And he said unto them,\n 24Strive to enter in at the strait gate: for many, I say unto you, will seek to enter in, and shall not be able.\n 25When once the master of the house is risen up, and hath shut to the door, and ye begin to stand without, and to knock at the door, saying, Lord, Lord, open unto us; and he shall answer and say unto you, I know you not whence ye are:\n 26Then shall ye begin to say, We have eaten and drunk in thy presence, and thou hast taught in our streets.\n 27But he shall say, I tell you, I know you not whence ye are; depart from me, all ye workers of iniquity.\n 28There shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth, when ye shall see Abraham, and Isaac, and Jacob, and all the prophets, in the kingdom of God, and you yourselves thrust out.\n\nFrom these 3 passages we see that those who preach & do miracles in His name, BUT ARE ALSO doers of iniquity, will be lost. Iniquity is sin. Sin is transgression against God's Law. God's Law was given to Moses on Mt Sinai (and he wrote it in the Torah/Books of Moses). Also the Word of God was with God & was God before creation (John 1:1); the Word was made Incarnate (John 1:14) - Yeshua the Messiah, who was perfect & sinless - i.e. he did not break any of the Laws of God in the Torah. He is the One who said: "Follow Me."\n\nIt puts this Proverb in perspective:\nHe that turneth away his ear from hearing the law, even his prayer shall be abomination. Proverbs 28:9\n\nA couple of other things to consider. God has NEVER tolerated paganism mixed-in with His worship. That didn't bother the pagan Roman Emperor Constantine - he added some Christian elements into his sun god worship and TERMED IT "Christianity." Evidently it didn't bother the Popes or the Reformers - for all the mainline denominations (Catholic, Protestant, non-denominational) still maintain the pagan traditions of man with Sunday, Christmas, Easter, etc.\n\nGod has given us Scripture which details when & how He wants to be worshipped. The Sabbath & the Festivals of the Lord is a starting point. Unfortunately, you won't find them on the secular, pagan-based calendars. Or on your mainline denomination church calendars!\n\nRevelation 18:4 "Come out of her my people."
1156003
It is not.  Just ask a Jew.  In fact, most Christians do not try to spin that lie anymore either.
750356
We as Christains are not bound by the old testament anymore thats why Jesus came to set us free from those laws..Jesus says to love one another as He has loved us..Very plain..To know Jesus we will want to walk more like Him everyday and not do things to cause us to be seprated..