A question about the Old Vs. New testament God

Morphine Child · Post by **Morphine Child** » Sun Apr 27, 2008 7:57 pm

I have a question. The old testament God is not the nicest fellow ever written about. Then in the New Testament, Christ is teaching of a loving, caring, concerned, helpful God. Obviously a big transition.

Here is my question: is Christ (and the new testament) saying that God changed? God was pissed off and angry, but changed? Now he is a caring and loving being and won't kill people anymore?

Here is what I can't wrap my head around: if, according to most conversations I've had and have read, God is outside of our concept of "time" and always has been and always will be (used to often argue infinite regression) how can a being that has always been change? How can something that doesn't have time to change, change? Change takes time, and change happens over time, but if there is no time for change, then how does change happen? WTF?

Oliver's Army · Post by **Oliver's Army** » Sun Apr 27, 2008 9:06 pm

Is that your educated view of the old testament God, or was that a cut and paste?

If these are your thoughts, how long *did* you study the Old Testament for these opinions?

bassjones · Post by **bassjones** » Sun Apr 27, 2008 10:03 pm

unfortunately, I think that's how most people view the OT God and how allot of Christians present it. Read it, study it, and it becomes clear that's a misrepresentation. I don't have time right now, but I'll post more on this later...

QWETTY · Post by **QWETTY** » Sun Apr 27, 2008 10:46 pm

you don't really have to study the old or new testament to see there is a difference. I mean, it's not like we need to keep tallies of douche bag things compared to awesome things god did to see the difference.

Morphine Child · Post by **Morphine Child** » Mon Apr 28, 2008 12:19 am

edited original post for neutrality.

subgenius88 · Post by **subgenius88** » Mon Apr 28, 2008 4:28 am

bassjones wrote:unfortunately, I think that's how most people view the OT God and how allot of Christians present it. Read it, study it, and it becomes clear that's a misrepresentation. I don't have time right now, but I'll post more on this later...

You mean raining fire and brimstone is kind and loving?

deek · Post by **deek** » Mon Apr 28, 2008 8:42 am

What would happen today if a bunch of people came together and wrote a new "bible", claiming that it was God or they were prophets and the like? In 2000, would people be worshiping the beliefs that were put together or because of the "information age", is it no longer possible to make facts without overwhelming proof?

Oliver's Army · Post by **Oliver's Army** » Mon Apr 28, 2008 8:50 am

You mean like Scientology or Mormonism?

Seems like they are doing just fine.

deek · Post by **deek** » Mon Apr 28, 2008 8:50 am

Good points:)

WBOB · Post by **WBOB** » Mon Apr 28, 2008 1:08 pm

For the sake of just being plain lazy,....and since I haven't seen it in the end zone at a football game for a little while....

JOHN 3:16

bassjones · Post by **bassjones** » Mon Apr 28, 2008 6:47 pm

well, even OT God is actually constantly showing mercy and grace. What was the punishment for eating the fruit from the tree in the center of the garden of Eden? Death, right? Well, Adam and Eve didn't immediately die; they were given the opportunity to live a long, fruitful life. Death came, as a consequence, but it wasn't like it was struck down on the spot or anything. And even then, the Messiah/Redeemer was promised. Salvation came from believing in the coming Messiah. more to come...

Dagwood Lee · Post by **Dagwood Lee** » Mon Apr 28, 2008 9:20 pm

Satan changes too. In the OT he's in the Garden as a reptile. In Job he's hanging with God at His crib, aksing for permission to beat the sh*t out of Job as a test. In the NT he's with Christ in the desert (at least in ONE of the gospels) By Revelation he is a super-being nearly on the level with God----and showing some of the same OT chracteristics in that he is hell-bent on destruction---who, like God is eternal and in charge of an eternal place of judgement.

The entire book is full of confounding, perplexing personality changes related to God and the Devil. There is no consistent perspective throughout. If you find consistency it's because you want it to be there.

The Bible is inconsistent in God's portrayal becuase our UNDERSTANDING of God/the Devil/reality has and will continue to change. It's that simple. Trouble is, while we've progressed as a society, we still hold onto ancient, outdated paradigms.

EXAMPLE: most Christians see Bin Laden and his ilk as barbaric, terrorists. In reality, they're operating on an OT paradigm: God uses His chosen to judge the infidels and drive them from the promised land. How is this bad? God never changes. He said that in the OT. Can't take it back.

QWETTY · Post by **QWETTY** » Mon Apr 28, 2008 10:48 pm

bassjones wrote:well, even OT God is actually constantly showing mercy and grace. What was the punishment for eating the fruit from the tree in the center of the garden of Eden? Death, right? Well, Adam and Eve didn't immediately die; they were given the opportunity to live a long, fruitful life. Death came, as a consequence, but it wasn't like it was struck down on the spot or anything. And even then, the Messiah/Redeemer was promised. Salvation came from believing in the coming Messiah. more to come...

that was because God was like, "Are you kidding me? Like really?"

Morphine Child · Post by **Morphine Child** » Tue Apr 29, 2008 11:21 am

I'm digging this thread, thank you for answers so far. Keep them coming, and I will comment when I have a few minutes available.

deek · Post by **deek** » Tue Apr 29, 2008 11:32 am

Some of the only written word I actually follow are instruction manuals. And even those are sometimes wrong. And that leaves me finding my own path to putting my piece of furniture together...