Tag: Teaching

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Luke's Attitude to the Law Part 1

After a discussion of the three views of the Sabbath, In the book, Sabbath in the New Testament, Dr. Bacchiocchi presents his arguments for “continuity” between Judaism and Christianity. Bacchiocchi rightly notes that the strength behind both the “abrogation” view and the “transference” view of the law of God is in the alleged radical discontinuity between Judaism and Christianity. Bacchiocchi argues against those views by appealing to Luke, Matthew, and Hebrews to demonstrate continuity rather than discontinuity.

Believing Jews

The first demonstration of this continuity is in the description of the converting Jews as simply “Jews who believed.” This terminology is used in Acts 21:20.

Note that the Bible writer is not describing a totally different group. The writer simply calls these converts Jews who believed that Jesus fulfilled their Messianic expectations. This implies a continuity between the two groups that is borne out in history and scripture.

Respect for the Law

Next, the Biblical record describes these converts as “zealous for the law” (Acts 21:20). In addition, Paul is described as a Pharisee (Acts 23:6) and notes that he observed the law (Acts 25:8; and Acts 28:17). We should also note that Luke calls the Law of moses the “living oracles” (Acts 7:38).

Recognition of Discontinuity

Bacchiocchi acknowledges that there are elements of discontinuity in Luke. For example, Christ is the fulfillment of the Law of Moses, prophets, and psalms (Luke 24:44; Luke 24:27; Luke 4:21).

In addition, Jesus’ statement in Luke 16:16 demonstrates some form of discontinuity. However, Bacchiocchi rightly notes that this “discontinuity” is neither an abrogation of the law for Jesus himself said that heaven and earth would pass away before one jot or title of it would became void (Luke 16:17).

Conclusion

The writings of Luke demonstrate both a continuity and a discontinuity between Judaism and Christianity. However, the discontinuity does not nullify the law of God. In future posts we will look further at the elements of continuity between Judaism and Christianity in the Bible as discussed in Bacchiocchi’s work.

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Lamb Horned Beast Chronicles

Many in the Adventist Blogosphere are fuming over the Scooter Libby situation. Ryan Bell, Johnny Ramirez, and the Oak Leaves blog are all talking about this situation.

For all the talk about justice and righteousness we have the actions of Satanic agencies. The people who are hardest on crime are the softest on on their own crime. The people who condemn the wickedness of others hide their own under a cloak of presumed righteousness.

Revelation 13 tells the story of a beast. Not a lamb-like one, but a beast-like beast that has two little horns like a lamb. This beast talks like a dragon, but wants you to look at its horns that supposedly speak of innocence. This beast will start a war on a lie and then tell you that the opponent had it coming anyway. This beast will kill thousands of innocent civilians as collateral damage to continue this war started on the basis of that same lie. This beast thinks that 30 months is excessive to leak information that is virtually putting a “hit” on another individual. Yes it is a beast.

However, God has a word. The third angels message. It is here to tell the world that this beast does not have the last word. This beast will be overthrown. Today, that lamb-horned beast continues stamping on all the principles it claims to support in its founding documents, But God has a word! God needs us to tell that Word. Let us tell that word.

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Ecology and the Sabbath

In a very thought provoking post the Adventist Environmental Advocacy blog discusses an Adventist theology of ecology based in the Sabbath. We often hear about making the doctrines “practical” and often by that we mean making it relevant to daily life. Here is a post that is “practical” in that it takes the Sabbath and applies it to our communal responsibility and hopefully changes behavior.

This post definitely places the Sabbath into the conversation about ecology and I would recommend all to read it. Here are a few quotes from the post:

If we were to stop there and consider how Christians, and more specifically Seventh-day Adventist Christians might approach ecology, the first answer would have to do with the charge to care for what God creates.

(…Ecological stewardship, on the other hand, is something that we don’t often hear from the pulpit. Perhaps a good starting point would be the simple recognition that it is up to us – it has always been up to us – to tend to that which is God’s.)

Creation Care is not only part of our commemoration of God’s creative work each Sabbath, it is not only fulfillment of God’s charge to care for what He has made, it is also a way in which we continue to look for and to pay attention to the many, many ways in which God reveals Himself to us.