Liberating Differences? Where I’ve Been – Final

I’m not sure who’s still reading this, but here’s my final post on my early-21st-century email about New Covenant theology to my friend Seth

New Covenant Theology differs from “Covenant Theology” (what we’ve primarily heard in the PCA) and Dispensationalism (What Baptists and Pentecostals tend to think). In regards to Covenant Theology, the NCT view asserts that the much-popularized idea of the “Covenant of Works” and “Covenant of Grace” cannot be found in Scripture. NCT agrees that God had a Gracious Purpose in placing the nation of Israel under the law as a covenant. However, this does not make the Old Covenant a covenant of grace. Scripture indicates that the purpose of the Mosaic Law was to bring deep conviction of sin to those under that covenant to lead them to Christ (Galatians 3:23-25 – which brings up an excellent question: Should we try to reason with unbelievers, outside of any covenant, on the basis of the Ten Commandments/Old Testament, that they are sinners and need Jesus? Can/does this convince people who have not grown up with these values?)

In NCT, the Ten Commandments (and the other 600) are not eternally binding “Moral Law” but are seen as a Unit applying only as the terms of the Old Covenant with Israel. The Christian, then, is no longer bound by the terms of the Old Covenant. The Law of Christ is banner – the summit – the standard – for the New Covenant believer. And it is the Royal Law of Love – Love God with all our hearts soul mind and strength, and love our neighbors as ourselves. And even this we cannot do, not on our own – we are simply asked to rest and trust in God’s finished work in Christ, trusting the Holy Spirit to cultivate abundant & proper fruit in our lives.

This has to be true, not only because the bible plainly states it, but even logically. We return to ColossiansPaul tells the people of God not to worry about the observance of the sabbath. Really and truly, read Colossians chapter 2. Like circumcision, Paul regarded those wishing to get the Gentile churches to adopt Old Testament practices to be workingagainst God’s purposes, not for them! Yet, if the Ten Commandments were still “in effect,” then Paul would be guilty of gravest sin–violating one of the commandments, quite willfully and dogmatically—“remember [observe] the sabbath and keep it holy.” The typical “Covenant Theology” (Presbyterian) response would be to divide out the clauses (sorry, Model UN terminology) of the 600+ laws in the Old Testament that refer to ceremonial days and governmental laws. They’ll (rightly) say that these laws pointed to Christ and were fulfilled in Him, but that the other portion the “moral” injunctions, stand forever. So in a sense, you have 9 Everlasting Commandments.

So what’s the problem with this? Well, only that the line is imaginary: To the Hebrew tribes that worshipped Yahweh, there was no conceivable delineation between “Governmental,” “Moral,” and “Ceremonial” law. You’re calling the way to worship the proper way to worshiping the one true God ceremonial??Try that on any practicing Jew and see where that’ll get you. It’s more than ceremonial to them: The mode of worship and observance has everything to do with morality. And governmental? Every Christian who buys into this line of reasoning has a hard time separating out the moral laws from the governmental laws. Hence the confused and misguided ideas about “America being a Christian nation” and “The Ten Commandments” and “prayer” in public schools. And at its most consistent (you notice I don’t say “extreme,” but consistent) line of thought, an estimated 10% of conservative Reformed Presbyterian people believe completely in “Theonomy,” which I must admit I found attractive in while I was in the PCA. It is the idea that every single injunction in the Old Testament was necessary in modern, gentile government in order to have a truly “Christian society.” Thus you can consistently apply the “these laws are forever and ever, everlasting” injunction that appears over a hundred times in the Old Testament. Thus, the sabbath commandment should be observed, and the stoning of prostitutes should be observed (yes, Gary North advocates this! If we’re going to have the death penalty, it is argued by Theonomists, then why not re-institute it along biblical guidelines?) This tendency among intelligent, thoroughly studious Christians indicates that if you’re going to take the Old Covenant and its laws, you must take every last one of them! You really can’t poke a hole in their argument.

Except that it goes against everything that the New Testament and New Covenant stand for. Against everything that Jesus and the apostles stood for! Now, how can such tension exist, and how can it be reconciled? How can commands from Yahweh be both “everlasting” and “obsolete”? The answer, compadre, lies in the fact that Jesus ended the entire world-and created it anew. All of the Old Order, even its “everlastings,” perished in Christ, and He makes all things new in His resurrection. A new heart, a new identity–even a new, streamlined law that does all God ever intended “law” to be in Eden–“Love Me. Partake of My Life.” Eden is in Christ restored – and then beyond! As we are pressing forward to the New Jerusalem, where all the heavenly building materials of Genesis 1 and 2 can be found as the raw stuff for the finished creation of the New Jerusalem, New Heavens and Earth of Revelation 21 and 22. Read them back to back and make a list–its uncanny!

Thus Paul is not in disfavor with God for subverting His law, and neither are we when we insist that tithe is abolished and “sabbath” is a state of rest in Jesus. This is all a true reading of what has come before us in the Old Covenant–the shadows that have been fulfilled in Jesus Christ!

Here, then, is a practical question: Do we throw our Old Testaments away? Heavens, no! Like Colossians, and Matthew, and Hebrews and Peter insist–the Old Testament is indeed a guidebook! But how does it guide, that is the question! And I think that in the answer lies the difference between a defeated, sad, miserable life in religious bondage or a supernatural, joyful, incarnational, radically liberated and free life in Jesus Christ! If we regard the laws and people of the OT to be emulated en toto, we will be miserable and misinformed and misguided about Jesus, our life in Him, and the fellowship of the Godhead. But these things–the Law, Prophets, Wisdom Literature, Kings and Temples were ALL there for ONE thing—to typify, foreshadow, point the way to, prepare for, the Living Person of Jesus Christ. When you look at the New Testament, you will see the Old quoted 98% of the time in relation to Jesus and His fulfillment of what was written. And I’m not just talking about overt “prophecies”–those guys saw Jesus in the weirdest stuff in the OT. And I think we’re called to do the same. It’s gottabeat the alternative! If I hear one more “be mighty like Samson” sermon, I’m gonna hurl! Christ is more beautiful by far than law or emulation; His finished work and empowering presence are far greater motivators to holiness than the ‘weak and beggardly’ elements of religion.

I want the best for you, Seth – and for me too. And for the entire Body of Christ. I think that when we wake up to the fullness of New Covenant revelation, revival will break in the land. Not because we’re begging the Holy Spirit to come down off of some mountain, but because we realize that He’s been closer than our very breath all along.

Originally posted on October 12, 2007

14 Responses to Liberating Differences? Where I’ve Been – Final

  1. Wendei October 12, 2007 at 2:23 pm #

    Actually, Mike, I’ve been reading and thoroughly enjoying this series. I truly enjoy exegetical discussions where scripture is shown to be the glorious, beautiful, freeing thing that it is rather than the hard, binding, miserable thing many (well-intentioned) Christians make it out to be. Thank you for your efforts here!

  2. Brother Johnny October 12, 2007 at 5:48 pm #

    Well, brother, I’ve given this the once over while here at work, and I must say that I have a serious warning for you.

    Keep believeing like this, and you will continue to see your life and the lives of those around you totally transformed.

    Like I said, “I callz ’em like I seez em”.

    Hallelujah!!!!!!!!!!!!!

  3. zoecarnate October 12, 2007 at 6:21 pm #

    Thank you, Wendei! And well, Brutha Johnny, you might notice that the title of this series is “Where I’ve Been” and not “Where I *Am*”…so it’s complicated. Have I continued to believe these articulations of faith and God? Yes and no. I shall delineate all of this for both of you (hee-hee!) on the ‘morrow.

  4. Brother Johnny October 13, 2007 at 1:51 am #

    (…I just knew I shouldn’t be reading while at work! Sorry bro,…looks like you just might be cursed to hades after all..Guess we’ll know tomorrow.)

  5. brotherjohnny October 13, 2007 at 4:41 am #

    😉

    (I always forget the importance of the emoticon!)

  6. zoecarnate October 13, 2007 at 1:34 pm #

    And here I thought you were serious..!

    It might be Sunday now, as I posted something else entirely today. We’ll see!

  7. Peter K Bell October 13, 2007 at 9:37 pm #

    Hey Mike,

    These are some of the finest words on the consequences of how we read the OT that I have read–and as you know, I have read a lot of them:

    “The Old Testament is indeed a guidebook! But how does it guide, that is the question! And I think that in the answer lies the difference between a defeated, sad, miserable life in religious bondage or a supernatural, joyful, incarnational, radically liberated and free life in Jesus Christ!”

    I totally agree, and there is no shortage of evidence to confirm this! Well, there actually IS a bit of a shortage of the second kind of life around–at least here in the Bible belt–and a much too big surplus of the first kind of “life” mentioned here.

    As you have said, we’ve gotta do the same: find Jesus in the weirdest places–the places he has found to hide! He clearly wants us to find him there, to develop a passion for finding him wherever he is hiding, a passion that is not easily satisfied.

    Blessings in Christ,
    Peter

  8. brotherjohnny October 14, 2007 at 3:10 am #

    Let’s see just how good the good news can get! 🙂

    Looking forward to reading more.

  9. Tana October 26, 2011 at 3:52 pm #

    Still reading – glad you finished the series. Still digesting. You always make me think.

  10. Jon Klein October 26, 2011 at 9:17 pm #

    Keep smokin’ that stuff, Mike!

  11. Heather W October 28, 2011 at 9:40 am #

    Yah, this is great stuff. I was never able to buy that ceremonial/governmental/moral law stuff either, but you’re the first person I ever saw state the problem with that whole mindset. It’s an artificial construction.

    I love how you summed it up – the first world was destroyed. Only preterists get to enjoy such things. Glad to be one with you.

    • Mary November 4, 2011 at 5:20 am #

      Hi Mike… yes, still reading….. : )
      Your take has its obvious logic but it seems to me the space between OT Covenant and “NCT” is a more organic one. Both Jews and Christians who have been raised in their separate faiths have been steeped in “the law” as their community sees it; but, only when you internalize the Holy Spirit/ i.e. Christ living in you is the “law fulfilled”.
      Consequently, the 10 commandments become a “no-brainer” and every day becomes the Sabbath. Making bread on the Sabbath is not a sin because the act of baking has become holy. Also, the Jews were not the only ones to ascribe to a specific code of conduct/laws- point being, all people are God’s creation (and saw their own propensity to “fall short” ) and their path to reconciliation with God was always assured through the Jews via Jesus, which also is Old Testament.
      Laws always seem to create a ” miserable life in religious bondage” if you don’t agree with them. The grace of indwelling Spirit allows the law to be fulfilled in you i.e. “a supernatural, joyful, incarnational, radically liberated and free life in Jesus Christ”.
      Blessings to you ; )

Trackbacks/Pingbacks

  1. Covenant Expiration Dates & Perpetual Renewal - Where I’ve Been Part 3 « zoecarnate - October 12, 2007

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  2. Liberating Differences? Where I’ve Been – Final « zoecarnate - October 26, 2011

    […] bring the grace-hammer down in this post! Want to read it? It’s here, on my new blog, MikeMorrell.org! Please update your subscriptions & bookmarks. Thanks! Like […]

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