MISUNDERSTANDING THE OLD TESTAMENT

The people of ancient Israel were nomadic shepherds. Their language, their way of life, their view of the world and their culture was very different from ours.* They were secretive about their faith, because they didn’t believe it was meant for anyone else; it was none of our business. Everything in the Old Testament is written by, and for, their own people. We were never meant to know what was in their sacred scrolls. The Israelites didn’t try to convert people, didn’t send out missionaries. They were isolationists – it was not allowed to mate or marry outside the faith.

One difference is very important to an understanding of the Old Testament; they don’t believe there’s a contradiction in there being a commandment not to kill and a god who tells them to go forth and commit genocide. There’s no contradiction, because it was understood that “Thou shall not kill” was followed by a silent “Jews.” And every reference to “your neighbor” was obviously “your Jewish neighbor.” They didn’t need to write that in because it was just understood. So why do we allow their laws to inform our way of life, structure our morals on it, and use it to judge ourselves and others at this late date? Why, in the name of all decency, do we still fight wars over it? None of their prophets foresaw the iPod, the automobile, or even electricity. They failed to foresee that we would multiply and spread over the planet to such an extent that we’ve all but destroyed the delicate ecosystem that makes life possible here. They were very smart shepherds, but the time has come to stop being led by ancient shepherds who never asked us to follow them in the first place. The Israelites are the Chosen people. If you’re not Jewish, this does not include you. You’ve stolen someone else’s God. As if that were not enough, you invoke this God against Jews.

But this isn’t true only in the Old Testament. The teachings of Jesus were never meant for outsiders, either. “Jesus sent out the twelve apostles with these instructions: “Don’t go to the Gentiles or the Samaritans, but only to the people of Israel—God’s lost sheep.” (Matthew 10:5-6) and in support of this, “I tell you the truth, the Son of Man will return before you have reached all the towns of Israel.” (Matthew 10:23) To address anti-semitism briefly, do you think the death of Jesus was unexpected? Or was it in the plan? Either way, Jesus forgave his killers; you have no right to persecute them in his name, especially if you’re going to claim to be obedient to His teachings.

* For example, in the early American West, it was a “hanging” offense to steal a man’s horse. This was because if left him without transportation in a virtual wilderness, without the food, water and tools that the horse carried. Horse-thievery could kill someone. Nowadays, someone who steals a horse has merely taken an item of our general property. The culture has changed, as all cultures do.

In some cultures it’s considered an insult to place your feet in such a way that the sole of your shoe will be seen. In ancient Mongolia, it was an executable offense to touch the doorjamb of someone’s home. The context of culture is an important one.