Using Different Modes of Spirituality to Reconcile the New Testament with the Old...and Evolve Christian Faith

Posted by T.Collins Logan on

This is an effort to evaluate the Christian scriptural canon – and ultimately Christian praxis itself – through a synthesis of three modes of spirituality. These are modes which, on the surface at least, seem to contradict each other or invite significant tension, but ultimately combine to produce the strongest trajectory of mature Christian faith.

Questions around how to reconcile the Biblical Old Testament with the New Testament come up so frequently — and prompts such varied answers — that I’ve decided to summarize my own take on an in-depth way to approach them. Hopefully, this can begin some conversations around resolving perceived tensions between the Old Testament canon of scripture and the New Testament canon, at least from one Christian’s perspective.

How we can best interpret and apply New Testament scripture in modern times is something I’ve written about before, and I’d like to rely on those principles to arrive at how that scripture instructs Christians on approaching the Old Testament — also referred to as the Hebrew Scriptures. Along with these interpretive tools, we’ll be exploring how different modes of spirituality are reflected in scripture, and how a deeper context of interpretation  can be synthesized through those orientations. The aim is to discover fruitful reconciliations between what at first glance seem to be prominent revisions or contradictions between the two canons, , and to arrive at a deeper understanding that inspires spiritual growth.

Here is the link for the PDF download: Extrinsic, Intrinsic, and Seeker Spirituality: Navigating the Old and New Testaments

And here is the Table of Contents:

A Biblical Response to the Christian Nationalism in Donald Trump’s “Make America Great Again” (MAGA) Movement

Posted by T.Collins Logan on


The question of how people who aspire to follow Christ’s teachings should respond to the MAGA movement – and to the current Trump administration’s embodiment of that movement’s principles – is admittedly a polarizing one, but the aim here is to consult New Testament (NT) scripture specifically to find guidance and insight on how to do that.

We’ll look at some NT scriptural references framed within the principles that seem to unify each group of like-minded Biblical verses. We’ll also need to decide on a method of interpretation – or “hermeneutic” – to arrive at a unified conclusion about how a modern Christian can navigate the current political landscape with these scripture references in mind.

Currently this essay is in the form of a PDF download, and can be found here.

*** Please note: No generative AI tools were used in composing or editing this essay. ***

 

 

 

A Debate Over Gender Equality in Scripture and the Early Church

Posted by T.Collins Logan on

This is a post that will be interesting to Christians curious about textual and historical evidence around women's roles and authority in early Christianity. It outlines the preponderance of evidence that supports gender equality, and the comparitive lack of evidence that enables cultural conservatives to claim that women are somehow subordinate to men in the Church. It is written specifically with a Chrisian audience in mind.

DOWNLOAD PDF OF "A Debate Over Gender Equality" HERE

What's actually the position of Old Testament in Christianity?

Posted by T.Collins Logan on

A2A. If I'm understanding your question correctly, the position (value, meaning, import, relevance, etc.) of the Old Testament varies quite a bit among different denominations, and even among individuals within those denominations. So, for example:

  • An evangelical, fundamentalist-leaning denomination usually views the OT as "the inspired Word of God," and so they treat it no differently than the New Testament in terms of its instructiveness for Christian praxis. There are some obvious problems with this kind of literalism, of course (such as how to approach Levitical edicts, Creation accounts in Genesis, etc.), but generally the exegesis of OT texts is carried out very similarly to the exegesis of NT texts.
  • In more progressive evangelical denominations, the OT is often viewed as providing valuable insight into the evolution of monotheism and history of the Israelites, as well as laying the foundations of Messianic prophecies that contextualized the life of Jesus both in his time and for centuries thereafter. It is not viewed literally, but often poetically; for example, the Creation account in Genesis is viewed more as metaphor or myth, with important instructive value, but not literal truth.
  • For most Catholics, the OT is presented as Sacred Text, inspired by God, that represents an enduring covenant between God and humanity, is rich with wisdom and insight, and lays the foundation for salvation in Christ.
  • In many mainstream Protestant denominations, familiarity with the OT is considered an important part of spiritual knowledge and education, but not a guideline for how to live a godly, righteous life (as many fundamentalists believe). The lessons of the OT may be relevant for Christian edification, but they are not prescriptive.
  • As a mystic, I view the OT as offering rich spiritual value for edification and growth. Meditating on Psalms, Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, The Song of Songs and Job have in particular proven profoundly enriching to my spiritual life. Many of the oldest Biblical stories from the Pentateuch also have provided surprising insights and understanding about spiritual matters when I allowed them to settle into a less dogmatic, more neutral awareness.

I hope this was helpful.

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Comment from L. Budow:
 

Ecclesiastes 12:14: God will call every creature to account for everything unknown, be it good or bad. The sum of the matter, when all is said and done: Revere God and observe His commandments! For this applies to all mankind.

Matthew 5:17

"Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law of Moses or the writngs of the prophets. No, I came to accomplish their purpose. (as should everyone)

Matthew 5:18

"I tell you the truth, until heaven and earth disappear, not the smallest detail of God’s Law will disappear until it’s purpose is achieved. (at the end of time) So if you ignore the least commandments and teach others to do the same, you will be called the least in the Kingdom of Heaven. But anyone who obeys God’s Law’s and teaches them, will be called great in the Kingdom of Heaven.

Matthew 8:22

‘We prophesied in your name and cast out demons in your name.’ But I will reply ‘I never knew you. Get away from me, you who break God’s laws.’

Matthew 19: 17

“if you want to receive eternal life, keep the commandments.”

Sure, that is definitely one side of the argument. The other is captured in the verses below (among many others). Essentially, the law of agape supersedes the law of sin and death. That is the essence of Christian theology. That doesn’t mean we throw out the Old Testament…not at all. But it is simply inferior to the teachings and example of Christ, to the Christian praxis of compassion-in-action, and to the guidance of holy spirit. You can believe otherwise, insisting that the Old Testament is somehow equivalent to Christ’s “fulfillment of the law,” but I honestly think that is an error. Be that as it may, plenty of folks would agree with you.

Here are some verses that offer a counterpoint to the ones you quoted (and I would pay particular attention to the excerpt from Hebrews):

Matthew 9:17,Mark 2:22,Luke 5:37-39: “And no one puts new wine into old wineskins. If he does, the new wine will burst the skins and it will be spilled, and the skins will be destroyed. But new wine must be put into fresh wineskins. And no one after drinking old wine desires new, for he says, ‘The old is good.’”

Romans 8:2–4: “For the law of the Spirit of life has set you free in Christ Jesus from the law of sin and death. For God has done what the law, weakened by the flesh, could not do. By sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh and for sin, he condemned sin in the flesh, in order that the righteous requirement of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not according to the flesh but according to the Spirit.”

Romans 6:14: “For sin will have no dominion over you, since you are not under law but under grace.”

Hebrews 8:6–7: “But as it is, Christ has obtained a ministry that is as much more excellent than the old as the covenant he mediates is better, since it is enacted on better promises. For if that first covenant had been faultless, there would have been no occasion to look for a second.”

Galatians 3:23–25: “Now before faith came, we were held captive under the law, imprisoned until the coming faith would be revealed. So then, the law was our guardian until Christ came, in order that we might be justified by faith. But now that faith has come, we are no longer under a guardian.”

John 13:34–35: “A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another. By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.”

My 2 cents