(Not) everything Biblical is Christian. Part 8 - Jesus and nocturnal emission laws

Not everything Biblical is Christian, part 8. See part one, two, three, four, five, six and seven to catch up. See the briefest of reviews at the bottom.

Dear Johnboy

I know if you read this ten years ago, you would write me off, because I am not dealing with one of those verses you memorized repeatedly through your AWANA childhood.

2 Timothy 3:14 But as for you, continue in what you have learned and have become convinced of, because you know those from whom you learned it, 15 and how from infancy you have known the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. 16 All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, 17 so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.

I want to clarify how I can agree with verse 16 and write a series called, Not everything Biblical is Christian.

As I tried to remind you of those topics and issues in the Bible that bothered you, and did not align with who Jesus is, as revealed in the gospels, I wanted you to understand that the Bible is not flat. Jesus and the New Testament is unashamed in asserting that a new and better paradigm has arrived. It's like the ending of a great 66 installment story. For example, at the end of the Harry Potter series you learned why Snape was a good guy, despite all his actions that indicated otherwise. Until that reveal, you were certain Snape was working for Voldemort, or was about to turn back to him. After learning the truth about Snape, everything he did was cast in a new light.

I am not saying Snape is a representation of Jesus. What I am saying, as Jesus himself says, is the Old Testament reveals Jesus. As Jesus says in John's gospel

John 5:37 And the Father who sent me has himself testified concerning me. You have never heard his voice nor seen his form, 38 nor does his word dwell in you, for you do not believe the one he sent. 39 You study the Scriptures diligently because you think that in them you have eternal life. These are the very Scriptures that testify about me, 40 yet you refuse to come to me to have life.

It could be since you know the solution to the mystery that is the Bible, it's less interesting to play "Where's Jesus" and instead want to become a master at versa obscura and versa obnoxia. As John says in the opening of his gospel, Jesus is the revealed word of God in the flesh. Your task in reading the obscure laws of Moses is not to figure out how to apply to your life rules on mildewed houses and nocturnal emission cleanliness rites, nor is it to talk about how avoiding pork is God's wisdom for all ages. Your task is to seek Jesus, as the church has done since the beginning.

Twice in Hebrews, the temple and its rituals are described as shadows (Hebrews 8:5, 10:1). Before the light appeared, all these things in the OT were complicated and obscure. After the light appeared, what was concealed is now revealed. Shadows and types are replaced with clarity.

It's Jesus who talks about God as Father. Jesus gets God correct. Because of Jesus we know God is love. The Eastern Orthodox church uses this concept as the starting point for all theology. They don't start from the beginning of the series. The answer is in the back. God is love.

Let me assure you that even though not everything Biblical is Christian, Jesus is hiding throughout the scriptures, that is why they are God-breathed and useful. You will enjoy the beginning of the book much more if you use your time in those parts of the Bible looking for Jesus, and imposing back on them the correct view of God, as revealed by/in/through Jesus. Sometimes Jesus stands in contrast to them. Sometimes he fulfills the typology. Sometimes you will scratch your head.

I still don't know where Jesus is in this passage though. Deuteronomy 23:10 If one of your men is unclean because of a nocturnal emission, he is to go outside the camp and stay there. 11 But as evening approaches he is to wash himself, and at sunset he may return to the camp.


Review----------------------
Part one points out that the words of Satan recorded in the Bible are not Christian doctrine. Part two shows the Sermon on the Mount overruling the cursing of enemies exhibited in Psalm 137. Parts three and four show Moses getting overruled by Ezekiel and Jesus. Part five merely brushes the concept of source criticism.  Part six looks at the  Old Testament application in the early church: a brief summary of the book of Acts. Part seven looks at how the church has worked this out regarding slavery.