Several years ago I was attending a Men's Bible study at a church. We were working around the circle when the Pastor got into his “the primary purpose of the Old Testament is to show Jesus Christ” routine. That makes it seem that anything else we get from reading the Old Testament is of lesser, inferior value. Therefore any application we can draw can be dispensed with because, after all, that is not the main purpose of the writing.
Why then should we have the study if the only answer of worth will be: “How does this demonstrate Christ?”
Yet “. . . all scripture is given for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness.” Did the others also think this way - - that the Old Testament is of less worth? So, according to this pastor, I should now know that the Old Testament is only about Christ. So what good is the rest of it? I suppose he wanted me to only see how the OT relates to Christ and forget about the rest since it only has minor meaning anyway. Once I know the one important fact what else do I need to know?
If I want to explore the true ramifications about morality I suppose I should read contemporary books about morality and ignore what the Old Testament says is right or wrong. But not to worry, according to this pastor, because moral prescriptions of the OT are not to teach us right from wrong; the point of the OT is to show us Jesus Christ.
This pastor also taught, “Your pastor reads and understands the Bible and teaches you what it means.” I think I can do more than that. I can read and understand the Bible for myself. Indeed, I need to read it so I can defend myself form the one-sided incorrect opinion of any man.
