(This question is a follow-up to “The Shape Of Pain”)

Thank you for your answer regarding the cross.  Now a follow-up question: on your last answer, you said, "When Jesus was nailed to the cross (Jhn 19:17), we have no idea exactly what shape it was…"  But someone told me something I had never thought of.  He said that if nobody knows the shape of the cross, then why do so many churches use the traditional Christian cross and crucifix with the bottom/lower leg longer?  How would you answer this?

 

Sincerely,
Geometry Student

Dear Geometry Student,

Many churches probably do this because of artistic license.  No two crosses used by the Roman nation were alike, and therefore, it isn't incorrect to use any of those shapes to depict a cross.  However, it is important to know that christianity isn't built upon statues and modern crosses on buildings (in fact, our congregation doesn’t even have crosses adorning our building)... it is built upon the Word of God (Rom 1:16-17).

5 minutes a day 5 days a week - a year of Bible Wisdom

How relevant is the Old Testament today?  I mean, I know thou shall not kill, and thou shall not commit adultery, but what about things like slavery? Didn't it exist in the New Testament also?

Sincerely,
Contemporary Concerns

Dear Contemporary Concerns,

The laws and commandments of the Old Testament are no longer binding.  When Jesus died on the cross, He blotted out the ordinances of the Old Testament that condemned us (Col 2:14).  The New Testament has surpassed and replaced the Old Contract written on tablets of stone (2 Cor 3:3-8).  The Old Testament was designed to lead mankind to Christ, but now that Christ has come, we are no longer under the Old Covenant (Gal 3:24-25).

That does not mean that the Old Testament has no relevance.  The Old Testament is the history of God’s interaction with mankind over the centuries.  The laws and lives of those people are given to us as an example and a written lesson of how to live (1 Cor 10:11).  The prophets’ lives are examples of perseverance and suffering (Jas 5:10).  Israel is given to us as an example of disobedience (1 Cor 10:6-10).  Hebrews chapter eleven is an entire chapter devoted to the faithfulness of people who lived during the Old Testament times.  The Old Testament has immense depths of wisdom to be plumbed.

The Old Testament also provides the background to Jesus’ life.  Jesus was born a Jew, and He lived under the Jewish Old Testament law.  When we understand that law, we have a deeper understanding of Christ’s life.  The Old Testament also contains hundreds of prophecies about Jesus’ life.  Isa 53:1-7 is just one example of an Old Testament verse that gives details about Jesus’ life and sacrifice.

As far as slavery in the Old Testament… the New Testament had slavery, too.  In fact, there are parts of our world today that include slavery.  The world changes, but ultimately, people don’t.  There is nothing new under the sun (Eccl 1:9).  People have always struggled with greed, hatred, lust, and fear.  It has always been hard to be faithful, hard to forgive, and hard to be compassionate.  The times and places change, but the heart of man still struggles with the same issues.

Is it mandatory for christians to attend church from sun up to sundown?  My preacher makes the claim that Paul preached until midnight, but this is no proof that if I were not at a Sunday evening service that I would be guilty of cheating God of His time.  And if Christ were to return, would I be in danger like all other sinners?  Please clarify.  Thanks.

Sincerely,
More Of A Morning Person

Dear More Of A Morning Person,

There is no strict guideline of how much time should be spent in worship on Sunday, but God does provide some principles that help us avoid forsaking the assembly (Heb 10:24-25).  The example that your preacher used of Paul preaching until midnight (Acts 20:7) doesn’t prove that we have to worship that long on Sunday; it simply proves the importance of worship and the zeal that first century christians had for God’s Word.  Acts 20:7 does show us that Sunday is the day that christians are supposed to take the Lord’s Supper, and 1 Cor 16:1-2 tells us that Sunday is the day that we are supposed to take up a collection for God’s work… but once again, the length of services is never detailed.  The closest we come to a direct teaching on how to treat Sunday is in the book of Revelation.  In Rev 1:10, John points out that Sunday is “the Lord’s day”.  That terminology tells us that Sunday is a day that should be arranged around worshipping God… as opposed to fitting worship services in when they are convenient.  Once again, this doesn’t give us specific time parameters, but it does help each of us to examine our own hearts and attitudes toward Sunday worship.  If the Lord is number one in our lives, then how we prioritize church services will be affected by that attitude.

5 minutes a day 5 days a week - a year of Bible Wisdom