The first thing we should say about the law, however it is understood, is that Christains are not under the law.
But what exactly does this mean? Does this mean that Christians need not obey the Old Testament laws? Or that we can ignore them altogether? If we do not have to obey these "laws," or that we can ignore them as, in some way/s superceded, does this mean that an entire block of Scripture is thus antiquated spiritually and that, therefore, we need—in considering the whole counsel of God—only to treat them as having only an historical interest?
These are questions—among many others—that are not often thought through with care. Part of the problem, of course, is the fact that sorting out questions and thinking through possible solutions to these multifaceted and intertwined questions—especially when the word "law" if often used in seemingly similar contexts but with different referents—takes a great deal of work. This entry will attempt to provide an outline of such an effort.
Before we begin that journey, let me provide a provisional response to the oft-asked question, "Do Christians have to obey the 'laws' as they are found in the Old Testament?"
I am sure there is a proper answer to the question. I suggest, however, that it is the wrong question to ask. The Christian who has to ask, "Am I required to do this?" or "Do I really have to?" has not, I suspect, grasped—or, rather has not been grasped—by the heart of the gospel. He still thinks, to use an analogy, in terms of "I have to buy my wife a gift because it is our aniversary," rather than "I bought my wife a gift to light up her day." We take care of what is precious to us. Because of that we also take care to care for what is precious to those whom we love. To love our wife is to do what delights her. The husband who trully loves his wife does not think of "do I have to?" Rather, he thinks of "what delights my wife?" The husband who thinks of "do I have to?" will also, I venture, tend to do the minimum of what is needed to keep the relationship going. The husband who thinks of "what will delight my wife" will tend to do the maximum, and do it joyfully, not because he has to; his relationship with his wife will be a "growing" relationship, not just a "kept-going" relationship.
To be a Christian is to be so grasped by the love of God that we would lay down everything or do anything that will bring joy and gladness to our Father in heaven, to "light up His day." The proper question to ask is, therefore, what does our Father think of the laws? What do the laws mean to Him? Once we have worked that through the question of "do I have to?" dissolves into irrelevance.
With this provisional response in mind, let us begin our exploration.
Low Chai Hok
©Alberith, 2016