The Different Other: Listening to Scripture about Things that Divide Us

Last Week: Difference is good! God loves it. 1. Difference in union reflects God in his person, a personal union of equals. 2. Difference in union reflects God in his mission.

Lesson Two: Hearing God’s Heart on the Different Other in the Old Testament

The OT: the part of The Story often skipped The “traditional” narrative has 4 episodes: 1. Creation intended for Consummation. 2. Fall into domination by sin 3. Redemption in Christ. 4. Consummation (Heaven) Anything missing?

Israel! (or 2/3 of the Bible–Yo, what’s up with that?) Problems we have with Israel: 1. Different God than the ”Abba” Jesus taught us about? (Marcionites—ancient and modern). Marcion of Sinope, 2nd century CE

Marcion alive today? “…when it comes to stumbling blocks to faith, the Old Testament is right up there at the top of the list” (280) “Would you consider unhitching your teaching of what it means to follow Jesus from all things old covenant?” (315) “Paul never leverages the old covenant as a basis for Christian behavior” (209)

Problems we’ve had with Israel (cont): 2. Different Covenant? Isn’t Jesus the goal/end of the Law (Roman 10:4) and the Old Testament “obsolete” (Hebrews 8:13)?

Yes, not about my covenant, but Israel is my… revelation! Revelation about our life together: “…Israel [is] offering in her constitution a societary model for the world….the paradigm of the theocratic rule which is to be the biblical aim for the whole world.” William Dumbrell

And revelation about our God of mishpat 1. Justice as a “control belief” in the OT (425+ times). Let justice roll down like waters And righteousness like an ever-flowing stream. Amos 5:24 2. Justice a “hands on righteousness” (Elmer Martens) 3. Justice about honorable relationships in all dimensions of life.

Mishpat and the Different Other in Israel Past Thou shalt love the “ger” as yourself (Leviticus 19:34) 1. Who’s a ger? (pr: gehr) Native born ger foreigner (nochri) 2. The ger joins the society at a personal level.

3. The ger needs (and should get) mishpat! Not oppress, be righteous to, the ger (Exodus 22:21–24; Deuteronomy 27:19). 2. Gers allowed to glean, eligible for the tithe, etc. (Deuteronomy 24:19; 14:29)

A Scholar’s Cage Match: James Frazer vs. Norman Snaith The Folklore in the Old Testament The Distinctive Ideas of the Old Testament

Motive for loyalty (love) to the ger? Because… You were and are all gers (Leviticus 25:23; Psalm 119:19). Your God is their protective Lord, too (Exodus 22:21–24; Deuteronomy 24:17; 27:19).

Mishpat and the Different Other in Israel Future A Differentiated Union. Differentiated… In that day Israel will be the third party with Egypt and Assyria, a blessing in the midst of the earth, whom the Lord of hosts has blessed, saying, “Blessed is Egypt My people, and Assyria the work of My hands, and Israel My inheritance.” (Isaiah 19:24–25)

Mishpat and the Different Other in Israel Future A Differentiated Union. United in the worship of Messiah and the Living God of Israel And it will come about in the last days that the mountain of the house of the Lord will be established as the chief of the mountains…And the peoples will stream to it…and say, “Let us go up to the mountain of the Lord…that He may teach us about his ways and that we may walk in his paths (Micah 4:1–3)

Differentiated Union of the Future

Israel/OT: What is the responsibility of the majority group to the minority group?