Is Christianity and the Bible Too Old-Fashioned to be Relevant in Today's Society?

by Rich Deem

Introduction
Bible Outdated?
Christian theology was last developed in the first century AD, nearly 2000 years ago. At the time, there were no computers, cell phones, large cities, or universal education. How could such a religion be relevant in the modern world?

Rich Deem
One of the common criticisms of Christianity is that it is too old-fashioned to be relevant for living in today's society. It is often thought that the Bible speaks to a different time and place that no longer exists in modern society. Does the Bible have anything to say to us at this time?

Perceived Christianity
Most people who are not Christians judge Christianity on the basis of those who claim to be its adherents. Since most non-Christians never go to church, their impression of Christians often come from the media. Outrageous, prejudiced, and insensitive statements make for great press, so they are often reported, with the implication that these kinds of things are typical of Christians. However, one shouldn't think that all Christians are crazy based upon what is reported in the media.

The other main perception of Christians is that they want to tell everybody else how they should live, while ignoring some of the more fundamental aspects of proper moral behavior. This kind of behavior is known as hypocrisy, and was one of the main things that Jesus preached against. For example, during the first century, the religious leaders were giving to the poor to receive recognition by others, praying in public to be seen as being pious, complaining about other people's behavior when theirs was even worse, testing other people to try to make themselves look superior, repressing the poor, giving to the church, but neglecting justice and mercy, and doing everything for show, while really being self-indulgent and unrighteous. Does any of this sound familiar? However, people who behave in such a manner are not really adherents of Christianity, but hypocrites. Besides, we are not advocating that you become a Christian and behave like the people Jesus detested.

Old Testament teachings
Much of the complaint against the Bible is often directed at the Old Testament, which does speak about a time when society was almost exclusively agrarian. Even though the times and societies were different, the moral choices that existed at the time are still with us today. So, even though the ten commandments talk about coveting your neighbor's ox and donkey, they also speak about coveting your neighbor's wife or "anything that belongs to your neighbor," which would include his car and whatever other technology he might possess.

The ten commandments
Almost everybody has heard of the ten commandments, especially since their placement in United States government buildings has become a controversy in the courts. However, few people can name more than a few of them. Are they no longer relevant to life? The ten commandments can be grouped into two broad categories. The first four commandments pertain to a person's relationship with God:

You shall have no other gods before Me. (Exodus 20:3)
You shall not make for yourself an idol. (Exodus 20:4)
You shall not take the name of the LORD your God in vain. (Exodus 20:7)
Remember the sabbath day, to keep it holy. (Exodus 20:8.)
Is the Bible Intolerant? Sexist? Oppressive? Homophobic? Outdated? Irrelevant?The first commandment is to have no other gods. There is only one God, so worshipping any other god is useless. The second commandment goes along with the first. In Old Testament times, the peoples used to make idols of gold and silver. Although people in today's society tend not to make idols in the image of animals to worship, they do have other idols of gold and silver and steel - jewelry, money, stocks, cars, etc. Anything that becomes more important in life than God becomes an idol to us. The third commandment is to not take the lord's name "in vain." Contrary to what most people think, this is not just a command to not use God's name as a swear word, but not to use the Lord's name in any casual, inappropriate way (which includes using it as an expletive). So, even using the word "Oh" before God's name is a violation of the third commandment. The fourth commandment is to set apart a day for rest and reflection on God. God knew that we need a day off from work to recover from our hectic schedules and demands of work. These first four commandments are best summarized by a verse from Deuteronomy:

"You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might. (Deuteronomy 6:5)

The last six commandments concern one's relationships with other human beings.

Honor your father and your mother. (Exodus 20:12)
You shall not murder. (Exodus 20:13)
You shall not commit adultery. (Exodus 20:14)
You shall not steal. (Exodus 20:15)
You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor. (Exodus 20:16)
You shall not covet your neighbor's house; you shall not covet your neighbor's wife or his male servant or his female servant or his ox or his donkey or anything that belongs to your neighbor." (Exodus 20:17)
The fifth commandment is to honor your parents. We probably don't appreciate how difficult it is top be a parent until we have been one ourselves. In general, parents put a lot of work into providing for their children's care, so they should be honored and respected for their efforts. Even if your parents aren't perfect, they are created in the image of God and deserve respect as image bearers of God. The last five commandments are all part of the "do not's." These commands will always be relevant to human relationships. Murder, infidelity, stealing, and lying are universally condemned. The tenth commandment is probably not as universally accepted, although it should be. Coveting - desiring something that belongs to someone else - is a major source of evil when acted upon. It leads to greed, and sometimes to one of the previous five commandments, including murder. Coveting leads to the "keeping up with the Jones's" syndrome, instead of living for what's best for oneself and his loved ones. These last six commandments are best summarized by a verse from Leviticus:

'You shall not take vengeance, nor bear any grudge against the sons of your people, but you shall love your neighbor as yourself; I am the LORD. (Leviticus 19:18.)

Despite their antiquity, the Ten Commandments are relevant to human relationships today.

Christianity and truth
The God of the Bible is also known as the God of Truth, who desires that all people convey truth to each other at all times. The Christian is to live a life that is established in truth - truth in speaking, in loving, and truth in all one does and thinks. The Christian church is to be the "pillar of the truth. "At a time when truthfulness seems to be in short supply, it is refreshing to deal with people who believe and follow the Christian principles related to truth.

The Golden Rule
Many religions have some kind of "golden rule," by which behavior to others may be measured. However, the golden rule taught by Jesus is not the same as the one taught in other religions. Let's look at what Jesus said:

So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets. (Matthew 7:12, Jesus Christ)

In other "golden rules" the command is given in the negative - Don't do what you would not want others to do to you. In addition, other golden rules are stated in terms of reciprocity - expecting something n return. However, Jesus said that we should be kind expecting nothing in return:

"But love your enemies, and do good, and lend, expecting nothing in return; and your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High; for He Himself is kind to ungrateful and evil men. (Luke 6:35)

Jesus recognized the problem with the universal "golden rule" was that not doing evil is not the same as doing good for everyone. Jesus said that we were to love those who were different from us. So, Christians are not to just love other Christians, but love non-believers and those from other religions. So, the real golden rule goes beyond the "do not's" to address the "do's" - commanding that people love everyone, even those who mistreat you or use you for their own gain. In Christianity, the ends do not justify the means. So, doing something evil, even if good comes from it, is completely unacceptable and soundly condemned. We are commanded to overcome evil with good:

Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good. (Romans 12:21)
See that no one repays another with evil for evil, but always seek after that which is good for one another and for all people. (1 Thessalonians 5:15)
So, Christianity presents a philosophy in which payback and vengeance is unacceptable behavior. If all peoples throughout the world practiced biblical Christianity, all strife and wars would end. Indeed, this outcome would be a welcome change from all the wars and conflicts we now experience. Ultimately, those who follow Jesus will live in just such a place (i.e., heaven) after death.

Christian love
Going along with the Christian concept of no payback, the idea of love is an all-encompassing lifestyle commitment. In the Bible, love is defined as being patient, kind, truthful, unselfish, trusting, believing, hopeful, and enduring. It is not jealous, boastful, arrogant, rude, selfish, or angry. True love never fails, because it is based upon good actions, instead of being based upon mere feelings. The Christian description of love perfectly fits God's love toward us, and should be the way we love each other and God. In the Bible, there are two different words for love, phileo, brotherly kindness, and agape, unconditional acts of love. So, while the Christian is to engage in moral excellence, he is also to add both brotherly kindness and unconditional acts of love to his behavior:

Now for this very reason also, applying all diligence, in your faith supply moral excellence, and in your moral excellence, knowledge, and in your knowledge, self-control, and in your self-control, perseverance, and in your perseverance, godliness, and in your godliness, brotherly kindness, and in your brotherly kindness, love. (2 Peter 1:5-7)

In accordance with these principles, love is to be done without hypocrisy, abhorring evil and doing only good works:

Let love be without hypocrisy. Abhor what is evil; cling to what is good. (Romans 12:9)

Conclusion
Christianity is often thought of as being irrelevant in our modern world. However, the principles upon which we Christians live is a breath of fresh air in a world that is dominated by greed, covetousness, lying and payback. Yes, the stories involve donkeys instead of cars, fishing nets instead of Gordon's Fish Sticks, grinding flour with stones instead of Wonder Bread, and dirt roads instead of freeways. However, the teachings of Jesus are no more irrelevant now then they were when first laid down in the first century.

Source:
http://www.godandscience.org/apologetics/christianity_is_too_old-fashioned.html