The amount of arguments among Christian’s on the internet is astounding to me. Sometimes I wonder if we are all reading the same Bible. Often, the lens we view another Christian’s words or actions through is “Is it biblical?”. But I’m wondering if there is a better way to approach this.
When Jesus came, a lot happened. Over the course of the New Testament, Jesus upheld and fulfilled the Old Testament ‘Moral Law’ (still relevant today), ‘Civil Law’ and the ‘Ceremonial Law’ (relevant to the OT Jews).
In Matthew 5:17-20 we read: “Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them. For truly, I say to you, until heaven and earth pass away, not an iota, not a dot, will pass from the Law until all is accomplished. Therefore whoever relaxes one of the least of these commandments and teaches others to do the same will be called least in the kingdom of heaven, but whoever does them and teaches them will be called great in the kingdom of heaven. For I tell you, unless your righteousness exceeds that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.”
Without this context, many unbelievers stumble around pointing fingers at “inconsistent” Christians when they pick up a Bible and randomly start reading the OT. When believers do the same, they are no better.
God uses sinful people, always has and always will—it doesn’t mean He endorses all or even any of their actions. Have you read the Bible? It is FULL of sinners sinning. All but ONE, the perfect, sinless God-Man Jesus.
When we ask “Is it biblical?”, are we looking to the sinners in the Bible—however great they were—as the ultimates to look to for an example? Only Jesus can fill that role. Yes, David was a man after God's own heart, but he was also an adulterer, rapist, sinner. Moses, David and Paul were all murderers, they all sinned against the moral laws—as we all do.
Perhaps we need not ask of one’s words or actions “Is it biblical?”, but “Is it Christlike?”. Let’s seek a fresh approach to Scripture, always and only through the lens of Jesus Christ. --- Everyone who makes a practice of sinning also practices lawlessness; sin is lawlessness. You know that he appeared in order to take away sins, and in him there is no sin. No one who abides in him keeps on sinning; no one who keeps on sinning has either seen him or known him. 1 John 3:4-6 ESV