Can’t Buy Me Love

Then God spoke all these words: “I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery; you shall have no other gods before me.” – Exodus 20:1-3 (NRSV) 

If you’ve spent much time in the church, you’ve likely heard someone say, “The God of the Old Testament is a God of law and wrath, but the God of the New Testament is a God of grace and love.” 

I used to be that someone. Here’s what I’ve learned since. 

First, “Old Testament” is no term of endearment. For many Christians, “old” signals irrelevance rather than reverence. It is old the way a lease is old once a new one has been signed: still on file, no longer binding. That’s why many scholars and preachers now prefer “Hebrew Bible” or “Elder Testament.” 

Second, Jesus was Jewish. The God he proclaimed was the God of Israel. Jesus didn’t invent grace or introduce divine love. God was gracious all along. 

Third, a long-standing Christian caricature claims that Jews earned and kept God’s favor by obeying the law. That reading is both anti-Jewish and backwards. Notice the order of today’s text. Before issuing commandments, God reminds the people what has already happened: “I brought you out of slavery.” Grace came first. The law followed. 

Liberation precedes obligation. The commandments are the grateful response of a people set free, a way of living so that no one returns to bondage. We can’t buy God’s love. We can only respond to it with our whole lives. 

Prayer
Gracious God, who set the people free before asking anything in return, teach us to answer with lives of gratitude and devotion.

About the Author
Matt Laney is Co-Pastor of Virginia Highland Church UCC in Atlanta, GA. If you enjoy Matt’s writing, check out his new book, The Second Arrow from MacMillan.