Episode Details

What if Old Testament laws aren’t outdated rules to follow, but a deep, tangible story we are invited to practice?

In this episode of Thinking Christian, host James Spencer is joined once again by Rebekah Josberger and Renee Duffy from the Bible Unbranded podcast to tackle one of the most debated topics in biblical study: how to interpret Old Testament law through a theological framework. 

Using the command of the Sabbath as their core anchor ⚓, the team unpacks how the ancient laws in Deuteronomy and Exodus are designed to reveal the incomparable character of God rather than construct a human utopia. Together, they build essential "theological guardrails" to avoid the common trap of "time snobbery"—the evolutionary fallacy that modern believers have simply moved past ancient struggles. 

From navigating the tension of Christological readings to contrasting the "shadow and substance" themes in the Book of Hebrews, this conversation offers deep theological exploration paired with a refreshing framework for how the church can embody sacred order in a chaotic social landscape today.

What You’ll Discover in This Episode:

• The Guardrail of "Time Snobbery": Why modern culture isn’t fundamentally more advanced than ancient biblical communities when it comes to understanding God.

• Shadows vs. Substance: How the imagery of Hebrews bridges old revelations with post-resurrection realities without diminishing the Old Testament.

• Law as Practiced Story: Shift your perspective from rigid legalism to an active, physical rehearsal of God's character.

• The Convergence of Creation and Exodus: Unpacking why Exodus links the Sabbath to creation, while Deuteronomy anchors it in liberation.

Go deeper: Trajectories

Thinking Christian is hosted by Dr. James Spencer, president of the D. L. Moody Center and author of Digital Discernment (InterVarsity Press). Each conversation reads the Bible as the final authority for life and faith, questioning the assumptions of our culture, even our Christian culture, so that we don't settle for a narrower vision than God's word offers.

Unsettling convention. Cultivating conviction.
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