This document summarizes a session on morality from the Generations of Faith program. It contrasts the portrayal of law in the Old and New Testaments, examining the context, intent, and spirit within each. In the Old Testament, law aimed to avoid conflicts and maintain tribal integrity through "dos and don'ts." The New Testament shifted to a spirit of expansive love for God and others through positive action. Living this way strives for perfection and realizes God's kingdom through equality, fairness, compassion, and mercy. The session encourages drawing support from each other and God's spirit to live according to this high standard.

1. Generations Of Faith: Morality
The Law
October 2016

2. Opening Prayer: Our Father
This session on Morality will deepen our understanding of the
Law by contrasting the Old and New Testament’s portrayal
against the :
1. Context in which the Law was derived,
2. Intent of the Law, itself, and
3. Spirit operating within the Law. 2

3. The Gift of Perspective
3

4. The Gift of Perspective
4

5. The Gift of Perspective
5
Now that you have
seen the face and
the word, you
probably can now
see both
perspectives
simultaneously!

6. The Gift of Perspective:
Used in Two Ways
6
First as the Whole Perspective on Morality:
This GOF learning session on the Law is to give us the
right perspective from which to view the ensuing GOF
Learning Sessions:
• Sin – when we miss the mark,
• Conscience – the rudder that helps steer us along the
journey, and
• Life is Good – Living as the Spirit of God intends us to
live with joy, contentment, and peace!

7. The Gift of Perspective:
Used in Two Ways
7
Second as the Perspective on the OT and NT:
• Context in which the Law was derived.
• Intent of the Law, itself, and
• Spirit operating within the Law.

8. Shift in Context: From OT
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Abraham’s Sacrifice of Isaac
The Test of Loyalty
Noah and the Flood
Wrath of God Unleashed
Destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah: Wrath of God Unleashed
Lot’s Wife as Pillar of Salt: The Price of Disobedience

9. Shift in Context: To NT
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Jesus Healing the Sick
Love of the Downtrodden
Jesus feeding the Multitude:
All are Welcome
Jesus Forgiving the Adulterous Woman
Love of the Outcast
Jesus Forgiving Peter’s Denial:
All are Welcome

10. Why the Shift from OT to NT?
10
God moving from the “Angry Punisher” To the “Forgiving Provider”
Or is it Man’s understanding of God
based on Himself from “Angry Punisher”
To a more compassionate and
understanding man.

11. Context in the Time of the Old
Testament: Code of Hammurabi
11
• In a time when retribution for past injuries caused the
start and maintenance of blood feuds …
• The Code of Hammurabi (1792-1750 BCE) stated “an
eye for an eye”!
• Which really meant to establish the limits of retribution …
as only an eye for an eye.

12. Context of the Old Testament:
Fractured Early History of Israel
Leading up to the 10 Commandments
12
Abraham
Joseph
Moses

13. Context of the Old Testament Law
13
As Slaves of Egypt
For generations their lives had
been regulated by others …
being told what to do, how to do
it , and when to do it.
Free of Egypt
Now they are a large tribal
people who have freedom …
but Moses is now faced with
how to keep the tribe from
disintegrating into squabbles.

14. Intent of the Old Testament Law:
The Ten Commandments
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Covenant with Yahweh
If you keep my commandments
you will be my people … to
bring others to Me.
Code of Conduct
As a code of conduct/behavior it
tells the people how to avoid
conflicts that would destroy the
integrity of the tribe and also
avoid blood feuds.

15. Intent of the Old Testament Law:
The Ten Commandments Content
15
Do Not • Place false gods before Me.
• Take My name in vain.
Do • Keep the Sabbath.
• Honor your Father and Mother.
Do Not
• Kill.
• Steal
• Lie
• Commit adultery
• Covet your neighbor’s wife
and goods.

16. Spirit of the Old Testament Law:
The Ten Commandments
16
Predominant Theme: Avoid doing evil … avoid doing anything
that would violate:
The Covenant
• The special relationship with Yahweh.
The Code of Conduct:
• The integrity or cohesion of the tribe.

17. Types of Change
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• Gradual continuous
change over time.
• Rapid break-through
change leading to the
disruption of the
status quo.

18. Context in the Time Leading Up to
the New Testament: Confucius
18
• In a time when much of the ancient world was “self-
focused” … the world could tolerate gradual change.
• The sayings of Confucius (551-479 BCE) evidenced a
shift to “other focused”.
• “Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.”
Attempt to build empathy through understanding of
another (Do unto others …), and
By using a focus on the self (“…do unto you”).

19. Context in the Time of the New
Testament
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Jesus entered the world that was characterized by:
• Violence
• Cruelty
• Selfishness
World needed
break-through
change.

20. Intent of the New Testament Law:
Love God and Everyone Else
20
From OT’s Don’t • To NT’s do take action.
Transformative
Thought
• Love God and Your Neighbor.
Expansion of
Who is My
Neighbor
• Neighbor is not just your
immediate family,
• But everyone whom you
come in contact with,
• And beyond!

21. Spirit of New Testament Law
21
There was a decided shift in the focus of what was required of
us:
• Moving from abiding by the letter of the
law … with others interpreting how far
one could press against the limitations.
• To living the Spirit of the Law and
being ever expansive of the
outcomes of our actions.
• Every time we pray the “Our Father”, we pray that our
collective actions will realize the Kingdom of God on Earth.

22. How We Should Live:
Quotes from Worldly Saints
22
• “Saint” Bart Starr when
referring to what the 1960s
Green Bay Packers did …
• “We were in a relentless
pursuit of perfection, realizing
that we would never fully
attain it.”
“A Worldly Saint”

23. Challenges to Loving God
and Everyone Else
23
Challenges
•
•
•
•

24. One Help Comes from the
Psychology of Motivation
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The Task at hand is made easier if we use the right motivation:
• Avoiding a bad thing is actually harder as it
creates a “have to” in us (e.g., trying not to
eat apple pie when trying to lose weight).
• Striving after a good thing is easier as it
creates a “want to” that attracts us to the
goal.
The New Testament changes the “have-tos” of the Old
Testament into the “want-tos” of love!

25. A Second Help Comes from the
Fact that We are not Alone
25
In our journey to be the best that we can be:
• We have each other as supports. We can
deepen our shared learning with each other
and can rely on each other to do good.
• We have the Spirit of God who only wants
us to be at peace and to be content.
Saint Ignatius said if there is anything bothering us we must
drag it into the light of day by discussing it with someone.

26. Summary
26
By Loving God and everyone else we:
• Strive to be the best that we can be in service to others,
and
• Attempt to realize God’s Kingdom on Earth characterized
by:
Equality
Fairness
Compassion
Mercy
Justice

27. A Reminder … We Are Living the
Year of Mercy
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In the words of Pope Francis*
• “ God’s mercy transforms human hearts; it enables us
through the experience of a faithful love to become
merciful in turn.”
• Quoting the words of Jesus from Matthew’s Gospel:
“I desire mercy and not sacrifice”.
*Pope Francis’s New Year’s message January 26, 2016

28. Upcoming GOF Sessions on
Morality
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• Sin – we will look at what happens when we miss the
mark of striving to be the best we can be (December),
• Conscience – the rudder that helps steer us along the
journey (February), and
• Life is Good – Living as the Spirit of God intends us to
live with joy, contentment, and peace (March-April)!

29. Today’s GOF Session:
Plus / Delta
1) Plus: What about this GOF session
worked and we should continue in
future sessions?
2) Delta: What process improvements or
upgrades should we make for future
GOF sessions?
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DeltaPlus

30. October 2016
Thank you for being with us today!
Generations Of Faith: Morality
The Law