What follows is my answer to a fictional Christian friend named Steve, who has asked me “Why study the Old Testament? We are New Testament Christians anyways right?
“Dear Steve, there are plenty of reasons to not only keep the Old Testament in our Bibles, but to study it diligently as Christians. First and foremost, our Lord Jesus, his disciples, and all of the New Testament writers (except Luke) were Jewish. Being Jewish, they regarded the Old Testament as being holy and important to practice if we are to model Christ in our lives. This is evident in John 10:35; 2 Tim. 3:16, 17 & 2 Pet. 1:20, 21. Second, although the New Testament is excellent for teaching in doctrinal form, there are our Christian brothers and sisters who learn better from narratives, and the Old Testament is packed with these, especially the historical writings. Still, there are others who gain pearls of wisdom by memorizing small quips such as those found in Proverbs. Additionally, while the New Testament’s predominant theme centers on having the correct faith in order to be given eternal life, the Old Testament (especially the Law and Prophets) places emphasis on both faith and responsive action in the here and now.
The Old Testament contains the book of Genesis, telling humanity’s origins and constantly reminding us that we are all created in God’s image. This alone should spur us as Christians to strive for justice and equality for all people while at the same time preaching the holiness and obedience found in the rest of the Torah. Also, if we do not know the entire Old Testament, how then can we put into context the criticisms Jesus had of the religious leaders who abused it? Furthermore, the Old Testament gives us a glimpse into how the Israelites worshiped God: by approaching Him with a pure and humble heart. How then are we to worship? It is the exact same way, realizing that Jesus has purified and humbled our hearts by his death and resurrection.
The Old Testament also helps us worship by providing an account of the correct procedures and attitudes of Jewish worship, but it also gives us content to aid our worship. The chief example is the book of Psalms. Along the lines of the writings, we also have Job which is one of the most potent texts when dealing with human suffering and the idea of an all-powerful, all-loving, and all-knowing God. This helps us as Christians put Jesus’ suffering into context when we take into consideration that God does allow the righteous to suffer but always vindicates them and brings about his glory.
The Old Testament is a key to Christian faith. Without the Law, we would not know that God originally created humanity for his glory but we humans fell into sin. Without it, we would not know that God demands perfection and freedom for all men, and it is seen by the intricacy presented in the Torah. Without the history, we would not have an appreciation for our spiritual forefathers, the Israelites, and their struggles then and now. Without the writings, we would be robbed of one man’s righteous pleas of God’s justice for undeserved suffering as well as songs and sayings expressing love, anger, courage, and wisdom. Without the prophets, we would not know that God’s concern for honest worship, personal holiness, and true justice and at the top of obligations. In a spiritual sense, the Old Testament is a part of our Christian heritage. Although, God has not promised us as Christians any earthly inheritance such as land, the character of God revealed in the Old Testament assures us that God will keep his promises of spiritual blessings in his Son. As Dr. Jim Schwenk would say, the Old Testament gives us Christians an ethical system and a philosophy of history, which is linear rather than cyclical. This assures us that God has acted in history and will continue to do so again until that great day when He returns.”
Your Friend,
Craig
Red-Headed Monk 
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