Since early times, misguided believers have tried to impose on Christians parts of the Old Covenant. Judaizers required circumcision “according to the custom of Moses” (Acts 15:1). Others insisted on feast days, food rules and Sabbaths (Colossians 2:16). Major denominations quoted Moses and David to justify their special priests with temples, altars, lamps, incense, instrumental music and enforced tithing. Indigenous movements found support for animal sacrifices and polygamy.
Apartheid in South Africa related to faulty covenant theology: God chose one race (as a spiritual Israel) to subdue other races (as Canaanites). Races were forcibly separated, as God separated Jews from Gentiles. Since Jewish babies were circumcised, Christian babies should be sprinkled. The list goes on.
What does the Bible say? First, the Law, the Old Covenant, was made with Israel, not with other nations (Exodus 3:27; 19:5-6; Romans 9:4). Second, before Christ’s death, the Old Covenant was in effect. Jesus obeyed it and taught Israelites to obey it (Matthew 5:17-19; 23:2-3; Galatians 4:4). Third, Jesus’ death fulfilled and ended the Old Covenant, and launched the New Covenant (Romans 7:1-6; Hebrews 8-9). Christians belong to the New Covenant, which is “not like” the Old (Hebrews 8:9). We no longer serve in old ways; we serve “in the new way of the Spirit” (Romans 7:1-6). To re-impose one part of the Law of Moses is to require all of it and is spiritually dangerous (Galatians 5:1-4).