Marcion, one of our Gnostic Brethren condemning Old Testament, the Deadly Poison - 2.

Marcion, one of our Gnostic Brethren condemning Old Testament, the Deadly Poison - 2. MARCION INFILTRATION OF THE CHURCH

Marcion was later condemned as a heretic when he developed unorthodox views that brought him into conflict with the Roman church. He was even formally excommunicated and his contribution to the church was refunded. He then went on his own way and started energetically propagating a strange kind of Christianity that quickly swept across large sections of the Roman Empire. By the end of the 2nd century, his doctrine became a serious threat to the mainstream Christian Church.
Marcion's reference was always the teachings of Paul (the only apostle whom he trusted), especially that of the saving grace. In his belief, the saving grace of God was miraculous. He held the whole creation to be faulty, being the creation of a lesser god, thus containing no element of the divine. Marcion was influenced by Persian dualism (two forces in the universe, one good and one bad, who are constantly fighting it out for supremacy) and believed that the Creator God who created the material universe was the God of Israel, who was a totally different God from the Father spoken of in the gospel of Christ. The Father Marcion held as the highest was perfect, good and merciful. He was love and He was not the god of justice and the lawgiver of the Old Testament, the bad God.
Marcion claimed that nothing of truth and good could be found in the Old Testament and that after Jesus Christ, the Law was obsolete. Jesus had come to free man from the Law. He believed that the gospel is entirely a gospel of love to the exclusion of the Mosaic Law. The preaching in the church today that we are no longer under the Law but under grace alone is part of his theology.
Marcion, therefore, rejected the entire Old Testament. Today, many believers also make a clear division between the Old Testament Law and New Testament grace, and view the Law as opposed to grace. The Law is seen as obsolete and of little use to a Christian. They shun the Old Testament God because He is too stern and fierce. The judgements that He made was far too "terrifying" for them to take. They would rather focus on the "New Testament God" who does not expect obedience to His laws. He is kind and forbids sin; but will give choice to each individual. Thus, the spirit of Marcion still has a very strong influence on the Church today.

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