Laura Schlessinger is a US radio personality who dispenses advice to people who call in to her radio show. Recently, she said that homosexuality is an abomination according to Leviticus 18:22 and cannot be condoned under any circumstances. The following is an open letter to Dr. Laura penned by a US resident:
Dear Dr. Laura,
Thank you for doing so much to educate people regarding God’s Law. I have learned a great deal from your show and I try to share that knowledge with as many people as I can. When someone tries to defend the homosexual lifestyle, for example, I simply remind him or her that Leviticus 18:22 clearly states it to be an abomination. End of debate. I do need some advice from you however, regarding some of the specific laws and how to follow them.
(a) When I burn a bull on the altar as a sacrifice, I know it creates a pleasing odor for the Lord (Lev. 1:9). The problem is my neighbors. They claim the odor is not pleasing to them. Should I smite them?
(b) I would like to sell my daughter into slavery, as sanctioned in Exodus 21:7. In this day and age, what do you think would be a fair price for her?
(c) I know that I am allowed no contact with a woman while she is in her period of menstrual uncleanliness (Lev. 15:19-24). The problem is, how do I tell? I have tried asking, but most women take offence.
(d) Lev. 25:44 states that I may indeed possess slaves, both male and female, provided they are purchased from neighboring nations. A friend of mine claims that this applies to Mexicans, but not Canadians. Can you clarify? Why can’t I own Canadians?
(e) I have a neighbor who insists on working on Sunday (the Sabbath). In the book of Exodus verse 35:2 it clearly states he should be put to death. Am I morally obligated to kill him myself?
(f) A friend of mine feels that even though eating shellfish is an abomination (Lev. 11:10), it is a lesser abomination than homosexuality. I don’t know. Can you settle this?
(g) Lev. 21:20 states that I may not approach the altar of God if I have a defect in my sight. I have to admit that I wear reading glasses. Does my vision have to be 20/20, or is there some wiggle room here?
(h) Most of my male friends get their hair trimmed, including the hair around their temples, even though this is expressly forbidden by Lev.19:27. How should they die?
(i) I know from Lev. 11:6-8 that touching the skin of a dead pig makes me unclean, but may I still play football if I wear gloves?
(j) My uncle has a farm. He violates Lev. 19:19 by planting two different crops in the same field, as does his wife by wearing garments made of two different kinds of thread (cotton/polyester blend). He also tends to curse and blaspheme a lot. Is it really necessary that we go to all the trouble of getting the whole town together to stone them? (Lev.24:10-16). Couldn’t we just burn them to death at a private family affair like we do with people who sleep with their in-laws? (Lev. 20:14).
I know you have studied these things extensively, so I am confident you can help. Thank you again for reminding us that God’s word is eternal and unchanging, and we should do what the bible says.
Your devoted disciple and adoring fan.
I’m not trying to say anything here except that using the Bible to put down a group of people is usually not a good idea. Besides, if you read this with a sense of humour it’s fun.
Teresa
Pingback: The Levitical Law (via Complete Teresa) « Journey to Me
I love it when someone takes the effort like this, It really shows how ignorant people are to justify their hate using the bible.
I loved this when it came out about 10 years ago and have used it several times.
I was brought up in a “christian” home. In a baptist church. We were taught the sins of homosexuality throughout. These scriptures actually gave me the power to fight back. I have won many an argument with sidewalk preachers and those who want to spout hate without any thought of the true meaning of what they are quoting or that by doing what they are doing, they are breaking the laws in their own bible. “Judge not lest ye be judged”:
Matthew 7:1-5
Also taught in Luke 6:37-42.
It is within these “gospels” that you see the same teachings but said in different ways…..On a side note, the widespread contradictions held within the pages of the bible are astounding. Their teachings have helped me fight and win…..I am an atheist that fights WITH the book they hold so sacred.
There are many ways to mock and defame those people who believe in God and the Bible. One very common way is such a kind of in which people mix up all commands of the Old Covenant to the New Covenant. In this writing, I bring forth that how mockers distort, take things out of the context and mix up order of the Old and New Covenant.
I bring forth few arguments that mockers use. My answers are according to the order of the New Covenant, and I rectify few misunderstandings and misrepresented things.
Source; http://koti.phnet.fi/petripaavola/answeringtomockersoftheBible.html
It’s not that this is a mockery of your faith/scripture, but rather a look at how the bible is used to further a way of thinking. The quotable scripture is from the old testament (or covenant as you call it). Time and time again I hear that the new testament “replaces” the old testament. No more selling of daughters into servitude. No more sacrifices. Yet, the 10 commandments are in the old testament as well as every other object that the christian movement wants to use to attack those who do not act or believe the way that they do. You cannot pick and choose which parts you are going to believe and accept and which ones you will discard as no longer needed/relevant.
I grew up in a baptist family/church/school. I know what is taught and I know how it is misused. Not by every form of christianity, but by those who see the bible and their faith as a weapon to be used against others. I have read the bible cover to cover many times and have studied and been taught what it says, though from a very skewed point of view. Not as bad as Westboro, but our church put 100% of their backing to Bob Jones, a very hate ridden and bigoted university. The only true way to read what it says is through a literal Hebrew translation, not a King James version or any of the New English Editions (as they are still reinterpretations of the KJV). For example, the virgin birth is based on the Hebrew: Almah (עלמה) or plural: alamot (עלמות) is a Hebrew feminine noun, for a girl who has reached puberty but is still under the shielding protection of her family; she is a young, marriageable (i.e. unmarried) girl.
We are not attacking or mocking, but are simply tired of the use of the bible to further an agenda. If it isn’t my faith and not what I cling to, then there is no basis for a constitutional amendment to save the “sanctity of marriage”, and there is no room for that kind of forced ideology in a free society. “mockers” do not distort and twist any more than the christians throwing their biblical beliefs at lifestyles (and many other issues) they do not agree with.
To further what she said, telson, the link you provided states:
“Homosexuality is unnatural, abnormal and pervert sexuality, for this reason God says in His word (the Bible) that homosexuality is a sin. If man repents his homosexual sin and abandons it and believes in the Lord Jesus he shall receive forgiveness of sins. In the era of the New Covenant homosexuality is also a sin, but can be forgiven by God, if man repents and rejects homosexuality and believes in Jesus the Messiah.”
Science has shown this to be totally untrue. Homosexuals are not unnatural, abnormal and perverted any more than any of us are. To use the Bible to justify this attitude is just wrong. I’m a Christian and you, in your own way, have claimed to be more Christian than I am and I really suggest you reread the Bible and really study the teachings of Christ – especially Mark 12:30-31 and Matthew 22:37-39.