Just saw this...

[butterfly]

...posted in the LGBT forum by AlmostFamous. I bet you've probably seen it before, but it illustrates my dilemma perfectly;

"Laura Schlessinger is a US radio personality, who dispenses advice to people who call in to her Radio show. On her radio show recently, she said that, as an observant Orthodox Jew, homosexuality is an abomination, according to Leviticus 18:22, and cannot be condoned under any circumstance.

The following response is an open letter to Dr. Laura, penned by a US resident, which was posted on the Internet. It's funny, as well as thought provoking. ******************************************
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 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 them that Leviticus 18:22 clearly states it to be an abomination... End of debate. I do need some advice from you, however, regarding some other elements of God's Laws and how to follow them.

1. Leviticus 25:44 states that I may 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?

2. 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?

3. 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 offense.

4. 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?

5. I have a neighbor who insists on working on the Sabbath.
Exodus 35:2. The passage clearly states he should be put to death. Am I morally obligated to kill him myself?

6. 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 agree. Can you settle this? Are there 'degrees' of abomination?

7. 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?

8. 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?

9. 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?

10. 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 and thus enjoy
considerable expertise in such matters, so I am confident you can help.

Thank you again for reminding us that God's word is eternal and
unchanging.

Your adoring fan."

Now, if the Bible really is 100% true, and I have to take all of it or nothing, I'm faced with a stark and frightening choice. Either accept all this stuff or admit that I'm insane. Frankly, insanity looks like the more attractive option.

Can anyone convince me otherwise?

Btw, I am reading the Bible, I decided to start with the New Testament though, as it seems easier to handle.

[Leezard]

I know you've got a serious question in there but I just read that to my sister and we laughed so hard over it, thank you because I needed that.

I agree that starting with the NT is the best way to go, it's much easier to understand and pertains more to our time. Good luck with your study!

[butterfly]

Thanks Leezard!

[oldernow]

Old Testament Law is basically Jewish law. Christians live under the "new covenant" of the new testament.
The Old Testament was written for the Israelites and to the Israelites but that does not mean that there is not
Universal relevance in it for us. There are lots of things in the Old Testament that don't really pertain to us. Such as the instructions for building the Tabernacle. Not everything in scripture is to be applied to all people of all time and of all cultures. We are to study to try to discern a difference between principle and custum.

Becoming A Slave. Slavery in the Old Testament usually occurred when a person sold or gave himself or herself to another person. It was voluntary. It was by choice. It was done to pay off a debt, or to provide money for a destitute family. In effect, it was a labor contract. But in every case, the slave was to be released after six years - on the year of Jubilee (Exodus 21:2).
In ancient Israel, very poor people sold themselves as servants or slaves to wealthy families in order to survive. God did not want poverty in the land. This was an ancient form of welfare.
Slaves or servants were not to be mistreated. God required the master or employer to be punished for mistreating men and women servants.
God's idea of slavery was that it should be primarily voluntary and it was primarily an economic resource for very poor people. It was usually for survival. He required release of slaves after six years of service. Yet, a man or woman could choose to remain permanently if desired. All other nations mistreated, abused, killed and devalued their slaves, but God makes it clear this was not acceptable. Slavery as described in the Old Testament was a form of welfare. Neither man nor woman was to be mistreated. They were to serve as hired individuals. Their services could be purchased and it is implied they could invest their money and even buy back their freedom

New Testament
1 Corinthians 7:20-23
Each of you should remain as you were when you accepted God's call.
Were you a slave when God called you? Well, never mind; but if you have a chance to become free, use it.
For a slave who has been called by the Lord is the Lord's free person; in the same way a free person who has been called by Christ is his slave.
God bought you for a price; so do not become slaves of people.


The Ten commandments are still relevant to us today The New Testament confirms all but one of those 10 commandments. The only one which is not confirmed for us by a new commandment in the New Testament is to keep the Sabbath.

The Levitical law:
Sexual sins such as adultery, and incest are also prohibited in the same chapters as where the prohibitions against homosexuality are found. All sexual sin is forbidden by both Old and New Testamnent, completely apart from the Levitical laws, because it is a moral issue.

Jesus did speak in specific terms about God's created in tent for human sexuality:
Genesis "From the beginig of the creation God made them male and female. For this cause shall a man leave his father and mother, and cleave to his wife; and the two shall be one flesh.

[Earl Purple]

No it doesn't, but you do often need the Oral Law to explain some of these things.

Some of what you mention in that section are against the Jewish law but are not punishable by death.

The death penalty is only applied if the offender:
- knew what he was doing was a capital offence
- was warned of this by two witnesses
and
- went on to perform the deed anyway.

Polyester and cotton is not a forbidden mixture. Only wool and linen are forbidden.

Most of the laws of the Torah apply only to Jews anyway. If you want to know which laws apply to everybody, check one of the sites I have recommended about Noahide laws.

[butterfly]

Ah OK. I get it. I was right about God wanting us to pick and choose the right bits!

I'm still sticking up for us sexual deviants though, obviously. I know someone who was spoken to directly by God and told that it wasn't a sin for her to be TS. I suppose it's OK for God to change Her mind occasionally, it's a woman's prerogative. ;)

[bluehorizonx10]

I believe the Bible and the creation story is no different, all true. There is no fairy tale to it at all. Man was created from the dust of the earth after the dew fell. God created man in His own image. Woman came second from Adam's rib as the Bible tells us. The story of creation is just as, if not more important than any part of the Bible.

I agree with Oldernow that the Old Testament was particularly written for the Israelites. But after Jesus Christ, God's Son, came to earth to die for all our sins we are living under the blood, not by the Israelite laws. Yes every single word in the Bible has meaning for us all. But there is a separation between the two books for a reason. Of course all of you know by now I'm Christian and this is where my belief is, in the total Bible because God gave us that word no matter who the pen holder was. The Holy Spirit now tells us and guides us. God also sends His guardian angels to be with us wherever we go. We just talked of this in church last night and it came straight from Daniel. The angel Gabriel spoke to Daniel and gave him visions of the future. There is scripture throughout the Bible that shows us angels are always with us. So we always have God with us in many forms. To doubt that is a sad thing.

[mayuke]

Originally posted by butterfly
Ah OK. I get it. I was right about God wanting us to pick and choose the right bits!

[young again]

Originally posted by Earl Purple
Polyester and cotton is not a forbidden mixture.

Don't let the Fab Five hear you say that!

http://www.bravotv.com/images/Queer_Eye_for_the_Straight_Guy/photo_group_pic.jpg

[butterfly]

Thanks everyone! I feel a lot better now.

[Earl Purple]

They're not the fab 5. The CBX are - or were anyway.

[butterfly]

They still look young for their age, don't they?

So which one's Dave Clark? ;)

[bekahbeans]

I didn't read it yet, but I just want to say that if I were you, I wouldn't put much weight into what Dr. Laura says. Her show and what she says should be used for entertainment purposes only. Thank you.

[butterfly]

Well, I was putting weight into what the Bible says, or at least what "Your adoring fan" says the Bible says. I'm only a few chapters into reading the Bible.

[bekahbeans]

ah yes, well plenty of people have read the whole thing and disagree with her adoring fan ;)