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?

RESPONSE: Sacrifices were only made in the tabernacle/temple by qualified priests…neighbors were not a problem…unless this guy is a Levitical priest.]

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?

RESPONSE: the “slavery” spoken of among the Hebrews was more like being a servant than a slave. Parents “sold” children when in poverty or dire circumstances; however, there was a 7 year outside limit—they were never “property” as in the case of more modern slavery. In fact, often the servants would covenant with the Master for a voluntary permanent arrangement (see Ex. 21:5,6) Verse 8 prohibits any “indentured servant” from being forced to leave the land of Israel. Some of the customs are foreign to us, living in the 21st century but really not very different from places like India, etc. where parents still select husbands and wives for children. Also, note Leviticus 25.39, “If one of your country men becomes poor among you and sells himself to you, do not make him work as a slave. He is to be treated as a hired worker or a temporary resident among you.”

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 offense.

RESPONSE: This is obviously for married woman…the Bible makes no provision, in or out of the period, for immorality.

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?

RESPONSE: Sorry…makes no sense…Lev. 25 is not talking about Mex. Or Cans; see the answer to question b)

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

RESPONSE: The strict Sabbath laws were only applicable to Israel, which was a theocracy and a people who were clearly taught that they had a “covenant” with Jehovah (He, the husband and Israel, the wife). They were therefore in a different position than any nation before or since.

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 agree. Can you settle this?

RESPONSE: The penalties for homosexuality and the penalties for breaking dietary regulations were far different, indicating that God viewed them in “greater” and “lesser” degrees

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?

RESPONSE: Just as the sacrifice had to be perfect in every respect (because it represented Jesus…the future sacrifice) so the priest offering it had to be free of visible defect because he too, represented Christ, our Great High Priest, who was without defect. These are not arbitrary laws on the part of a “nit-picking” God but are all deeply symbolic, for the most part, pointing to God Himself or Jesus Christ. He was requiring the utmost in respect and honor. This guy needn’t worry…he’s not a priest.

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?

RESPONSE: I can’t find where a death penalty is mentioned for them. This was a pagan practice, carried over from Egyptian idolatry…God forbid it…along with other idolatrous Egyptian practices such as tattooing, etc. as a mark of the separation of His people from the idols around them.

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?

RESPONSE: Ridiculous… by the way, all of these dietary and ceremonial regulations were all done away with when Christ became the final sacrifice.

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)

RESPONSE: The prohibitions about crops, garments, etc. were to illustrate Israel’s separateness from the other nations as a holy nation…They did have laws for stoning blasphemers and for certain egregious sexual sins…however, there is only one instance in scripture of the death penalty being carried out.

In summary, these Scriptures were the law for Israel during the period when God was King, before Israel made Saul King. They no longer apply today, because Jesus Christ became the final sacrifice to pay for our sins.

Yep, that’s Kansas… it’s a pretty entertaining place to live at, when you’re not knocked out by flaming crosses, flying bibles, or getting your head knocked off by bloody fetus pictures.

Thank you for doing so much to educate people regarding God’s law. I have learned a great deal from you 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 to 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 clearly states that he should be put to death. Am I morally obligated to kill him myself, or should I ask the police to do it?

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.

Thank you for doing so much to educate people regarding God’s law. I have learned a great deal from you 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 to 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 clearly states that he should be put to death. Am I morally obligated to kill him myself, or should I ask the police to do it?

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.

Neat post.

I never heard of this loony.

Links to Al Gore Jr, but then turns around and pickets Gore for his neutral stance on homosexuality.

In the 1970s, he won awards for helping in numerous civil rights cases. Quite the anti-racist.

Phelps pickets Al Gore Sr funeral.

Kansas is one messed up place.

Phelps must love Bush and his anti-homosexuality stances.

Thanks for standing up against discrimination of a homosexual soldier.

There, that should do fine. -Yarbz

Great post, BTW.

Oliver Willis and PZ Myers are doing high-fives because one Conservative blogger, USS Neverdock, mis-identified Fred Phelps’ and his band of idiots protesting at the funeral of Iraqi war casualty Carrie French. Says Oliver: “One would be expecting way …