Nolan quoted a common argument often used against Christians in order to portray that God’s Word is unclear and has no real authority to pronounce morality in order to defend “the pick and choose texts of Scripture we like" position. The attempt is to discredit the Levitical Laws altogether since a clear passage against homosexuality is within the same pages.
“My chief-of-staff, Leo McGarry, insists on working on the Sabbath. Exodus 35:2 clearly says he should be put to death. Am I morally obligated to kill him myself or is it okay to call the police? Here's one that's really important, 'cause we've got a lot of sports fans in this town. Touching the skin of a dead pig makes one unclean, Leviticus 11:7. If they promise to wear gloves can the Washington Redskins still play football? Can Notre Dame? Can West Point? Does the whole town really have to be together to stone my brother John for planting different crops side-by-side? Can I burn my mother in a small family gathering for wearing garments made from two different threads?”
Now it must be admitted from the outset that Christians have debated the uses of the Law for centuries. This is not new. What is new by the opponents of Christianity and God’s Revelation in particular is the presupposition that God has given man so many crazy commands that to follow them would lead us to killing each other for silly little things like what we plant in our fields or what kind of clothes are sown together. This is done while ignoring the contextual backgrounds for these apparent difficulties.
These two examples are actually great examples because one is found in the Decalogue and the others are found outside of the Ten Commandments. In other words, most Christians would apply the Ten Commandments to all men while the other commandments mentioned in the quote might only apply to National Israel prior to the New Covenant. So how do they apply to today and what is their relevance?
In my next post, I will deal with the Sabbath law during the time it was given and its application for today. Then following I will deal with the Levitical Laws within the context of Israel’s separateness from the pagans around them.
3 comments:
"You fool." -Jesus.
Howard. Don't bother. Learn to preach God's love, instead of your Bible apologetics.
Because if you must go on, you must explain the laws for slavery in Exodus 21; the ones that tell how men can be released after several years of service, but not women.
Or maybe discuss the appearances of people?
Deuteronomy 22:5:
“The woman shall not wear that which pertaineth unto a man, neither shall a man put on a woman’s garment: for all that do so are abomination unto the Lord thy God.”
1 Corinthians 11: “Every man praying or prophesying, having his head covered, dishonoureth his head. But every woman that prayeth or prophesieth with her head uncovered dishonoureth her head: for that is even all one as if she were shaven.”
Or maybe this:
"But anyone who says 'You fool!' will be in danger of the fire of hell." -Jesus Mat 5:22
"You fools!" -Jesus Luke 11:40
"You blind fools!" Jesus Mat 23:17
"How foolish you are" Jesus Luke 24:25
"But God said to him, 'You fool!'" -Jesus, speaking in parable Luke 12:20
"You foolish Galatians!" -St. Paul Galatians 3:1
"Do you want proof, you ignoramus, that faith without works is useless" -James 2:20
I could sit here, literally, all day long and point out things in the Bible that contradict not only within the pages, but common sense.
Stop. You only embarrass yourself and your faith. In trying to use your powers for good, you miss out on the big picture. It's like Strong Bad says; "Should I use my powers for good, or for awesome?"
Nolan,
I am glad you are open-minded.
"Stop. You only embarrass yourself and your faith."
The cross is most certainly foolishness. I agree with Paul.
"I am not ashamed of the Gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God unto salvation for all who believe..."
"I could sit here, literally, all day long and point out things in the Bible that contradict not only within the pages, but common sense."
Also, I forgot to mention it here. You mention common sense. Where did you get this common sense? How do you justify this common sense? Do I need to follow your private revelation of what common sense is? Are you now the new prophet of God giving new common sense revelation that is binding upon all men?
The contradictions you mention are indeed glaring. They are just not what you think they are.
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