Here is a post i ran across on a gay marriage activist site from a user on facebook. I found it very disheartening that someone could post something about the Bible with such ignorance and lack of understanding and yet sway or confirm the thoughts of so many other biblically uneducated people. Here is how the post read: (all underlined scriptures are explained below)

This is what I have to say to the christians that use the bible against us gays and claim to know God’s law hope ya’ll like it.

Thank you for doing so much to educate people regarding God’s Law. I have learned a great deal from hearing all about God’s law, 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 all, however, regarding some of the other specific laws and how to follow them:

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 or should I call the police?

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?

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.

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?

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?

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 and what do we do about all the Red Lobsters in America?

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?

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?

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)

Thank you for all of your help!

My response to his post

I admit, the old testament is confusing, especially when you take single scriptures at a time and try to understand the concept and entire character of God. That’s like picking up a 1000 page novel and pulling a few lines out of the first 200 pages and thinking you’ve got it all figured out. Take a step back for a minute, breathe and read what I have to say.

You stepped over a large amount of history and topics in the scriptures you listed above. Do you realize that in the scriptures you quote above, the Israelites had just broken free from their captivity to the Egyptians which lasted for over 460 years?

Also, did you know that Jesus came to fulfill the old testament law and provide a new, better covenant to us, who are living out the new testament? If you hook up with an educated man or woman of God and search this out, you will find that what you have quoted above has been taken out of context. You must understand what is going on at this period in time for moses to instate these laws over the newly freed Israelites.

Here, I’ll help clarify some of these scriptures as best I can. I want you to be informed.

[post] 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 or should I call the police?

(Exodus 32:5) As Daniel Anderson said above, you have quoted Levitical law, which we are no longer under. This scripture was Moses instruction from God to make sure that the people kept their eyes upon God, who had just delivered them from the Egyptians! Also, God wanted them to simply take a day of rest. The sabbath was made for man, not the man for the sabbath!

[post] 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?

(Exodus 21:7) Never once did it ever say selling your daughter into slavery was “ok.” This was ingrained in this society at this point. Slavery was a part of life, and not what you and I think of today. Slaves were also not always treated as terribly as you think. During the reign of the Roman empire (400 years or so after the old testament) , slaves actually ran the known Roman empire business world! This was because wealthy people would purchase slaves, and have them to run their businesses. The majority were probably treated very well, and were often times more skillful than their owners. I bet you never knew that did ya?

[post] 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.

(Lev.15:19- 24) There were at this point millions of people wandering around in the desert who had just come out of harsh slavery conditions from Egypt. God was trying to keep the people from spreading any diseases or sickness, because in the desert, with a million or so people, no showers with shampoo and body wash or anti-bacterial hand soap….well, you get the point. It really just makes sense, in my opinion. Oh, and in case you have never read that entire chapter, it doesn’t just say this about women, but it says it about men too.

[post] 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?

(Lev. 25:44 ) Keep in mind what i just told you about slavery (God never said he agreed with it) and read the whole chapter, and if you’re feeling lazy just read from 44-53. People put them selves up for sell to provide money and food for their families.

[post] 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?

(Lev.1:9) Blood, the life system of us all, was required to pay the cost of our sins. Thankfully, God sent his son to pay the ultimate price once and for all, for you and me. I would lay down my life for a lot of people maybe even a total stranger, but I wouldn’t lay down my son’s life for anyone! God’s love for us truly is amazing.

[post] 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 and what do we do about all the Red Lobsters in America?

(Lev. 11:10) Read carefully and you will see that God is trying to keep them from something dangerous to them, and possibly their health. It says they may eat of fish in the sea or streams that have fins and scales, but nothing that does not. I truly believe this was God’s decree for protecting the people. This was his way of keeping them from getting sick from the different animals in the sea that they’ve probably never eaten, or at least prepared to know how to cook it properly.

[post] 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?

(Lev. 21:20) This is stating that people with defects are not to present the sacrafice on the alter. This was a shadow or a type of Christ. See, Christ had to come to earth, live the blameless, sinless life that we could not live in order to pay the full penalty for OUR sins. Again, READ THE CHAPTER and this becomes very evident.

[post] 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?

(Lev. 19:27) Right, so this seems confusing eh? You have to know the history of what they came out of. Egyptians were a very clean people, and the detested hair! Even Egyptian men shaved their entire bodies. Also, Egyptians were idol worshipers, and this had infiltrated into the Israelites life styles. God wanted them to have no trace of what they just came out of. Makes sense right?

[post] 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.

(Lev. 19:19) This is the only scripture that doesn’t have such a clear reasoning behind it, and I’ve not spent time researching it. The clothing woven of two different kinds makes sense, seeing as how the Egyptians wore elaborate clothing. The plating of two seeds however probably has something to do with yielding the best crop results or a remembrance of Egypt, their bondage and correlation with Idolatry.

[post] 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)

The remaining scriptures listed are just clearly a way for instilling the Godly values into what was just a morally depraved and enslaved society. The punishments seem harsh, as we can all admit, but we are no longer under these Levitical laws! Thank God for freedom from our sin!

I hope this has shed some light on what was a grossly out of context, invalid and completely sarcastic argument of ignorance. The fact of the matter is that in Romans 1:24 -27, it makes it very clear that homosexuality is a sin. These are the inspired words of God, not mine.

This country was founded on Freedom, not equality. The fact is, nothing the president or congress can ever sign into law makes us equal. Look at all the great men and women who have stood up for equality for Blacks and women in every part of our society, and yet still today, blacks and women are not truly “equal.” The nation has helped us build freedom in our daily lives, but only God creates equality, and it is found in his Word.