Leviticus: sodomy = football? Pastor "Buzz" explains.
By Peter Mirus (bio - articles ) | November 20, 2006 1:52 PM
Baptist pastor Oliver "Buzz" Thomas writes:
So, why are so many church leaders (not to mention Orthodox Jewish and Muslim leaders) persisting in their view that homosexuality is wrong despite a growing stream of scientific evidence that is likely to become a torrent in the coming years? The answer is found in Leviticus 18. "You shall not lie with a man as with a woman; it is an abomination."As a former "the Bible says it, I believe it, that settles it" kind of guy, I am sympathetic with any Christian who accepts the Bible at face value. But here's the catch. Leviticus is filled with laws imposing the death penalty for everything from eating catfish to sassing your parents. If you accept one as the absolute, unequivocal word of God, you must accept them all.
For many of gay America's loudest critics, the results are unthinkable. First, no more football. At least not without gloves. Handling a pig skin is an abomination. Second, no more Saturday games even if you can get a new ball. Violating the Sabbath is a capital offense according to Leviticus. For the over-40 crowd, approaching the altar of God with a defect in your sight is taboo, but you'll have plenty of company because those menstruating or with disabilities are also barred.
The truth is that mainstream religion has moved beyond animal sacrifice, slavery and the host of primitive rituals described in Leviticus centuries ago. Selectively hanging onto these ancient proscriptions for gays and lesbians exclusively is unfair according to anybody's standard of ethics. We lawyers call it "selective enforcement," and in civil affairs it's illegal.
Blah blah blah. Actually, you might call the Lord's punishment of Sodom and Gomorrah "selective enforcement", but it did make the point.
Anyway, since I've heard the "Leviticus is irrelevant" argument before, I thought I'd produce the opposing argument by directing you here.
|
An appeal from our founder, Dr. Jeffrey Mirus: Dear reader: If you found the information on this page helpful in your pursuit of a better Catholic life, please support our work with a donation. Your donation will help us reach five million Truth-seeking readers worldwide this year. Thank you! |
Easter Campaign: Progress toward our Spring 2013 goal ($28,018 to go):
$80,000.00
$51,981.70
35%
65%
|
All comments are moderated. To lighten our editing burden, only current donors are allowed to Sound Off. If you are a donor, log in to see the comment form; otherwise please support our work, and Sound Off!
-
Posted by: -
Nov. 22, 2006 6:28 PM ET USA
Old Testament authors (Levitcus) are superceded by New Testament statements made by God through the evangelists. Some old rulings of their laws stipulating the death penalty have no forceful effct on current issues. The harshness of a punishment can be softened but the immorality of the act is in no way lessened by the mitigation of the sentence.
-
Posted by: Deacon Bart -
Nov. 21, 2006 10:44 AM ET USA
My phycologist friends tell me the APA has pushed many into homosexual behavior who were not homosexual-thus the high suicide rates. As a NASA scientist I can read studies & except for a few that are so flawed as to be fraud no study has ever found a biological link for homosexuality. Do not let secularist lies cloud this issue. Homosexuality is disordered as the Church says. Those involved need our support to live chaste lives not confirmation in sinful acts! Remember Ezekiel 3:17-21
-
Posted by: TheJournalist64 -
Nov. 20, 2006 7:45 PM ET USA
Pastor Buzz ignores the fact that porneia is condemned multiple times in the NT, and that porneia clearly includes all kinds of illicit sexual unions, homosex included.
