In my years of forums and internet surfing I have seen this letter pop-up several times and have answered it in-depth on several occasions so this time it is being saved.
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 I try to share that knowledge with as many people as I can. When people try 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 of the specific laws and how to follow them:
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?
Unless you are Jewish, you don't need to give sacrifices to God in the form of previously living animals. Jesus was the last sacrifice to be given that cost blood. Romans 12 tells us how we can be living sacrifices if you would like to know how to sacrifice to God.
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?
Take into account also that Christ did not come for social revolution, which was within the culture of the time; and looking at the guidelines given, the Hebrews were to protect the slaves. Ephesians 5 also gives instructions on how masters and slaves should behave. In addition, Romans 13 explains how we should respect the governing bodies over us; that is until they attempt to interfere with God's laws. We are to follow the laws of the land after God's laws; I doubt the author of this letter was able to sell his daughter legally.
c) I know that I am allowed no contact with a woman while she is in her period of menstrual uncleanness (Lev.15:19-24).The problem is, how do I tell? I have tried asking, but most women take offense.
Aside from that being one of the cleanliness laws that protected the people from diseases that they had not known about, it might also imply that the woman would be your wife. Sorry to burst your bubble on that one, I think if you can't tell when you're wife is on her cycle then you have no business being her husband. That or you two should be able to communicate well enough to disclose that kind of information.
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?
Mexico, Canada and the United States all have laws regarding human servitude, after God's standards have been met, meet the governments. Sorry you can't own slaves either. For more explanation refer to the answer for 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?
The group being addressed where all Jewish, they shared common faith. If you and your neighbor share the common faith that practices Orthodox Judaism in that form you might have a case. For anyone that does not share your faith we are not to enforce our punishments upon people that do not share our values. That is something faiths other than Christianity teach.
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?
Aside from that being a poorly written sentence the idea behind it is false. The Hebrew words translated as "abomination" are two different words expressing the difference in emphasis. There are numerous parts throughout scripture that describe homosexuality as a sin, I think Romans 1:18-2:1 explains it all the best. The restriction on shellfish is another on the cleanliness issues to protect the people from disease since they didn't happen to have a refrigerator nearby.
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?
I don't think you need to worry about approaching the altar of the Lord in that form now. Christ was the new covenant and what he represented completely voids or expands upon all of these issues to what really matters.
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?
It did not state that trimming your hair is an offense punishable by death. That appears to be a law to be set apart from the people that lived in the region. As far as today’s application, I am hard-pressed to see any relevance with our relationship with Christ and our uni-brows.
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?
That is about the skin from dead animal not cured leather. In addition that is also a cleanliness commandment. Apply this rule to the New Testament in relation to Christ being the new Covenant and you can play all the football you like, just don't make it your god.
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)
I know you have studied these things extensively, so I am confident you can help. Thank you again for reminding us that God's word is eternal and unchanging.
J) SEE reference to the New Covenant. Also refer to part E
Final note: Whoever wrote this letter clearly had no intention to seek the truth of Scripture or attempted to obtain true questions. There is nothing wrong with questioning scripture and the message, just do so with a true heart that is open to the truth. I am not sure what is more sad, the person that wrote this first, or the people that continually repost it because they too have never attempted to understand the Bible for even its historical, cultural, or social information. Don't let this hinder your trust in Scripture, anyone can look up obscure verses out of context, and they can just as easily be snuffed by reading the context and knowing Christ. This letter is clearly an attempt to add dissention and disbelief by questions which were never attempted to be understood.
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