Do You Take This Man?


Gay marriage was kind of a big deal in the news this week. I don't know how you feel on the matter but I support same-sex marriage. I just think it is crazy that in the year 2012 people are being denied their civil rights. As best as I can tell, we only get one ride on the roller coaster of life so if you find that one special person who makes you happy then go for it. Life on Earth can be hard and I think everyone should go be able to go through it with a person they love. You may disagree with my opinion - and that is totally cool - but I just hope your reasons are not because it is in the Bible. As you will read below, it may not be a great idea to do everything the Bible tells us to do. 

On her radio show sometime prior to 2004, Dr. Laura Schlesinger said that, as an observant 
Orthodox Jew, homosexuality is an abomination according to Leviticus 18:22, 
and cannot be condoned under any circumstance. The following response is an 
open letter to Dr. Laura, penned by a US resident, which was posted on the 
Internet. It's funny, as well as informative:
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 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 Law and how to follow them.

1. 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?

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. 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?

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

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.

Your adoring fan,
Anonymous







I will persevere. I will keep moving forward. I will be the stream. 

Comments

  1. Great post today! I've seen so many posts and FB status's regarding this and find all of them to have your same opinion. It's nice to see people so pationate about it. I'm sure there are those that have the opposite opinion, I just haven't seen it yet. Maybe I just hang out at the best blogs. yahoo!

    ReplyDelete
  2. Brilliant. Tell the truth I haven't seen any opinions on the subject, yours is the first. As an ageing female I am allowed an opinion and mine is the same as yours. Let them be happy. How in the world will two men or two women marrying affect anything or anybody? Great post, Shifey, I might link it... if you don't mind.

    ReplyDelete
  3. Happy Mom's Day to Mrs Shife.

    ReplyDelete
  4. Adam and Eve or Adam and Steve... who cares? Let me do my thing and I'll let you do your thing. What is more detrimental to the sanctity of marriage... gays/lesbians marrying or people like Liz Taylor and Larry King who get married and divorced a gazillion times.

    I know it will always be just bob so it's not a big deal.

    ReplyDelete
  5. excellent post. that book must have a very powerful lobby group behind it to keep it's charitable status intact.

    ReplyDelete
  6. I agree with you!

    The letter was funny and interesting, thanks for sharing it.

    btw, I'm visiting from Valerie's page. Hello!

    ReplyDelete
  7. Just came over from Valerie's page. Any happy relationship is a good one, in my book.

    ReplyDelete
  8. I think putting people into groups because they are different and then denying them rights is evil.

    Personally, I can't stand Obama, but he got this one right.

    The whole thing of Biden saying it first, was on purpose, they let him "test the waters". The water was fine, so Obama got the all clear to be for gay marriage.

    If Biden would have gotten tons of ridicule, Obama would have come out against gay marriage or just left the issue alone. Biden apologizing to Obama was pure political theater.

    ReplyDelete
  9. That response was brilliant. There's a whole lot of bad in the bible as well. That's what happens when you have fallible human beings writing anything.

    I'm still sort of on the fence about gay marriage. I struggle with it. On the surface, I'm for two consenting adults being committed for each other.

    I just don't buy the notion that it's the same as interracial marriage. When I delve deep into that argument, I think it's a fallacy to argue that.

    Having done scientific research on homosexuality (in college for a big paper), I know that it exists in the animal kingdom. And many scientists and doctors believe homosexuality is an inherited trait - "born that way."

    But at the same time, three of my friends that are gay were all sexually molested by men. So I can't help but also wonder if homosexuality can also be a "programmed behavior." Also, talk to anybody that has done time in jail.

    Totally straight guys have gay sex in jail, and then go back to being straight once they get out. Not a myth - it happens A LOT.

    So to me, in the end, I need to reconcile if a person is truly born homosexual or if it can be a psychological condition. I lean towards acceptance, however.

    ReplyDelete
  10. I've seen this thing before and I love it and it says it all and anyone who remains on this planet who uses that tiny verse in Leviticus to rationalize their nasty, ugly homophobia can go EFF themselves in my opinion.
    Love...Me

    ReplyDelete
  11. I think any two people that want to should be allowed to partner up and have the same legal benefits. What the heck do I care who someone sleeps with? Many people don't take marriage very seriously and it would be nice if people who do got the chance to get married. I say marry whoever you want, love others, and treat others well. You live life one time, why not make it the happiest it can be for everyone?

    ReplyDelete
  12. I was always glad that my parents weren't able to stone me for being so rebellious as a teenager; that's in there too.

    ReplyDelete
  13. Haha. Great points here. There are lots of crazy things in the bible, but some people point to one thing or another just to back up their arguments.

    It's like the Constitution too. Yes, you have a right to bare arms, but those guys who wrote it probably wouldn't want you owning a machine gun that can mow down hundreds of people.

    I was just in Wisconsin and saw an add on TV for a gun store! They had a big ass assault rifle for $1,500.

    ReplyDelete

Post a Comment