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[Note: This was received in an email forward by an atheist friend I had been speaking with as of late who I knew from my pre-conversion days of online gaming. I decided to reply to it, and also sent my response to the near 40 previous senders/recipients listed on the email history. It was originally an letter sent in to Dr. Laura Schlessinger, an Orthodox Jew, in response to a statement regarding homosexuality being unacceptable due to it being an abomination, as per Leviticus. Below is my entire email, I am as of yet unaware of where the letter can be viewed in its "original context" at. In any case, the points made and questions answered are valuable..]

         Most of you have no idea who I am - Well, some of you may, quite some time ago I played in role play rooms on MSN and game boards etc. Anyway, the reason you all are receiving this email from me is that I got a forward from someone with a letter to Laura Schlessinger regarding thought "bible contradictions." I felt quite a few of them deserved an answer, so, I'm sending out this reply to all of the people listed as being senders/recipiants of the email. I am not Jewish as Schlessinger is, so I cannot reply for her - I did feel though, that I should reply to those who would take them as a blow to Christianity as well as Judaism. Feel free to contact me afterwards, and Yahweh bless!

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?

For number one, the sacrificial ceremonies given for the Jews were a shadow of the sacrifice of Christ; to put them in remembrance that sin brings death and a sacrifice must be made for transgression. His Son would eventually take the place of these sacrifices/burnt offerings and type would meet anti-type; since the crucifixion, there is no need for animal sacrifices for atonement or for offerings. (Hebrews chapters 9-10)

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?

To begin, a "maidservant" is a bit different in nature than a slave, at least as we usually connect the word. Its more of a servant as a butler is, though one is in fact purchased of father, mother, or "master" and at the servants initial consent. The verses immediately preceeding this command (Verses 1-6) give instruction that a servant will only serve for 6 years then be sent out, unless the servant should choose to stay. The same chapter, verses 26-28, state in regards to striking a servant; if you put out their eye, or so much as knock out a tooth, they are to be let free.

Beyond this, I feel I should mention that a sanction is not a command. This was a practice already commonplace among the Jews; Today even the version in scripture above may seem a bit out of line, as would betrothal as a courting method before marriage. Yah (God) gave them instructions for the practice they had already adopted - As you can see above, this wasn't exactly harsh conditions as "slavery" would imply today.

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.

One of two facts will come into play here, and will be cited in another place later. Keep in mind this was spoken to a group of Jews wandering in the desert; as such they did not have bars of Zest in their camel bags. Contamination and illness were alot easier to contract in an enviroment where you could not so much as wash your hands with more than muddy/sandy water.

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?

Well, if the U.S. was a theocracy, the chosen people of God who were sent into the U.S. lands and promised to inheret both the lands of Canada and Mexico, but the people in those lands stayed in defiance, all the while knowing (Don't forget the pillar - covered in the next question) that the one true God is with your nation visibly, while still bowing to idols and false gods to the point they are beyond the point of any redemption or repentance, and you have the chance to buy servants of them... Then I would see no problem with you 'owning' a Canadian as well.

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?

In this comes the other fact that will help explain more than one question about the OT laws. Keep in mind that at this point, the commands were being given from a pillar of fire and smoke than went around before the Israelites day and night, the glory of God dwelling in the temple. No one was sinning out of unbelief or accidents. Note also that not every sin had a punishment of death with it; there was a sacrifice (covered in question 1) made for sins, however there were some, such as adultery and working on the Sabbath day as well, that you just did not slip into. Under those conditions the only way someone would do something as this is with a full hearted mind of rebellion and turning away of something/one you know full well is real, and nothing short thereof.

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?

No, not that I know of. :)

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?

<chuckles.> Well, assuming thats what blemish in the eye means... I think a person would be fine with reading glasses, though you may want to go back and ask Aaron to be sure, before you offer your bread on the altar. I actually wasn't aware there were descendants of Aaron still around and practicing as priests, as you would have to be for this rule to apply to you. (Read verses 17 through 21 for the whole statement) Also see question/answer #1.

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?

If you read the chapter, the entire context and purpose for all that He was having them do was to prevent being confused with the neighboring Pagan fertility cults; circumcision, dress a certain way, don't act a certain way... Shaving your head and beard was a sign of Pagan worship in the area.

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?

Bar of soap one. :)

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
v with their in-laws? (Lev. 20:14)

Granted, this one takes a bit more studying than the others to gather the reasoning behind it. Well, the planting of the two crops is just sense really, you dont throw in all of your seeds and then spread them out; its confusing, and not really best if your entire nation is dependant on growing strong crops for trade and survival. "Okay, I need an ephah of Barley... Back in a couple of days, have to search the field." It also was a sign of the unmixed and unchaotic nature of God as was to be reflected in the Jews as a nation, the chosen people of God. This same symbol applies to the garments of two kinds. Today it does not matter because the people of Christ are of all kinds, Gentiles and Jews, circumcision and uncircumcision, not a special nation. The principles of course still apply and are good ones, but the need for a physically, visibly separate nation has passed as stated above.

For Lev 24; that was in regard to someone cursing/blasphemying God, who once again, was outside the camp in a giant pillar of fire and smoke. Same principle for chapter 20.

I hope this clears things up for those of you who were genuinely curious, and as many of the reformers, I await the angry replies of those of you who simply wanted to find a reason to dismiss scripture as outdated, or Christians as hypocrites.

If theres anything else I can help answer let me know, or, visit the site link (Sword image - For those with hotmail, the link would be CreationSDA.org/Kherev) in my signature and let me know if it is not covered there. Yah bless. :)

- Lucan "Luke" Chartier