Levitical Law

I just finished Leviticus last night in my reading through the Bible.  It’s hard to imagine anyone ever committing some of those sins while you’re reading it.  It may be because we think of past times as more
moral.  Certainly, those that promote all sorts of immorality (from homosexuality to abortion) believe that these thoughts have come as a result of a more enlightened era.  Unfortunately for them, they are nothing new, but something very old.

So, that’s brings us to the question, why all of these laws?  I mean, there are laws in Leviticus about not wearing clothing of mixed threads, etc.  Certainly some of the laws were for sanitary purposes.  Those laws that talk about not using something that has had blood touch it, or other bodily discharge, unless it’s washed, have an understanding of germ theory way before their time.

In other cases, especially in the sexual realm, you see phrases like “causes confusion” or other statements, which clearly could be an understanding of genetics, but also an understanding of human nature.  Our “old man” lusts to do those things that are neither healthy or wise.

But I think that there is a further reason, and I think this is borne out in the concluding chapters of Leviticus.  It is that God wanted His people to be a testimony, and by taking out those things that would not make his people the best, He was preparing them for greatness.

We can sit around all day and discuss whether or not a homosexual couple or a single mom can parent.  The obvious answer is yes, it happens.  But is it the best?

We can discuss whether people should have the right to take illegal drugs, smoke, have tattoos and
piercings all over their bodies– but what is the best for them?

We can discuss abortion, euthanasia, and all of the facets of capital punishment, but what is the best for all people– not just the individuals.

We can even discuss prostitution, like we have at times in the past, but what is the best place for sex?

I think you are beginning to see my point.  It’s easy to say “I should be allowed” but it’s much harder to say “this is the best for me.”  I believe that if we examined our beliefs, our actions, and our relationships with this test, we’d find that a lot of those “convictions” amount to folly.