“I like how you call homosexuality an abomination. I’m interested in selling my youngest daughter into slavery as sanctions in Exodus 21:7. What would a good price for her be? My chief of staff, Leo McGarry, insist on working on the Sabbath. Exodus 35:2 clearly says he should be put to death. Touching the skin of a dead pig makes one unclean – Leviticus 11:7. Can the Washington Redskins still play football? Does the whole town really have to be together to stone my brother John for planting different crops side by side? Can I burn my mother in a small family gathering for wearing garments made from two different threads?” (Martin Sheen as President Bartlet in The West Wing, Season 2, Episode 3)
Bible lessons from a fake president on a TV show?
Oh, my faithful heart! Luckily, it knows better than to get a Bible lesson from a fake president on a scripted TV show (or any president, for that matter). Notice all these arguments come from the Pentateuch – the first five books of the Bible: Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, and Deuteronomy… Also known as the books of the Law. So, writer Aaron Sorkin, with an agenda, ignores context and the entire Biblical narrative.
The reference to slavery in Exodus 21:7 is not like American Civil War era slavery. It’s protecting a woman from poverty and exploitation and giving her work.
When a man sells his daughter as a slave, she shall not go out as the male slaves doe. If she does not please her master, who has designated her for himself, then he shall let her be redeemed. He shall have no right to sell her to a foreign people, since he has broken faith with her. If he designates her for his son, he shall deal with her as a daughter. IF he takes another wife to himself, he shall not diminish her food, clothing, or marital rights. (Exodus 21:7-11)
The Sabbath laws were fulfilled in Christ – the Lord of the Sabbath (Mark 2:23-3:6). Footballs are made of cowhide not pigskin…Google it. Leviticus 11 applied to ceremonial laws.
Leviticus Instructions for Ceremonial Cleanliness:
- Lev. 11:1-47 Clean and unclean animals
- Lev. 12:1-8 Purification after childbirth
- Lev. 13-14 Bodily discharges
- Lev. 16:1-33 The Day of Atonement
- Lev. 17:1-8 The place for sacrificing
- Lev. 17:10-16 Laws against eating blood
- Lev. 18:1-30 Unlawful sexual relations
- Lev. 19-20 General holiness laws
- Lev. 21-22 Holiness laws for priests
And Jesus declared all foods clean, repeated by Peter and Paul.
Jesus declared all foods clean (Mark 7:19)
Peter was told this in a vision (Acts 10:13-16)
Paul taught all foods are clean (Romans 14:14, 1 Timothy 4:4)
A sentence of death wasn’t given for planting different crops or wearing two different materials. The Israelites were to reflect holiness in all practice in life, as the chosen people of God.
You shall be holy to me, for I the Lord am holy and have separated you from all the peoples, that you should be mine. (Leviticus 20:26)
All the law points to Jesus Christ, who kept the law perfectly, and lovingly gave His own life as an atoning sacrifice.
Those who break God’s law will still perish on the Day of Judgment.
For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord! (Romans 6:23)
But, those who believe in Jesus will be forgiven their sins… including the sin of homosexuality, which is still an abomination.
…when we understand the text.
(This video is by WWUTT. Discovered by Christian Podcast Central and our community — copyright is owned by the publisher, not Christian Podcast Central.)
