Are the laws of Leviticus still relavant?

Question

I know many Christians who pick and choose which laws of Leviticus to obey and/or stand by, such has that Laying down with another man is an Abomination to God, so Homosexuality is wrong. That is fine, so if you think that then you must follow ALL his laws or you're a HYPOCRITE!!!!!!!!!!!

And the daughter of any priest, if she profane herself by playing the whore, she profaneth her father: she shall be burnt with fire." (Leviticus 21:9)

"Speak unto the children of Israel, saying, If a woman have conceived seed, and born a man child: then she shall be unclean seven days; according to the days of the separation for her infirmity shall she be unclean." (Leviticus 12:2)

"But if she bear a maid child, then she shall be unclean two weeks, as in her separation: and she shall continue in the blood of her purifying threescore and six days." (Leviticus 12:5)

Males are less penalty! Baby girls are called Maids!!

http://godhatesshrimp.com/

Answer 1

There are the seeds of real ideas and good thoughts in the laws... throw the rest out!

Answer 2

When reading the WHOLE Bible, not just picking and choosing, the believers know what is still in effect and what is not. Many of the laws where in preparation for the Messiah, since the Messiah has come, certain laws like Sabbath laws, Dietary Laws and Temple/Priesthood Laws are finished.

You are quoting from an Old English version, girls were called "maids" it was not an insult, it was like calling a boy a "lad" it did not mean a servant like it does today. Might help to read one in modern English since you arent familiar with the Old English.

As far as any punishment for any law breaking in the OT, Jesus taught us the Law is just, but mercy is better since none of us keep the Law. We don't kill people for adultery because so many of US are adulterers and so on.

Answer 3

Ok, I am not sure why you are so set on this issue, but I will try to help as much as I can. The spirit of every law of Leviticus still stands. The spirit of all of those laws is obedience to God. There is no human being on this Earth that can realistically keep every one of the Mosaic laws.

As far as laws that are still in effect today by word and by spirit, those are the laws that are reenforced by the New Testament and the teaching of Christ. The Ten Commandments for instance were reenforced by Christ and even enhanced beyond their words. Some of the laws, such as the law against homosexuality and other sexual abominations were reenforced by Paul and others in the New Testament. That is why they still stand in word and in spirit, but all of the laws still stand in spirit regardless of being reenforced in the New Testament. Think about all of them, see which ones are in the New Testament, and see that those are the ones that, if followed, will make our life and the lives of those around us much easier and much better. Most of them are just common sense laws that everyone really already knows at least subconciously.

Answer 4

No, Christ came to "fulfill the law" and he did at his death. This is why the Pharisee's and Saducee's hated him so much. Because they THOUGHT he was breaking the O.T. laws such as in Leviticus, when instead he had fulfilled them. By helping animals on the Sabbath, by "doctoring" sinners, (as he said, isn't it better that a "doctor" be with the sick than not) meaning that for him to stay with sinners than not be around those who actually NEEDED forgiveness. Yet, they would rather have listened to the sound of their "own holiness" than that "of actually being holy." Because them sounding holy sounded so much nicer than actually "being holy." And a lot less work involved too!

So, Christ FULFILLED ALL the O.T. Laws, even the 10 Commandments, which I STILL FOLLOW TODAY. Not because I HAVE TOO, but because what GREAT examples they set for us! However, the rest of the laws are and were set out for the protection of the Jews/Israelites to "keep them separate as a Nation" from the neighboring tribes. Many of these laws were in response to laws that the neighboring tribes had that their God's said were OKAY, So the God of Israel responded by making a law saying "its NOT okay."

Much in the SAME WAY THAT EACH OF THE 10 PLAGUES OF EGYPT WAS POINTED EACH ONE AT A MAJOR GOD OF EGYPT!

Answer 5

Some still apply and some do not. Like, we don't have to be circumcised any more. Also Apostle Paul is the authority and he told us which ones to obey generally and he also, well put it like this; I was left thinking that if Paul didn't specifically say that we were *not* to obey a law then we still had to obey it. It's a grey area, but, yea, if in doubt then it seems to say that we should keep the Levitical laws. As to the penalties for crimes like the ones above, well I don't think that they are relevant; like that's just what I came away thinking. And as allways, the whole book of the law is the authority, unless Paul negated it, and so the book of the law is *the* authority; I'm just trying to be helpful.

Answer 6

Good question, (kind of) funny story regarding this. When I went my local gay pride event one of the "Christain" protesters was holding a sign quoting LEVITICUS 18:22, at the same time he was eating popcorn shrimp, wearing mulitple fabrics, including a shirt from the local NFL team (Pigskin), appeared to have a recent haircut. Plus he had a few tatoos. All of these things are abominations to god according to the same book he was using to condem gays.

Answer 7

The answer to your question is NO.The laws you are referring to in Leviticus no longer active or effective after the death of Christ. Why, Here is the full answer from the Bible, Colossians2:14-15, Paul writes: 14having canceled the written code, with its regulations, that was against us and that stood opposed to us; he took it away, nailing it to the cross. 15And having disarmed the powers and authorities, he made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them by the cross." In a more simple phrase, God has erased these laws nailing them to the cross and liberating us from the curse of the Law.

Answer 8

not all the Levitican laws apply such as the ceremonial laws and laws of cleansing and sacrificing. some laws still apply such as the food laws and the abominations of God. the food laws were actually set in place at the beginning if you read about God telling Noah what to put on the ark you'll see.

Answer 9

Yep. Don't forget Leviticus 17:12 "Therefore I said unto the children of Israel, No soul of you shall eat blood, neither shall any stranger that sojourneth among you eat blood."
No rare steak allowed!

Leviticus is my favorite book, it's so crazy.

Answer 10

Don't sleep with sheep.

You're overlooking one major thing in your finger pointing. This is judaic law. A "righteous" law that all jews were to follow, yet it says that if you're guilty of one of these then you're guilty of them all. Christians do not live by Judaic law, but the law of Grace through Jesus. Not to excuse our sins, but to realize that we as mere humans are not able to keep to the letter of the law and God knowing this sent the perfect atonement to fulfill the law.

You're placing this present tense emphasis on laws written thousands upon thousands of years ago for a culture not of your own. So you can't really base any argument on this stuff, because you can't help but take it out of context.

So with this. We (christians) don't live by a set of laws in order to create some semblance of righteousness. We have faith in Jesus and trust his sacrafice covers our sins and live freely from the laws and the rules of the world.