If Leviticus is the old law and Jesus conquered it, then we should ignore the anti-gay stuff in the bible?

Question

Look at the answers to the following question about Leviticus; the answers say that Leviticus represents Jewish law and not meant for Christians:
http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index;_ylt=AtoDk440GdQPRcPWVRmP7ZgjzKIX?qid=20061023190247AAlg6vF
And, we'd need to dismiss Paul's anti-gay statement in one of his letters to the Romans (included in the New Testament) because Paul's (Saul of Tarsus) anti-gay sentiment was based solely on his religious-cultural conditioning (based solely on Leviticus). Comments?

robtheman - exactly! That's my whole point - some christians responded that they weren't under the rules of not cutting their sideburns, not wearing clothes of 2 different weaves, etc. (Leviticus); if that's the case, then the anti-gay stuff is invalid as well. Either cutting sideburns and gay sex are sins or they both aren't - can't have it partial like you point out.

oldguy63 - no, no -- re-read the question. I'm presenting Christian responses of dismissing elements in Leviticus; if they dismiss those elements, what about the other parts of Leviticus?

Answer 1

You're headed in the right direction. People have this assumption that the bible has to be taken literally. Often times the messages of the bible are miscontrued. Think about when the bible was written. Approximately 50 years after Jesus' death. Since then we've put innocent men in prison, burned women, believed to be witches, alive. We've done a lot of foul stuff in the short time we've been on this planet. If Paul was anti-gay it's because he didn't know any different. We keep picturing the men of biblical times as they should be today. There may be a handful of text you can take to heart from the bible but don't read it like it's the doctrine of law.

Answer 2

Does anyone actually read the question? metazone is talking about **christians** saying that Leviticus is not meant for christians (in answer to a question someone had about some weird leviticus stuff). If christians take that stance, then they can't have it both ways. Either the sideburn thing is a sin and homosexuality is, too, or they both aren't. Think about the question before answering. It's important.

Answer 3

Sure, you can ignore Leviticus. But then you also have to ignore Romans 1. And if you do that, where do you stop? Actually the Catholic stance on homosexuality is more progressive than other denominations. But same-sex sexual activity will always be a sin and homosexual marriage will never be allowed in Mother Church.

Answer 4

The OT rules concerning clothes or haircut were meant to prevent Israelites from melting with the pagan nations round them who had such customs (the same for the interdiction of boiling a kid in its mother's milk, for instance). For us they have a symbolic meaning which becomes clear with further study and Holy Spirit's divine guidance. Every word in the Bible is at its proper place, if you cannot see it the fault is yours.

Now about the gay thing...our mere sense of normality says theres something "slightly" wrong about it. It's obvious that if God created man and woman, homosexuality is not a part of his plan. Even the animals 'know' it's not natural...it's a shame that humans use their intelligence&mental energy trying to find arguments for it.

Answer 5

No, because it's still in the bible isn't it? I don't get the people who claim to be christian disregarding the OT as if it never existed at all. That's like saying I had long nails, but I cut them off and now I don't have nails anymore. It's hypocracy. "One guy says hate the gays then jeebus came and so that's not true anymore - now we hate what they DO, but not THEM."
Bleagh. Religion sucks.

Answer 6

Jesus said, "Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them. I tell you the truth, until heaven and earth disappear, not the smallest letter, not the least stroke of a pen, will by any means disappear from the Law until everything is accomplished. Anyone who breaks one of the least of these commandments and teaches others to do the same will be called least in the kingdom of heaven, but whoever practices and teaches these commands will be called great in the kingdom of heaven.

Matthew 5:17-19

Answer 7

Matthew 5:17 Don't think I have come to destroy the law of Moses or the teachings of the prophets. I have not come to destroy them but to bring about what they said. 18 I tell you the truth, nothing will disappear from the law until Heaven and earth are gone. Not even the smallest letter or the smallest part of a letter will be lost until everything has happened.

Answer 8

Jesus did not conquer the law Him paid it's penalty for us. We all sin and there has to be a penalty for that sin, Jesus took that for each of us on the cross. That does not mean that we can go around sinning whenever we feel like it...we are supposed to try to be more like Christ each and everyday. If you borke a neighbors window and your parents paid for it, would you just go and break another window, no, if you were truely sorry, you would try to avoid hitting another window.

Answer 9

Yeah like you don't see many Christian mothers sacrificing animals after giving birth these days and it was a requirement...cherry picking hypocrites I'd say!

Answer 10

No No No. Most people misunderstand what God is saying when He tells us about the new covenant. God never says the old law was done away with. We are still to obey Gods laws and commands. Obedience is necessary for a Christian to keep their free gift of salvation. God tells us clearly that Jesus did not come to abolish the law. God forbid He says. He came to fullfill the law. Meaning , we are no longer under the law, that it is written in our hearts and our minds, and we do it because God says to. What was done away with is the sacrificial rituals. No need to atone for sin now, as Jesus paid the penalty for all our sins. We are still to obey what God tells us in HIS word, and He clearly states that being a homosexual is a sin, and that wont change. God designed things so as to create family and for the world to tell about God and what GOd has for them. Jesus came to save. The gift of salvation is free. But, we must repent of sin and then obey to keep this free gift. God is good. You think He would want Heaven with all kinds of sinners????? rapists up there, fornicators, homosexuals tryiing to get to us and our kids, haters, prejudiced people, and on and on./??? It wouldnt be Heaven if all we have here is up there. Make sense to any of you reading this? This world is full of hate and confusion . Thats not God's way. God calls us to love everyone and forgive them, and to tellthem He loves them so much that He does not want any of us to stay in our sinful, miserable conditions. He came to save, to heal, to forgive, to love... all that is good comes from God. Dont let this world and all the confusion and darkness keep you from receiving all God has for you. He also speaks against fornication, any sex outside of marriage. So, any homosexuals living in sex with others is wrong. and God will deal with you later, because He does love us all and wants Heaven to be a perfect place for us. Not because He wants to turn us away. It is we that make a decision to turn to God or away from Him.