"a) 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?"
Answer- there is no need for you to burn a bull. A review of Hebrews would inform you that the animal sacrifices are no longer necessary thanks to Christ.
b) 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?
Answer- slavery is no longer allowed (unless you mean utter dependence on the government). Still, even if you do sell her, at least she's alive. Most parents these days just have the unwanted kid's brain's sucked out prior to birth. Now who's more of a barbarian?
c) 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.
Answer- thanks to the wonderful invention of feminine hygene products, these laws are no longer necessary. Besides, why are you putting your hands on women anyway? Does the name Bob Packwood mean anything?
d) 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?
Answer- Because slavery is abolished, you cannot own slaves. Back then, it made it illegal to enslave your kinsmen.
e) I have a neighbor who insists on working on the Sabbath. Exodus 35:2 clearly states he should be put to death. Am I morally obligated to kill him myself?
Answer- This law only applies to Old Testament Israel. Because you don't live in Old Testament Israel you cannot apply this law to him. Rather, you are supposed to show him the proper way by your example. Check out Daniel.
f) 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?
See answer to e
g) 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?
Are you the high priest? No. Therefore you have no business in the Holy of Holies. Since the Temple is gone, you need not worry about this anyway.
h) 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?
See answer to e
i) 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?
See answer to e. Besides, the football is probably synthetic anyway.
j) 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 with their in-laws? (Lev. 20:14)
See answer to e
Answer- Because slavery is abolished, you cannot own slaves. Back then, it made it illegal to enslave your kinsmen.
Obviously, the false seeker who wrote this letter has no understanding of "slavery" in biblical times. Today, anyone over 40 who draws a mental picture of slavery probably thinks of Kunta Kinte. That kind of slavery certainly did exist in our history and old world history and was evil. But that was not the only kind. The evil kind of slavery was clearly suffered by the Jews in Egypt. God heard their cries and led them out through Moses.
However, at that time slavery was also a perfectly accepted social convention, created by men, and was used frequently for the settlement of debts. I agree to be your "slave" for two years and you pay off my debts. It is what we would call today indentured servitude. In our culture today we would call that unacceptable, but it worked for them at the time. I think an actual comparison could be drawn to what is happening with illegal Mexicans today. "You're illegal, if you do whatever I say I will give you money to send back to your family."
God obviously draws a distinction between different types of slavery. On one hand, he clearly disapproved of the slavery the Jews suffered in Egypt. He freed them. On the other hand he teaches that slaves should be good to their masters and masters should likewise be good to their slaves. Both slave and master should serve the Lord. See Colossians 3:22 - 4:1 -
22 Slaves, obey your earthly masters in everything; and do it, not only when their eye is on you and to win their favor, but with sincerity of heart and reverence for the Lord. 23 Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men, 24 since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving. 25 Anyone who does wrong will be repaid for his wrong, and there is no favoritism. [4] 1 Masters, provide your slaves with what is right and fair, because you know that you also have a Master in heaven.
God did not institute slavery, men did. God only allowed it, as he allowed Moses' rules for divorce in his attempt to appease the people. For God's purposes He chose for men to slowly learn the evils of slavery when it was practiced for the purpose of evil. At least we Americans have gotten it. Sadly, slavery is still openly practiced in many parts of the world today.
Biblical narrative vs Biblical law.
Nicely done. Thanks. I would email your rebuttal to Sorkin and the rest of the West Wing writers, but I have a sense they are already know they are shills.