An open letter to the president (a Bible study)

[lizzieforkerry]

I just got this in an email! I don't know who originally wrote it.


Dear President Bush,

Thank you for doing so much to educate people regarding God's Law. I have learned a great deal from you and understand why you would propose and support a constitutional amendment banning same sex marriage. As you said, "in the eyes of God marriage is based between a man a woman." I try to share that knowledge with as many people as I can. When someone tries to defend the homosexual lifestyle, for example, I simply remind them that Leviticus 18:22 clearly states it to be an abomination... End of debate.

I do need some advice from you, however, regarding some other elements of God's Laws and how to follow them.

1. Leviticus 25:44 states that I may 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?

2. 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?

3. I know that I am allowed no contact with a woman while she is in her period of menstrual uncleanness - Lev.15: 19-24. The problem is how do tell? I have tried asking, but most women take offense.

4. 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?

5. 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, or should I ask the police to do it?

6. 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? Are there 'degrees' of abomination?

7. 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?

8. 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?

9. 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?

10. 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)

I know you have studied these things extensively and thus enjoy considerable expertise in such matters, so I am confident you can help.

Thank you again for reminding us that God's word is eternal and unchanging.

[Dogmudgeon]

1. It's about five years old

I think a journalist is the original perpetrator.

A version of it was scripted into an episode of The West Wing, too.

--p!

[Sparkly]

2. That was funny already, but the accidental smilies made it hilarious

even more! :D

Thanks for sharing it!!

[lizzieforkerry]

3. I hadn't noticed- LOL!!

[Sparkly]

7. I especially liked this one

I know it creates a pleasing odor for the Lord - Lev.1:9.

[NoSheep]

4. Perhaps if Kerry had recited this piece during a debate-we'd have it made!

O8)

[Nimble_Idea]

5. now that was something

else

[ticapnews]

6. Most of that comes straight from "The West Wing"

President Bartlet (Martin Sheen): I like how you call homosexuality an abombination.
Jenna Jacobs: I don't say homosexuality is an abomination, Mr. President, the Bible does.
President Bartlet: Yes, it does. Leviticus.
Jenna Jacobs: 18:22.
President Bartlet: Chapter and verse. I wanted to ask you a couple of questions while I have you here. I'm interested in selling my youngest daughter into slavery as sanctioned in Exodus 21 : 7. She's a Georgetown sophmore, speaks fluent Italian, always cleared the table when it was her turn. What would a good price for her be? While thinking about that, can I ask another? My Chief of Staff Leo McGarry insists on working on the Sabbath. Exodus 35:2 clearly says he should be put to death. Am I morally obligated to kill him myself or is it okay to call the police? Here's one that's really important because we've got a lot of sports fans in this town: touching the skin of a dead pig makes one unclean. Leviticus 11 : 7. If they promise to wear gloves, can the Washington Redskins still play football? Can Notre Dame? Can West Point? 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? "Think about that, will you? Oh, and one last thing. You may have mistaken this for your meeting of the ignorant tight-ass club but in this building, when the President stands, nobody sits.

It is Episode three of Season Two (The Midterms)

[lizzieforkerry]

8. Ahh, now THAT is a president.

For one hour a week, I am happy. I had forgotten about this episode however. Thanks for the play by play. Do you really have it memorized?

[ticapnews]

9. I love the show...

But I must admit that was copy & paste. I watch it all the time (have a dozen or so episodes on TiVo and the first 3 seasons on DVD) and have memorized a lot of it. I've also read scripts online and have seen some of what's coming the rest of this season (keep watching, it's going to be great!)

I do so wish this guy was our president.

Although I remember when this episode first aired, I was thinking "If Bill Clinton did that to a talk radio hack the rest of the hacks would rip him a new one the next day."

[Carson]

10. Old Testament Law is not applicable to today's Christians. n/t

[nothingshocksmeanymore]

11. Then why do they want to post the Ten Commandments everywhere?

[Carson]

12. The Ten Commandments (Decalogue) were brought over to the

New Testement, with the exception of the "keep the Sabbath Day holy".

But the assertion that the Decologue contains a perfect moral code are false and not in agreement with New Testement religion.

The first five commandments were given for the purpose of regulating human beings in their relationships with each other and are all negative in nature: "Thou shalt not... kill, commit adultery, steal, bear false witness against thy neighbor, covet" (Ex.20:13-17)

It is forbidden to kill, but what if I beat my neighbor half to death? Which commandment did I break? If I bear false witness on *behalf* of my neighbor and not *againt* would I be violating the Ten Commandments? No, I wouldn't.

In the New Testement, Christ "made perfect" the Old Law by supplanting it with another. In Matt. 22:34-40, Christ explained that the two greatest commandments weren't listed in the Ten. "Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. This is the great and first commandment. And a second like unto it is this, Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself. On these two commandments the whole law hangeth."

That forevermore established the relative inferiority of that brief code which God gave Moses, the design of which was not to supply a perfect moral code, but to make sin "exceedingly sinful" (Rom.7:13)

The 10 Commandments Law was abolished at the cross and ceased to serve as the constitution of the Lord's people. The Nine moral commands of the law are included in the New Testement and applicable to people today.

My original intent was to make the assertion that the quotes from Leviticus the OP used, were part of the Old Law and in no way are applicable. To use then in the argument the OP quoted only make one look ignorant of the differences.

As for folks wanting to post the Decalogue everywhere, I think many are misguided as well in thinking that it is entirely applicable.