TODAY'S Liberating Word || Subscribe Today! || HOME
Send to Friend || Contact Rev. Piazza || Archives

Week Twenty-One, Day Five

Given my theory that, for most readers, Day Five (Friday) is the day least likely to be read, I thought we’d tackle the book of Leviticus today. Actually, one day is about all I want to spend on the third book of the Bible.

The book of Leviticus contains regulations and instructions for both the ritual and lifestyle of the ancient Jews. Only a minority of modern Jews follow all of the laws of Leviticus. For most Christians the rules are no longer in effect, and we are free to eat pork or shellfish, for example.

About this, though, the church has been remarkably hypocritical throughout its history. Leviticus has been used when it seems to support their preconceived notions. It historically has been source of support for slavery and restricting women’s rights. Today, fundamentalists still fall back on Leviticus to justify their disdain for gay and lesbian folk.

The selective use of Leviticus probably has caused us to miss the greater truth of the book. While the laws may seem arbitrary and restrictive to us today, a study of the historical context of that day reveals that many of them had value for the survival of the ancient Jews. Even the injunction against men having sex with men was given in the context of a world where procreation was essential for the survival of the species. Like most of the Levitical laws, that one is out of date, but its origin was never just God’s arbitrary disdain for gay people.

In Lev. 20:22 we are reminded of God’s overarching intent in Leviticus:

You shall keep all my statutes and all my ordinances, and observe them, so that the land to which I bring you to settle shall not vomit you out. … You shall inherit the land, and I will give it to you to possess, a land flowing with milk and honey. I am the Lord your God; I have separated you from the peoples. You shall therefore make a distinction between the clean and the unclean. …  You shall be holy to me; for I the Lord am holy, and I have separated you from the other peoples to be mine.

It is this last verse that I find so moving. God is saying, with an almost pained voice, “Don’t do things that will bring you disease and death. When you feel separated from me, do these things so we can be together again. I want you to be healthy. I want you to be happy. I want you to be mine.”

Blessings,

Michael
President, Hope for Peace & Justice

TODAY'S Liberating Word || Subscribe Today! || HOME
Send to Friend || Contact Rev. Piazza || Archives

Hope begins with you.  Here are ways to support Hope for Peace & Justice today!

> Visit the H4PJ Action Center
> Join the Equality Coalition
> Donate to H4PJ Today
> Tell a Friend
> Subscribe to eNews