I don't have the time to go through each point right now, but my main point is that the word "abomination" comes from an original Hebrew word (to'ebah) which means "ritually unclean". If the writer(s) of Leviticus had wished to refer to a moral violation, a sin, he would have used the Hebrew word "zimah."
There wouldn't be a need to specify or elaborate more to the intended audience of Leviticus--they'd know when this behavior of theirs occurred (and--more importantly-- the motivation behind it, which many believe was all about worshiping false gods). All throughout the Bible---one thing I see repeated over and over again is how God is more interested in a person's motivation....their faith....their devotion to follow Him (more-so than their behavior). What comes to mind is in Jeremiah 7 where the text says:
On their own...stealing, lying, even murder wouldn't be called "abominations". It's that they were standing before God...in His house.....acting as if they were pure and devoted only to Him (using their rituals to give them a false sense of purity).
It really seems to be doing these passages a disservice to not recognize the message of idolatry and chasing after false gods that's here (and throughout the rest of the Bible).
There wouldn't be a need to specify or elaborate more to the intended audience of Leviticus--they'd know when this behavior of theirs occurred (and--more importantly-- the motivation behind it, which many believe was all about worshiping false gods). All throughout the Bible---one thing I see repeated over and over again is how God is more interested in a person's motivation....their faith....their devotion to follow Him (more-so than their behavior). What comes to mind is in Jeremiah 7 where the text says:
Jeremiah 7 said:Will you steal, murder, and commit adultery and swear falsely, and offer sacrifices to Baal and walk after other gods that you have not known, then come and stand before Me in this house, which is called by My name, and say, 'We are delivered!'-- that you may do all these abominations?"Has this house, which is called by My name, become a den of robbers in your sight?
On their own...stealing, lying, even murder wouldn't be called "abominations". It's that they were standing before God...in His house.....acting as if they were pure and devoted only to Him (using their rituals to give them a false sense of purity).
It really seems to be doing these passages a disservice to not recognize the message of idolatry and chasing after false gods that's here (and throughout the rest of the Bible).
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