So i've recently got into a discussion with a fellow brother regarding how Leviticus applies to us as Christians. He sent me this.
I replied in this fashion.
Sorry for the wall of text, but this is the first time i've seen someone refer to Leviticus in such a selective manner, that the word Toevah can just magically refer to an eternal mortal sin in the absence of God saying "it is an abomination to you" perplexes me. Thoughts?
Here are some thoughts regarding the "Leviticus does not apply to Christians" argument.
The fallacious argument that - since shellfish are an abomination in Leviticus, Christians should therefore not eat and should speak out against those that eat shellfish - builds upon a faulty interpretation and application of the Levitical laws to the Christian.
Those that suggest none of Leviticus applies to Christians and even if it did, homosexuality is covered by ceremonial rather than moral laws, fail the following test of logic. There are two kinds of abominations in Leviticus. There are things that are eternally abominable to God, and there are things that are temporarily abominable to the Israelites. Scripture always perfectly indicates which things are temporarily abominable, and which things are eternally abominable to God. When Scripture says something "is abominable," then it is referring to something abominable to God. When Scripture says something "shall be abominable" or "abominable to you," it is indicating something abominable only to the Israelites.
The things that are eternally abominable to God apply to people whether or not they are under the Mosaic Law. 1 Kings 14:24 says, "They did according to all the abominations of the nations which the LORD dispossessed before the sons of Israel." The reason God dispossessed those nations was because they did the abominations that defiled the land. Leviticus 18:24 warns, "Do not defile yourselves by any of these things; for by all these the nations which I am casting out before you have become defiled." Those nations were not under the Law, but were cast out because of their abominations; therefore, the punishment for acts which are abominable to God apply to people whether or not the Mosaic Law applies to them.
The list of things that God made temporarily abominable to the Israelites included only food restrictions. Israelites were not permitted to eat anything in the water that does not have fins and scales, eagle, vulture, buzzard, kite, falcon, raven, ostrich, owl, sea gull, haw, owl, cormorant, great owl, white owl, pelican, carrion vulture, stork, heron, hoopoe, bat, all winged insects that walk on all fours (except for those with legs built for jumping like the locust, cricket, and grasshopper), the camel, rabbit, shaphan, pig, and swarming things and things that crawl on their bellies.
All of those restrictions were lifted with a vision to Peter in Acts 10 Acts 10 Commentary - Peter's Vision - BibleGateway.com
But the things that are eternally abominable to God have never been cleansed. According to Scripture, this list is:
1) Eating the flesh of a votive or freewill offering on the third day after the sacrifice is made
2) Lying with mankind as with womankind
3) Idols
4) Serving other gods
5) Sacrificing blemished animals to God
6) Passing one's son or daughter through the fire
7) One who uses divination
8) One who practices witchcraft
9) One who interprets omens
10) One who is a sorcerer
11) One who casts spells
12) One who is a medium
13) One who is a spiritist
14) One who calls up the dead
15) Cross-dressing
16) Remarrying your ex-wife, if she married another man after your divorce
17) Having differing weights and measures (in business, to bilk your customers)
18) Devious people
19) A proud look
20) A lying tongue
21) Hands that shed innocent blood
22) A heart that devises wicked imaginations
23) Feet that are swift in running to mischief
24) A false witness that speaks lies
25) A person that sows discord among brethren
26) The sacrifice, way, and thoughts of the wicked
27) One that justifies the wicked, and one that condemns the just
28) The prayers of one that turns away his ear from hearing the law
The first and fifth items are linked to sacrifice, which is no longer required for Christians. Because we dont make sacrifices today, were in no danger of the associated abominations. Those that suggest you are a hypocrite if you oppose homosexuality and yet eat seafood or wear blended fabrics, are knowingly or unknowingly mixing apples and oranges. They are comparing ceremonial laws to abominations. Its hard to imagine any Christian being in favor of the other things that Scripture notes are abominations to God Himself.
I replied in this fashion.
The English translation abomination or detestable comes from the Hebrew word "Toevah". Which is always used to indicate something that is ritually unclean and culturally wrong for the Hebrews specifically it denotes a connection with idolatry. For example in 1 Kings 14:24 the word is used directly in connection with the male shrine prostitutes of the various nations. However, a different word is used to refer to prostitutes in general in Leviticus 19:29 "Zimah". There is nothing present to indicate that Toevah denotes something which is a eternal mortal sin, but everything to do with the pagan cult practices of the land. Given the implications of Toevah, and the shrine prostitutes of the area, perhaps God wished to distinguish the isrealites from the gentiles in that regard. It certainly is consistent with the usage of the word Toevah, which carries the connotation of idol worship. This also is consistent with the intro to Leviticus 18 where God declares His wishes to separate the Israelites practices from the gentiles. It could very well be possible that men laying with men could only be an abomination if done in the context of pagan ritual, or because it was so prevalent as a religious ritual among pagans, God wish to distinguish His people in that regard.
There is a problem with your assertion that every time "abomination...to you" appears it is denoting only that which is just culturally abhorrent according to the Israelites.
Leviticus 11:41, Leviticus 11:42, wording is the same as Leviticus 18:23. There is no "too you" added to it. Back to the dietary laws.
Another issue is, if toevah can in fact refer to an act which is eternally wrong in God's eyes. Why was it not written and specified as such? We are just left with the word Toevah implying the ritual uncleanliness in relation to pagan practices in that land which regularly used male-male sex in their rituals. It is labeled an abomination, toevah; ritually unclean, and nothing more. God does at times specify what is an abomination to Him, specifically and in person. Deut 7:25, 17:1, 18:10-12.
I submit again, that Leviticus has no bearing on loving homosexual relationships done outside of the context of pagan ritual. Nor does it hold any authority over the Christian, Matthew 22:37-39 sums up the entire law. Love God, and love your neighbor. In absence of direct legislation on a matter we defer to these two commands. If it violates one, then it is a sin.
Sorry for the wall of text, but this is the first time i've seen someone refer to Leviticus in such a selective manner, that the word Toevah can just magically refer to an eternal mortal sin in the absence of God saying "it is an abomination to you" perplexes me. Thoughts?