Letter to Franklin Graham

[Storm]

Someone who is a member of a Facebook group I am a part of posted this letter he wrote. Its a good one and I felt that it was worth sharing.

 

Quote

 

"Dear Dr. Franklin Graham,

Thank you for doing so much to educate people regarding God's Law. I have learned a great deal from you and your father through the years and 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 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? They’re hard workers.

2. I’m thinking about selling my young 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? She rarely complains about doing chores.

3. 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. Is there a godly way to ask?

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 when they complain?

5. I have a neighbor who insists on working on the Sabbath. But 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? Do I have to choose between god and the law?

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? Maybe there’s a point system, huh?

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? Are contacts OK?

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? Do you think a flat top or a Mohawk might be OK?

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? Also, I work next to a BBQ joint and the odor of cooked pork circulates through my building. Am I breaking the “no contact with swine rule” rule?

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'm confident you can help. I’ve heard you preach from Leviticus but never heard you mention any of these rules.

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

Your adoring fan.

R. Douglas

PS (It would be a damn shame if we couldn't own a Canadian)"

 

The whole Old Testament vs. New Testament thing is what ultimately led me to leaving Christianity. A few points that really made me start the whole deconversion process was the whole how can you simply choose which OT laws applied to you and which ones don't? Is there an objective way to make these type of decisions? I couldn't find one. I was so blind to this as a Christian, but now that I am out, I see it so very clearly.

 

Add to that, the fact that Judaism and Christianity are completely different religions and there really isn't any way (in my mind) that Christianity is a "completion" of Judaism (as I was often taught by the church).

 

It all falls apart the more you look at it, and the more you look at it, the more absurd it gets.

 

[mymistake]

I'm sure Graham will ignore it.  Christians are amazing at hypocrisy.  While it is cool that somebody adopted this for Graham (who really deserves it) this based on a TV episode of West Wing.  Martin Sheen gave it a great delivery.

 

 

Edit:

Found a clip from the related episode:

 

[1989]

I can't find where exactly, but I remember reading that Paul said that the Law was probably too complicated for the Gentile, so they were kind of given a pass, as long as they were taught to not engage in sexual immorality.  I read other people's thoughts on the matter, and they say things like the Mosaic Law was for the Jews only and such, but really it's because Paul thinks we're too stupid to get it.

[1989]

Of course, it now occurs to me that Christianity is pretty much a bunch of Jews saying that Judaism is too hard and complicated, so they made up Jesus instead.

[Joshpantera]

20 hours ago, 1989 said:

Of course, it now occurs to me that Christianity is pretty much a bunch of Jews saying that Judaism is too hard and complicated, so they made up Jesus instead.

 

Jews-us.....