DAY 304
CHALLENGE
“The book of Leviticus condemns homosexuality (Lev. 18:22), but it also condemns eating shrimp since they don’t have fins and scales (cf. Lev. 11:9–12). If we aren’t obliged to follow it when it comes to the latter, why should we follow it when it comes to the former?”
DEFENSE
Homosexuality is contrary to human nature; shrimp-eating is not.
The Law of Moses (Gen.-Deut.) contains a variety of types of laws. Some, such as the prohibitions on murder, are based directly on human nature and apply to all cultures in all of history.
Other laws, such as the observance of the Sabbath, were related to human nature in a less direct way and applied specifically to the people of Israel. For example, although all humans have a need to devote adequate time to rest and worship, there is nothing about human nature that demands this be done on Saturday in particular. God therefore chose Saturday as the day of rest and worship for Israel, though the underlying principles could be fulfilled another way, as with the Christian observance of Sunday.
This is similar to the way some countries today have motorists drive on the left side of the road and others have them drive on the right side of the road. It doesn’t matter which choice a country makes as long as it makes a choice, so motorists don’t drive in an unsafe manner.
It is widely recognized that the dietary laws found in the Old Testament were of the second category. They were not based directly on human nature the way the prohibition on murder was. Instead, they were given specifically to regulate the common life of Israel.
They had a role in establishing and reinforcing Jewish culture and helping keep Israelites distinct from their pagan neighbors, but they did not apply to other nations nor do they apply to Christians today (Mark 7:19, Acts 10:9–16, Col. 2:16–17).
The prohibitions on homosexuality, however, are directly related to human nature. Even a consideration of the anatomy involved, as well as the ability to conceive new human beings, indicates that men and women are designed to go together. Consequently, the prohibition on homosexual behavior is a moral requirement applicable to all cultures, not just Israel (Rom. 1:26–27).