[Granville-Hough] 24 Nov 2009 = Thought provoking questions for Dr Laura

[Trustees for Granville W. Hough]

Date: Tue, 24 Nov 2009 08:15:49 -0800
From: Granville W Hough <gwhough at oakapple.net>
Subject: Thought provoking questions for Dr Laura - 24 Nov 2009

For a later view on the subjects discussed below, see

Matthew 22:34-40
36 Master, which is the great
commandment in the law?
37 Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt
love the Lord thy God with all thy
heart, and with all thy soul, and with
all thy mind. 38 This is the first and
great commandment. 39 And the
second is like unto it, Thou shalt love
thy neighbour as thyself. 40 On
these two commandments hang all
the law and the prophets.

1 Cor 10:23
All things are lawful for me, but all things are not expedient:
all things are lawful for me, but all things edify not.

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Received in email:

Laura Schlesinger is a US radio personality, who dispenses advice to people
who call in to her radio show. On her radio show recently, she said that, as
an observant Orthodox Jew, homosexuality is an abomination, according to
Leviticus 18:22, and cannot be condoned under any circumstance.
The following response is an open letter to Dr. Laura, penned by a US
resident, which was posted on the Internet. It's interesting, as well as
thought-provoking.

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Dear Dr. Laura:
Thank you for doing so much to educate people regarding God's Law. I
have learned a great deal from your show, 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 purchased 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?
2. I would like to sell my 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?
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.
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?
5. I have a neighbor who insists on working on the Sabbath. 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?
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?
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?
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?
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?
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; as 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 am confident you can help.
Thank you again for reminding us that God's word is eternal and unchanging.

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	If we were to think of Jesus as a Supreme Court Justice, what kind of
ruling was he making when he pronounced the two greatest laws.  Was he
setting aside ALL the laws dealing with Leviticus curses and
abominations, or was he merely taking case by case, as with
circumcision and dietary laws.  It seems this is a great debate of our
time, but not worthy of much time from our Christian mission.  Grampa.