Ad Majorem Dei Gloriam

structurez:

tyleroakley:

nextyearsgirl:

The laws in the Old Testament were set forth by God as the rules the Hebrews needed to follow in order to be righteous, to atone for the sin of Adam and Eve and to be able to get into Heaven. That is also why they were required to make sacrifices, because it was part of the appeasement for Original Sin.

According to Christian theology, when Jesus came from Heaven, it was for the express purpose of sacrificing himself on the cross so that our sins may be forgiven. His sacrifice was supposed to be the ultimate act that would free us from the former laws and regulations and allow us to enter Heaven by acting in his image. That is why he said “it is finished” when he died on the cross. That is why Christians don’t have to circumcise their sons (God’s covenant with Jacob), that is why they don’t have to perform animal sacrifice, or grow out their forelocks, or follow any of the other laws of Leviticus.

When you quote Leviticus as God’s law and say they are rules we must follow because they are what God or Jesus wants us to do, what you are really saying, as a Christian, is that Christ’s sacrifice on the cross was invalid. He died in vain because you believe we are still beholden to the old laws. That is what you, a self-professed good Christian, are saying to your God and his son, that their plan for your salvation wasn’t good enough for you.

So maybe actually read the thing before you start quoting it, because the implications of your actions go a lot deeper than you think.

-An atheist who understands Christian theology better than Bible-thumpers do.

Good try.

The laws in the Old Testament were set forth by God as the rules the Hebrews needed to follow in order to be righteous, to atone for the sin of Adam and Eve and to be able to get into Heaven.

There was no belief in heaven back then. The belief was that all the dead would go into Sheol, the hell in which Christians proclaim when we say, “Jesus descended into hell.” It is not the hell of the damned, but the place of the dead.

That is also why they were required to make sacrifices, because it was part of the appeasement for Original Sin.

The sacrifices they had to make were because of their worship to other pagan gods. Example, sacrificing bulls because they worshipped the Egyptian god, Hathor. These sacrifices were to show them that these things they worshipped were not the true God.

His sacrifice was supposed to be the ultimate act that would free us from the former laws and regulations and allow us to enter Heaven by acting in his image.

False. “Think not that I have come to abolish the law and the prophets; I have come not to abolish them but to fulfill them. For truly, I say to you, till heaven and earth pass away, not an iota, not a dot, will pass from the law until all is accomplished. Whoever then relaxes one of the least of these commandments and teaches men so, shall be called least in the kingdom of heaven; but he who does them and teaches them shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven” (Matthew 5:17-19).

That is why he said “it is finished” when he died on the cross.

First off, redemption is not finished on the cross. It is through the defeat of death, the defeat of satan, that there is the possibility of it. “It will be reckoned to us who believe in him that raised from the dead Jesus our Lord, who was put to death for our trespasses and raised for our justification” (Romans 4:24-25).

The “it” being referred to, is the Passover sacrifice. Jesus Christ is the firstborn son, the sacrifice for sinners (refer to Exodus 12). The Egyptians had to unwillingly sacrifice their firstborn sons to atone for their sins, Christ sacrificed Himself willingly - a true sacrifice of love. Recall that the sacrifice of the Israelites in Exodus, was a lamb. The sacrifice continued to be lamb for the Passover each year. “Behold the Lamb of God, who takes away the sins of the world!” as John the Baptist says in John 1:29. Christ is the unblemished lamb that is called for sacrifice of Passover. “For Christ, our Paschal Lamb, has been sacrificed. Let us, therefore, celebrate the festival…” (1 Corinthians 5:7-8).

That is why Christians don’t have to circumcise their sons (God’s covenant with Jacob), that is why they don’t have to perform animal sacrifice, or grow out their forelocks, or follow any of the other laws of Leviticus.

Read Acts 15. If you’re too lazy, the early Christians were arguing whether or not gentile converts should be circumcised. In the end, the apostles chose that it not be necessary, as circumcision could drive away the gentiles from converting. Close, but no cigar. The covenant through circumcision was through Abraham (Genesis 17). Jesus is the final sacrifice necessary, refer to Hebrews 10:1-10. “And by that will we have been sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all” (Heb 10:10). Again, refer to Matthew 5:17-19. Christ fulfilled the laws, not abolished. Also, in regards to the laws of Leviticus, not all laws were given by God, but by man so that man can stay righteous before God.

When you quote Leviticus as God’s law and say they are rules we must follow because they are what God or Jesus wants us to do, what you are really saying, as a Christian, is thatChrist’s sacrifice on the cross was invalid. He died in vain because you believe we are still beholden to the old laws. That is what you, a self-professed good Christian, are saying to your God and his son, that their plan for your salvation wasn’t good enough for you.

Stop poisoning the well, and telling Christians what they believe. What this is, is called a fallacy. Two in fact. One, poisoning the well - which means discrediting what someone says prior to it being said, and thus causing others to think in the light of what was discredited. Second, genetic fallacy - which means that the argument is telling someone what they believe. Read all of the above to see why Christ’s sacrifice was not in vain. Quick reference, ”And by that will we have been sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all” (Hebrews 10:10).

So maybe actually read the thing before you start quoting it, because the implications of your actions go a lot deeper than you think.

So, it is pretty clear that I do understand scripture. Again, stop poisoning the well. Don’t try to think you know what Christians believe, because as proven, you do not. Perhaps, actually learn the true teachings of the Church before you try to “represent” them.

Now, to answer Colbert. Jesus, God the Son, may or may not have said something explicitly about homosexuality. This does not mean the Triune God did not establish a natural order. “Therefore a man leaves his father and his mother and cleaves to his wife, and they become one flesh” (Genesis 2:24). It is clear that it is man and woman, not man and man or woman and woman.

I want to make it clear. I am in no means a homophobic. Also, I am definitely not judging anyone on their actions, because I’m probably a bigger sinner than anyone, and it is not my place to tell someone whether they are righteous or evil. That is rightly attributed to God, and only God. I do not know what is in the heart of people. I am a firm believer that homosexuals can go to heaven.

The number of men and women who have deep-seated homosexual tendencies is not negligible. This inclination, which is objectivelty disordered, contitutes for most of them a trial. They must be accepted with respect, compassion, and sensitivity. Every sign of unjust discrimination in their regard should be avoided. These persons are called to fulfill God’s will in their lives and, if they are Christians, to unite to the sacrifice of the Lord’s Cross the difficulties they may encounter from their condition. Homosexual persons are called to chastity. By the virtues of self-mastery that teach them inner freedom, at times by the support of disinterested friendship, by prayer, and sacramental grace, they can and should gradually and resolutely approach Christian perfection. (Catechism of the Catholic Church 2358-2359)

We are called to love ALL. “A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; even as I have loved you, that you also love one another. By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another” (John 13:34-35). The people with signs, yelling “gays are going to hell!” or whatever it is that they say are wrong. They are so wrong. They are in extreme violation of Jesus’ direct words. Like Jesus says, like the Church teaches, we are to love EVERYONE with no restrictions. So please do not associate all Christians with those who teach such hate.