perhaps a little contentious.

Now I'm not condoning anything (because honestly, who am I to say what is right or wrong?), but I read this today and found it so thought provoking that I had to share it. Also, we talked about not judging others at utenited tonight and it just seemed to fit. This is an excerpt from Garry Wills' What Jesus Meant:

"Thank you for doing so much to educate people regarding God's law. I have learned a great deal from you, 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 to 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. Leviticus 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 Leviticus 19:27. How should they die?

9. I know from Leviticus 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 Leviticus 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 am confident you can help. Thank you again for reminding us that God's word is eternal and unchanging."

So... a little story I have to go with that.

One night while in India, a man (called father from what I heard) that had worked with Mother Teresa's Missionaries of Charity for a long, long time came to our hostel to talk. He gathered together several volunteers that were staying and got us into a circle on the roof. He answered many of our questions about Mother Teresa, but it seemed he had a different plan the entire time... The conversation quickly turned controversial as he started discussing whether certain things were right or wrong.

He specifically started attacking homosexuality, calling it an evil addiction and saying that it is impossible for a man to love another man. One of our friends and fellow volunteers at the hostel was a homosexual man, and he (understandably) got very worked up and upset by all this man was saying. He stormed away.

Later that night, I approached him about all that had happened that night. I apologized to him for things the man had said. I started talking to him about how much God loves everybody, and how no sin is worse than the next, just as no person is worse than the next. That man and Mother Teresa and me are all just as unworthy of God's love and mercy as this homosexual friend of mine.

The moral of the story is that neither I or the father had any business judging this friend, or determining whether what he is doing was right or wrong. Our job is to love, love, love him as God loves him. I got way further with him that night by sharing God's love, mercy, and grace than by judging him and ridiculing an aspect of his life.

And there it is.