The problem with Leviticus

The problem with Leviticus

EDITOR:

I was deeply disturbed to read the June 14 letter from a Boardman resident who claimed that “the Bible ... clearly defines [the gay] lifestyle as deviant.” I have news for this woman: being a Christian does not mean you can’t support equal rights for others.

If you think that being gay is Biblically wrong, then you better not wear cotton-poly blend: after all, Leviticus says that wearing a garment made from two different fabrics is a sin. So is eating shellfish, sacrificing the wrong kind of pigeon, and working on Sunday. Are you willing to follow these Biblical commands? No? Then hush up, and remember that even St. Paul said that “love is the fulfillment of the law.” (Rom. 13:10)

My husband is currently attending seminary to become an Episcopal priest, and as a lifelong Christian, I am annoyed that this woman would take it upon herself to try and speak for Christianity as a whole. Jesus said, “Love the Lord God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is: Love your neighbor as yourself. All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.” (Matt. 2:37-40) If Jesus really cared about the gender of the people you love, don’t you think he would have mentioned it?

The letter writer spoke of a “vast majority” who believe that being gay is wrong. Really? Perhaps she didn’t know that 46 percent of American adults feel that gay people should be permitted to marry; 54 percent believe that civil unions should occur. Seven out of 10 adults believe that gays should be permitted to serve in the military.

Instead of worrying about other people’s sex lives, maybe we Christians ought to educate ourselves about the issues.

PHILOSOPHY WALKER

Youngstown