Jon Webb

Anonymous asked: Can you please explain why we don't obey the following verses? : (Leviticus 11:7 ) (Leviticus 11:9-12) (Leviticus 20:18) (Leviticus 25:44-45) (Leviticus 19:19) Sorry, I can't quote them all because there's a character limit on the ask box :P

I created a quick video response for you and everyone else with this question.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hNACVu4hsBU

And the pig, because it parts the hoof and is cloven-footed but does not chew the cud, is unclean to you. (Lev 11:7)

These you may eat, of all that are in the waters. Everything in the waters that has fins and scales, whether in the seas or in the rivers, you may eat. But anything in the seas or the rivers that does not have fins and scales, of the swarming creatures in the waters and of the living creatures that are in the waters, is detestable to you. You shall regard them as detestable; you shall not eat any of their flesh, and you shall detest their carcasses. Everything in the waters that does not have fins and scales is detestable to you. (Lev 11:9-12)

If a man lies with a woman during her menstrual period and uncovers her nakedness, he has made naked her fountain, and she has uncovered the fountain of her blood. Both of them shall be cut off from among their people. (Lev 20:18)

As for your male and female slaves whom you may have: you may buy male and female slaves from among the nations that are around you. You may also buy from among the strangers who sojourn with you and their clans that are with you, who have been born in your land, and they may be your property. (Lev 25:44-45)

You shall keep my statutes. You shall not let your cattle breed with a different kind. You shall not sow your field with two kinds of seed, nor shall you wear a garment of cloth made of two kinds of material. (Lev 19:19)

Because New Testament Christians are free from the law. I really can’t say it enough times! The Old Testament laws were God’s standards for the Israelites. We have a New Covenant, so we don’t have to obey them any more! 

Anonymous asked: One concept I can't grasp is that we all supposedly have a choice to follow God or not, and if not, you go to hell for denying him. But as much as I would like to believe that there is God that loves me, a purpose for my life and an afterlife where I will live for eternity with all of my loved ones, I can't bring myself to believe it. I didn't wake up one morning and decide to be atheist, it's just the way I think. It sounds like the whole concept is flawed, that I would go to hell by default.

Is God unjust for sending people to hell?

In Christian philosophy, He is not. The idea of a just God who has no choice but to punish sin is not hard to understand in itself, but it is difficult to accept.

If there is a just God, a ruler of the universe, He cannot let those who break His law get away scot-free. To do so would cause God to stop being God, because He would no longer be perfectly just. God is also merciful, so while he cannot deny His own nature and accept sinners into His presence, He did find a way to allow a creation in rebellion to be reconciled with Him.

Selfish? Perhaps to the human mind. But realize this: Jesus was God Himself. God did not send an angel or a man to appease His righteous wrath. He sent Himself. God Himself died. He died for you. He died because He wants you to be reunited with Him. He took the punishment. He paid the price.

So yes, man by default is on the way to Hell. Blame this on whomever you want, but do not blame it on God. Mankind as a whole is in rebellion against Him, and you as an individual are as well. God has gone to great lengths to save you. You are to blame, not God. It is you that are flawed, mankind that is flawed, not God’s righteousness.

Hard to accept, yes, because it requires us to confess that we are wrong and accept a gift we don’t want to admit we need.

Humbling yourself to that point is something God will have to do in your life.