Vampires and Englishmen

Hey just quickly something that came out of yesterdays message. Where are we at in regards to drinking blood? I'm sure it is on everyone's mind just wanting to get out and have some blood pudding or blood sausage or if you happen to be of the vampire persuasion blood anything. Anyway, CH17 says no no to eating blood Leviticus 17:10-12 .But we know Jesus fulfils the Law and as a result many of the non ecclesiastical laws are set to the side under the new covenant. However, under the new covenant we still see the command given to the gentiles to not eat blood Acts 15:19-20 as well Noah pre-law was required to not eat blood Genesis 9:1-7 . Does this dampen our appetites? Are we still required to refrain from eating it? To hit closer to home, what about the blue rare stake? Or is the eating of blood of a hygienic Law in which passes as we develop safer food practices? I'm interested to know some of your thoughts.

Always writing about food

If you were to look over the next couple chapter in Leviticus you probably won’t see a lot of common themes. Much of it seems to have randomness to it. Nick (Symbiosis) said this past week that in fact some of the Law was arbitrary, not necessarily in a sense that God says it so you do it, but that in total it speaks to God being present in every aspect. Everywhere you would turn you would be remind that you are part of a covenant people and that God cares about every aspect of our lives, down to the most random and mundane. We need to also point out that part of the “you are covenant people” is that you are a people who are different. The “Cultic” theory (Gods laws are meant to contrast other religious practices of neighboring pagan nations) seems to have some weight in theses chapters. Both ch17 and 19 mention other religious practices and 18 explicitly says, “You shall not do as they do in the land of Egypt, where you lived, and you shall not do as they do in the land of Canaan, to which I am bringing you. You shall not follow their statutes.” (18:3) and then continues to instruct about sexual practices to be avoided. So again we see a contrast of practices against many pagan nations.
Ch 17 seems to focus on sacrifices and food. Much of the chapter seems to be a restriction on killing animals so that there isn’t a chance of people sacrificing to other gods. Whether or not the restriction of drinking the blood of the animal was attributed to a Canaanite or Egyptian sacrificial rituals, we don’t know, but it obviously was something that people participated in.
We also see some instruction given to the alien living with them. This again reinforces the "you shall be separate" to the point that those who wish to reside within the Hebrew community must not keep there own practices, rather they’re to adopt it’s the Hebrew culture. (interesting how only past cultures wrestle with that, never enlightened cultures of today… Europe). So where are we at in regards to participating in other religious activities? Do we stop with Easter and Christmas because it was a pagan celebration that has been refocused and redeemed with a Christian narrative? How about eating delicious ginger beef? Under the watchful eye of Buddha or how about Malcolm’s favorite curry, unfortunately I have to be forced to carry the burden of meeting up with him (even this week) oh the pains of a pastor. A couple scripture passages you might wrestle with in figuring it out. (Jdg2:1, 1Kg16:29, Matt 6:24, Lk 16:13, 1Cor 10:20-22, Acts 15:29)

Waking up from the MSG

Ok, Ok, I know it has been a while. The craziness of December followed by the hibernation caused by over eating, I am now just jumping back into things. We are also jumping right back into Lev or as most of you know it "the most exciting book of the Bible." Last week we were talking about food and a clean or unclean diet. It was also a chance to see God establishing a people set apart on all fronts, including food. This week we will be covering a couple chapter together 13-15. I know that is a lot, but really we see them following a lot of the same pattern. We see a hygienic emphasis and a commitment to healthcare in all of the Chapters so we will be talking about the mud and the blood and the beer. Ok well not the beer. What do you do if being part of Gods people meant being part of the community, yet you get sick or contagious? Do spread the love, or do you step out for the sake of the community? Again why does God make a deal about childbirth or even sex when he commands it (Gen) and encourages we delight in it (SS)? Some of the interesting things we get to wade through this weekend. Lets get ready for the fun!!