July 24, 2009

Texts:
Leviticus 21 and 22
Romans 11

Leviticus:
This chapter should serve as a reminder that even though Leviticus is Scripture, it reflects cultural norms of the time it was written, and its understandings of people who are physically disabled should NOT be supported today.
The ancient understanding of holiness, and the sense that only "perfect" people could approach the altar as priests is different than we understand it to be today.

Romans:
Paul has been used throughout history to justify anti-semitism. And, if you don't follow his argument carefully, you could see how that could happen.
But Paul's argument is really saying that we should all have humility in our relationship with God. That we should not think more highly of ourselves or less highly of others. That the Law is the root to which we have been grafted into the family of God.