Mark of the priest?

McManus_brothers: Yeah but that's Old Testament. Doesn't apply to Christians.

yep that's why they openly support gays!

I'm surprised this isn't in Concord, NC or Martinsville, VA
And the Lord said, "Tattoo the #3 on your arm. Do this in remembrance of my son, Dale"

I just found my new church!

I see .... trolls!

It sounds like a natural progression of the 12-step program.
You wind up with a bunch of ex-addicts who leveraged faith and fellowship to improve their life but aren't exactly welcomed by the Cleavers at Sunday service.

Their church doesn't sound like my kinda scene, but good for them.

If anyone looks hypocritical in this situation, it's the other churches in the area.
If they practiced the love and compassion they preached, these people wouldn't be and feel so alienated that they needed to create their own place of worship.

"Don't let it be Unitarian...." "That's a relief"

But that stuff is the stuff that modern "Christians" say doesn't apply... just like Matthew 6:5-6. But then the parts of Leviticus dealing with homosexuality DO apply, just 'cause well, they think it should and isn't it neat to pick and choose what parts of the "manual" you want to follow?

McManus_brothers:
/Protip, fellow Christians - let's focus more on Jesus and his teachings, less on Leviticus.

*DING* *DING* *DING*

We have a winner. Stick to the parts printed in red and focus less on what was in the Old Testament and what Paul wrote.

We'd be better representatives for Him if we all did that.

mcsestretch: McManus_brothers:
/Protip, fellow Christians - let's focus more on Jesus and his teachings, less on Leviticus.

*DING* *DING* *DING*

We have a winner. Stick to the parts printed in red and focus less on what was in the Old Testament and what Paul wrote.

We'd be better representatives for Him if we all did that.

Yeah. Paul was a dick.

I'm glad that they found something, but it does make me wince a little when they kind of equate the church with the last kid in gym class.

First comes the tattoo parlor, then come the slot machines and bars! Because God wants you to be happy! So sayeth the Reverend Foster!

\Obscure?
\\I hope not. Love that book.

Diogenes: McManus_brothers: Yeah but that's Old Testament. Doesn't apply to Christians.

So are Sodom and Gomorrah, and Leviticus. Doesn't stop Christians from picking and choosing which covenants apply.

You'd rather that Christians started stoning gays? That's what Leviticus requires.

Leviticus hates most things that are awesome. Like my linen-cotton blend shirts, even though they're super comfy in the summer.

The canned evangelical response is that Paul (not Jesus) waives all of the laws stated in the Torah with the exception of the 10 Commandments, because the laws in the Torah are obsessed with bodily purity and the sacrificial cult, and what is important to Christ is spiritual purity.

Except for laws about sexually immoral practices, which for unexplained reasons are still perfectly valid even while laws about food and clothing and circumcision are not.

potterydove: You'd rather that Christians started stoning gays? That's what Leviticus requires.

The Jews, who actually do (among the religious) consider those laws to be binding, don't stone gays either. They've found all sorts of procedural reasons and technicalities which prevent the circumstances under which a person can be properly adjudicated in a Jewish religious criminal tribunal as violating laws in the Torah which require the death penalty.

Leviticus only has a problem with this if you are an orthodox Jew.

internet to subby for the chutzpah

Hankie Fest: As has been said -- this is Old Testament -- i.e. old Jewish law.
Jesus came and replaced that. Woo!

I echo the above commenter -- hey Christians, let's focus on what Jesus taught, eh?

Jesus didn't replace the law of the old testament, He fulfilled it. Thus the law of sacrifice is no longer need to be observed. We still need to read the rest. God doesn't change so neither does His stance on sin. Yes Jesus taught forgiveness and compassion and no one should have to seek else where to worship Him.

lack of warmth: Jesus didn't replace the law of the old testament, He fulfilled it. Thus the law of sacrifice is no longer need to be observed.

First off, what does that *mean*? The covenant with the Jewish people wasn't/isn't a checklist of finite things which you do and then you're done. It's not a sales contract for widgets. It didn't say "Sacrifice 500 goats, 200 unblemished calves and 1000 doves and then we're all good." So why would Jesus's actions "fulfill" the "law" so that we don't follow it any more? That's just a Christian phrase tossed about without regard for what it means.

And why do you think kosher rules and tattoos and circumcision are "the law of sacrifice," while marriage and sex rules aren't (and therefore must still be obeyed)?

We still need to read the rest. God doesn't change so neither does His stance on sin.

But you just said that God changed the rules on sacrifice. Which is it?

Yes Jesus taught forgiveness and compassion and no one should have to seek else where to worship Him.

So sexually active gays and lesbians are cool with you, right?

See, this is one of the things that people distrust about Christianity. You've just rattled off a string of pre-packaged religious platitudes without any effort to explain what they mean. Like your mind has shut off.

The law of sacrifice is fulfilled by His sacrifice of His own life, so we don't have to drag animals off to be slain for acts of sin, including homosexual acts. God never changed. What most people don't know that was removed from the Bible when first translated into english is that even Adam was baptized. Noah and Moses were also baptized. The jews forgot that. Jesus didn't change a thing He finished what the prophets said would happen in the old testament. Jesus was quoted as being more against divorce and cheating. He stated that a man cheats by looking at woman and lust in his heart. Why some people decide to call themselves Christian and don't live by ALL the teachings of Christ really causes problems within themselves and with those that are looking in from the outside. Hypocrites sicken me more than a foul mouth drunk or the guy who laughs at me thinking that he can hurt my feelings. "Christianity" has a lot of bad examples running around posing as part of His Church. They will face Him when the time comes.

lack of warmth: What most people don't know that was removed from the Bible when first translated into english is that even Adam was baptized. Noah and Moses were also baptized. The jews forgot that.

Yeah, OK. Have fun in crazy land.