Strange Laws That Exempt Christians

The laws that appear in the Bible's Old Testament are strange to modern readers. They include rules about clothing, food, and punishment. For example, in Leviticus, it says that people shouldn't wear fabric made from two types of fibre, and in Deuteronomy, it says that women who are menstruating are unclean and that people shouldn't sit on anything they've sat on. These laws were given to the nation of Israel, not to Christians, and when Jesus died on the cross, he put an end to the Old Testament law.

Don't eat animals with split hooves

The laws outlined in the Old Testament were given to the nation of Israel, not to Christians. When Jesus died on the cross, he put an end to the Old Testament law. However, Christians can still use the Old Testament law as a guidepost for knowing how to love God and their neighbours.

One of the strange-sounding laws in the Old Testament is "Don't eat animals with split hooves". This law is found in Leviticus 11:4–7. At the time, the Israelites had recently left Egypt, where they had been held as slaves for four hundred years. The Egyptians believed in many gods and had specific cultural and religious practices, including mixing two unlike elements together when they desired more crops or children. The god Baal, for example, was worshipped in many ancient Near Eastern communities as the main god of fertility.

The Israelites' new land was Canaan, where the people also served many gods. God wanted to remind the Israelites that he was the one true God and that they didn't need to mix things like animals, seeds, or fabrics to gain his favour. Mixing these things would have made the Israelites look like the Canaanites.

Today, this law is no longer followed by Christians, as it is understood that the New Testament demonstrates that Jesus came to fulfil the law, not abolish it. In Romans 6:14, the apostle Paul tells Gentiles (non-Jewish people) that they "no longer live under the requirements of the law. Instead, you live under the freedom of God’s grace".

Don't mate two different kinds of animals

The Old Testament law, which includes the Mosaic Law or the law given to Moses, is not binding on Christians today. This is because, when Jesus died on the cross, he put an end to the Old Testament law.

However, Christians can still use the Old Testament law as a guidepost for knowing how to love God and their neighbours. For instance, the Mosaic Law states, "Don't mate two different kinds of animals" (Leviticus 19:19). While Christians are not bound by this law, they can interpret it as a metaphor for not being "conformed to the world".

The Mosaic Law also states, "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" (Leviticus 19:19). This could be interpreted literally, but it is more likely that these laws were given to Moses for specific reasons at a specific time. For example, co-planting certain plants together could lead to one crop being ruined. Similarly, wearing certain fabrics may have been associated with vanity or assimilation with pagan values.

Therefore, while Christians are not bound by the Old Testament law, they can still interpret and learn from it in a way that is relevant to their lives today.

Don't wear clothing made from two different types of fabric

The Mosaic Law, as outlined in Leviticus 19:19 and Deuteronomy 22:9–11, prohibits the wearing of clothing made from two different types of fabric. Specifically, the Bible forbids wearing "clothing woven of two kinds of material", and wearing clothes of "wool and linen woven together".

However, it is important to note that this rule was not a moral law, and there is no inherent wrong in mixing fabrics. In fact, the ephod of the high priest, a sacred garment, was made of linen and dyed wool (Exodus 28:6–8; 39:4–5). The prohibition seems to have been intended to distinguish the high priest from the rest of the Israelites, reminding them of God's holiness.

Additionally, the rule may have served to prevent the Israelites from adopting the practices of the pagan nations surrounding them. While the ancient Israelites would have understood the purpose of this rule, it does not apply to Christians today. As outlined in the New Testament, Christians are under the law of Christ, which is to "love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind... and to love your neighbour as yourself" (Matthew 22:37-39).

Therefore, while the Old Testament laws may provide guidance on how to love God and others, they are not binding on Christians. Wearing clothing made from two different types of fabric will not separate one from God's love.

Don't sit where a menstruating woman has sat

Leviticus 15:24 states the laws concerning a woman's period, and how anyone who touches a menstruating woman or what she sat or lay on will be considered impure until sunset. This is further supported by Leviticus 15:19, 20, 24, and 33, which use the Hebrew term "niddatah" to refer to menstruation. The root of this word, "ndh", means "separation" or "to make distant", and it is connected to the root "ndd", meaning "impurity".

The laws of niddah, or female purity, are based on a harmonistic reading of Leviticus 12, 15, 18, and 20. During a woman's period, any ritual objects she touches become impure, and those she comes into contact with also become impure. This includes touching a menstruating woman or what she sat or lay on, which was considered impure until sunset.

The rabbinic period transformed the biblical practices and created new normative Judaism. One of the rabbinic innovations was the evolution of niddah into zivah, which included retroactive and internal impurity, virginal blood, blood of desire, blood of purification after childbirth, and giving birth as a zava.

In modern practices, different movements within Judaism take varying approaches to the laws of niddah. While some groups may no longer follow these laws, others still adhere to them strictly.

The negative associations with menstruation are well-known and can be found in many societies, religions, and parts of the world. Women may be prohibited from sexual intercourse, banned from places of worship, or segregated in special huts during their periods. However, it is important to note that there are exceptions, and some cultures treat menstruating women with respect.

For example, the Yurok tribe from the northwest coast of the United States had a group of aristocratic women who saw their periods as a time for purification and spiritual experience. They performed a series of rituals during their shared menstrual cycle. Similarly, the Rungus women from Borneo view their periods as just a bodily fluid that needs to be evacuated, without any negative connotations.

In some parts of Ghana, West Africa, young girls are celebrated like queens when they begin menstruating. They are given gifts and paid homage by their families, marking the occasion as a special and positive event.

While there are negative connotations and restrictions associated with menstruation in many cultures, it is important to recognize that there are also societies that view it as a natural bodily function and treat menstruating women with respect.

Don't eat a cheeseburger or mix meat and dairy

Christians are not bound by the Old Testament law, which was given to the nation of Israel. However, some Christians may choose to follow certain Old Testament laws, such as dietary restrictions, for varying reasons, including aligning with Jewish customs.

The Old Testament contains various dietary restrictions, including the prohibition of consuming blood and the mixing of dairy and meat products. The consumption of blood is mentioned in Leviticus 17:10-12, and the prohibition is reiterated in Acts 15, where it is decreed that Gentile Christians should abstain from blood. This is because the early Jewish believers in Jesus considered themselves a microcosm of end-time, restored Israel, and Gentile believers were seen as the nations making the end-time pilgrimage to Jerusalem.

The separation of meat and dairy is outlined in the Torah and is considered one of the key principles of Judaism, representing the distinction between life (milk) and death (meat). The Torah states, "You shall not boil a kid in its mother's milk" (Exodus 23:19, 34:26, and Deuteronomy 14:21). This prohibition is interpreted in several ways, including the symbolic separation of life and death, and the separation of animals authorized for consumption from those that are forbidden.

While Christians are not required to follow these Old Testament dietary laws, some may choose to abstain from consuming blood or mixing meat and dairy for theological or personal reasons. Ultimately, diet is an individual choice, and Christians have the freedom to consume or abstain from certain foods according to their conscience and beliefs.

Frequently asked questions