Subtitle: Be Holy
A user replied to one of my "REPENT" replies:
"The Bible also says that women aren't allowed to speak in church. (1 Tim 2:12). Also that people with disabilities should not approach God. (Lev 21:16-21). To also take your disobedient children and let the neighbors stone them to death. (Dt 21:18-21)" - 2023/06/02
I'm finally getting around to responding (and not reacting). One of the "concerns" of the respondent was being told "go to church and find out"; but, I think that would be a careless response (and I don't think I would ever suggest that).
Bible Gateway LSB translation of 1 Tim 2:12, Lev 21:16-21, Dt 21:18-21
Let's look at these in order of textual presentation (how they are ordered in the Bible). Also, let's look at the context, otherwise we could easily have a "sect" of "Christians" literally crying all the time because of a single verse like John 11:35 "Jesus wept."
Leviticus 21:16-21 (LSB)
16 Then Yahweh spoke to Moses, saying, 17 “Speak to Aaron, saying, ‘No man of your seed throughout their generations who has a defect shall come near to offer the food of his God. 18 For no one who has a defect shall come near: a blind man or a lame man or he who has a disfigured face or any deformed limb, 19 or a man who has a broken foot or broken hand, 20 or a hunchback or a dwarf, or one who has a defect in his eye or eczema or scabs or crushed testicles. 21 No man among the seed of Aaron the priest who has a defect shall approach to bring near the offerings to Yahweh by fire; since he has a defect, he shall not approach to bring near the food of his God.
The full chapter is linked to biblehub.com and it's helpful to read commentaries or at least information about a specific "book" in the Bible. There are many commentaries; but, for the sake of "post size", I'll only reference the "first" in the list from this site (Ellicott's) and do the same for the next two referenced passages.
The commentator mentions that this book is God's instruction for His elected people (Israel) and how they are to conduct themselves in their interaction with Him as well as with each other, specific worship activities and duties, as well as with the environment (land). According to the Bible (from the beginning and to the Revelation), God is perfect and Holy. He calls (directs/instructs) His chosen people to be "holy" and "set apart" (unique and not like) from the rest of the world. Chapter 21 is directed toward the "specific priests", requirements, qualifications, strict duties, etc. Only a specific "lineage" (Aaron's seed) was allowed to serve as priests, and within that lineage, only specific men who could meet the restricted requirements could serve. If we look at Exodus (19), God commanded Moses that nobody, not even an animal, could come up or touch the border of the mountain (Sinai) where He (God) was "resting upon". The Bible teaches that God's holiness is pure, true, and so great that that anything or anyone less than His holiness could not be in His presence nor near Him, unless He allowed. God tells Moses to create a border so that none of the people or the livestock would come near and die. He laid out "perimeters" (boundaries and regulations) for the safety of His people. If we read Lev 19, noting verses 2-4, we can see God's call for them to "be holy" for He is holy. Again, the entire chapter of 21 is specific to the priests that are supposed to carry out the special and specific duties for worship. So, you have a specific people chosen by God called to be "set apart" from the rest of the world, and within that people, a specific "lineage" called to be set apart from the group, and within that lineage, a specific "office" to be held by certain qualified individuals.
Deuteronomy 21:18-21 (LSB)
18 “If any man has a stubborn and rebellious son who will not obey his father or his mother, and when they discipline him, he will not even listen to them, 19 then his father and mother shall seize him and bring him out to the elders of his city at the gateway of his hometown. 20 Then they shall say to the elders of his city, ‘This son of ours is stubborn and rebellious; he will not listen to our voice; he is a glutton and a drunkard.’ 21 Then all the men of his city shall stone him, and he will die; so you shall purge the evil from your midst, and all Israel will hear of it and fear.
The "book of" Deuteronomy is somewhat of a recap of God's law for His people, with a bit more specific explanation (exposition) and application. 21:15-17 discusses the "firstborn's birthright", and this section of verses (18-21) discuss what should be done with an incorrigible and obstinate son. We must remember what happened at the "fall of man", in the garden: God gave a command to not eat of the tree of knowledge of good and evil, otherwise man would die. Man refused to obey God and affected all of creation with death and decay. The first people, easily looked at as a type of child/children to God, rebelled; this rebellion negatively affected the rest of creation (ruined all the good God had made). We should consider modern true stories of parents and children in which a child's lack of obedience caused a long-term and permanent problem for the legacy of the parents; think of the "extreme" of being the parent of a tyrant who was primarily responsible for the death of millions of people, we might understand how utter disobedience can be a problem for a family, let alone for a people group. As mentioned earlier, God calls His people to be "set apart" (holy) as He is Holy; therefore, when one disobeys and puts his family, let alone his people, at risk, the serious problem must be seriously dealt with. Note that the description is of a son who "is a glutton and a drunkard". Clearly, this should be applied to children of a certain age: those that were able to drink and be considered lazy (those that do not take care of independent [viable adult] responsibilities). A commentator notes that a drunkard and a glutton will eventually run out of money and become hungry; their hunger will turn them to a life of crime, causing them to be even more dishonorable, let alone causing problems for the community. This type of "warning" about what should happen to one such "child" is a good motivation for the parent to work hard at properly raising children and good motivation for the child to work hard and honestly obey and honor his parents. If and when a parent was truly diligent in "bringing up" the child, and yet the child grew up to be vehemently disobedient, there was a consequence, a major one in our eyes; but, a proper one in the eyes of the Holy God. Personally, I can't imagine being the parent in those days that had to report his son; but, I also know God is perfectly good and completely worthy of obeying, which is why I would hope that I would have been diligent in parenting (Dt 6).
1 Timothy 2:12 (LSB)
12 But I do not allow a woman to teach or exercise authority over a man, but to remain quiet.
The 1st "letter" to Timothy is written by the apostle Paul as a reminder and encouragement to continue to teach what God has said, what to refrain from, qualifications for leadership and individual roles when it pertains to relating to each other, especially within the "body" of the church. By this time, Paul has already instructed the "church" at Ephesus (which is where Timothy is at this time) on individual relations and roles specifically as husbands, wives, and children, let alone those in specific social roles and the basic behavior of all Christians no matter their "social" role. At this point in the letter to Timothy, Paul has already warned about those that teach false instruction, and against paying attention to myths and endless genealogies. These "myths and genealogies" cause wasteful speculation and distract from the Truth, let alone from productive activity, whether it is learning truth or serving others. He has also reminded that God's Law is good, as long as it is used properly (lawfully): pointing to the existence and need of a savior - Jesus. Paul identifies himself as having needed the law to show him his need as well as being thankful to not only be shown; but, to also be used as an example of God showing mercy and grace to even the worst sinner (Paul). With this clause in mind, he starts with general instruction to all "members" and then specifically to women. First to remind women that true beauty is found in wisdom, good work, and godliness and "external" beauty is secondary to "spiritual" beauty. We should have a good understanding of what happened in "the fall" (Gen 3) as well as Proverbs 31 (esp vs 10-31) and the instructions in Ephesians - might as well include the entire Gospel - so that we can see that this is not a degradational statement or instruction, especially if we continue to read the result of spiritual self-control. My opinion is that when people read things that sound "restrictive" and have a reactive "that's unfair" attitude, they show a desire for self instead of a desire to understand. It's no different than today's Western culture of adolescents not wanting to comply with a parent's authority, especially for the parent that wishes the absolute best for the child in physical, emotional, mental, and spiritual health and future abundance.
I feel like there should probably be more to this response. I can see where there would be a lot of "rebuttal" in regard to the text; but, I don't think the rebut would be on task with the initial lines of text discussed.
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