Hello Dave
Dave, I started my post initially with ideas running around in my head when I saw the word “abomination” was coupled with those unclean meats which were proscribed by God. That set me thinking that anything that God labels as an abomination ought to be carefully considered and avoided, if we have the mind of Christ.
Had the topic been, say, “what is abomination in God’s eyes”, then we all could find several scriptures which show us what God terms an abomination, as far as He is concerned.
I did a “word search” and discovered, surprisingly, that several Hebrews words are all translated into English as “abomination”. They have, however, different shades of meaning and apply in different areas.
There are many things (apart from unclean meats), which God says are “abominable” or abhorrent to Him…..many are listed in Proverbs. Some with the meaning of “morally disgusting”, (Prov 6:16); being distorted in thinking (Prov 11:20); those who lie (Prov 12:22) even sacrifices of the wicked (Prov 15:
and those who cheat others (Prov 20:10, 23).
Then there others which are more properly described/translated as “filth”…..which can be applied physically, as well as spiritually in relation to idolatry. Daniel 11:31 e.g. This the Hebrew word used repeatedly in Leviticus 11.
I try to be careful in how I approach posting on the forum, choosing my words so as to avoid any semblance of giving offence. One of the areas which God says He finds abhorrent is found among those six listed in Proverbs 6.
I began my very first posts on the forum with encouragement for all of us to show kindness towards one another and am bewildered to see, from some, thinly veiled hostility.
Pro 6:19 A false witness that speaketh lies, and he that soweth discord [strife] among brethren.
I value the forum for the opportunity it provides to uplift each other and express how we see things and to contemplate whatever others have to offer. Sure there will be varying levels of understanding – as to be expected – but we are not here to “tear each other apart”.
Not wishing to be too “bookish”, I did put forward the idea of abomination and its usage to describe unclean meats. Not a single person took up that line of thought. I wondered why and decided I had not high-lighted it enough. Sadly, some went off on a tangent and directed their comments and used scriptural references as if the discussion was about vegetarianism….ie, not eating ANY meats whatsoever.
I tried to make it clear that I did not think that by avoiding eating unclean meats, then that would make anybody “righteous”, any more than by eating the clean meats would do so. But, in my mind, I kept coming back to that idea of “abomination”.
More importantly, I saw that the set of statutes given in Leviticus and Deuteronomy were a “whole package”, and as I understand it, as a “love gift” from our Creator to save us from suffering from diseases. I still see it as a “package” and cannot see why any laws relating to sanitation could be seen as unnecessary…..and “done away”. The close connection seemed to go unnoticed.
When it is all “boiled down”, whatever anybody else chooses to eat is no business of mine….
For those interested, the Hebrew word translated “abomination” as used to describe unclean meats means “filth” – either literally and/or figuratively.
The idea that Jesus is the end of the law was mentioned repeatedly by Alex - with the intention to have people believe that Jesus “ended” the law. Ray made this very clear where he explained that by turning the phrase around - the GOAL….or the “end” of the Law is to become as Jesus is.
Jesus is the GOAL of the law…..not the executioner of it.
By turning to (many translations of) Ephesians and saying the phrase “commandments contained in ordinances” is identical to what we read in Colossians 2 is still “apples and oranges”. To clarify that, I asked the question about “enmity” but it fell on deaf ears.
I have no desire to “cross swords” and do not view the forum as a chance to conduct a “bar-room brawl”. Putting down others was one of the “tools of the Pharisees”. I wish to avoid any semblance of “locking horns”.
I shall contact a few people via PM (now that I feel I am familiar enough to use that avenue) so that I might clarify how I understand certain vital points. That way the forum will not become a “show-piece” of how NOT to communicate using conduct, which God says He finds offensive. Colin