Contemplative Bible Reading

Leviticus 7:21 (New Living Translation)

If you touch anything that is unclean (whether it is human defilement or an unclean animal or any other unclean, detestable thing) and then eat meat from a peace offering presented to the Lord, you will be cut off from the community.

Ever been cut off from a church? No big deal, there are lots of churches. Just look in the Yellow Pages or on your Google machine.

Not so in the Old Testament. Always try to remember that God’s chosen people, the Israelites, the Jews, the Hebrews, were one big family. They were all related and they could easily trace their common ancestors (“Oh, you are my 13th cousin!”). To be cut off would mean severing all ties to all your blood relatives.

The above verse is just one of many that give an offense that is punishable by being cut off from your relatives. They Jews took this seriously, well, at least some of them did. Many had their lapses in memory and judgement.

Today? Yes, there are deeds we can do that will cause a community of believers to cut us off from the community. The community will, at least I hope will, allow us back if we confess and repent of the deeds. I know God will accept us back into communion with Him if we confess and repent. Such is the limitless Grace of God. Such is the difference between the old and new covenants. Such is just one part of the many blessings we enjoy in the Christ, the one appointed to redeem us all from our sins.

Praise God from whom all blessings flow.