C
coptic_believer
Guest
First of all, it is an anachronism to use Leviticus 24:16 in reference to Christians leaving Christianity and/or saying that Jesus is not divine because Leviticus 24:16 was a commandment for Israelites in the Old Testament period, not for Christians in and after the New Testament period (of course, Christians still benifit from this commandment in that it shows how serious the sin of cursing God is, not that Christians are commanded to do that to Christians (or to anyone else) who curse God today).Anyway, I found this verse from the Bible, where God says to kill anyone (by stoning) that commits blasphemy (in your interpreation that would mean that someone would have to leave Christianity and say that Jesus is not divine)…i know the old testatment doenst hold much anymore…but you do believe it DID come from God
Leviticus 24 :16 And he that blasphemeth the name of the Lord, dying let him die: all the multitude shall stone him, whether he be a native or a stranger. He that blasphemeth the name of the Lord, dying let him die
Second of all, this verse is not about punishing apostates! It is about punishing Israelites who curse God! read in context with verse 15
“15 “Then you shall speak to the children of Israel, saying: ‘Whoever curses his God shall bear his sin. 16 And whoever** blasphemes** the name of the LORD shall surely be put to death. All the congregation shall certainly stone him, the stranger as well as him who is born in the land. When he blasphemes the name of the LORD, he shall be put to death.” (Leviticus 24:15-16)
Clearly it is saying if an Israelite curses his God, he shall bear his sin by being put to death.