Many people see the world as black and white. No shades of grey. Definitely no color. Everything is absolutely wrong or absolutely right – there is no room for individualism. We all need to be these perfect cookie cutter molds that would never dare venture out of the box.
Dr. Laura – to me- sounds like a very black and white person. And of course her way is the correct way. No ifs, ands or buts. Why is it that folks even call into her program? Is it their wish to be humiliated on the air and given a “duh” speech and still not understand that they’ve been slammed?
I don’t actually listen to her program intentionally. Roland always tunes the car radio onto talk radio, and sometimes I just happen to be in the car when Dr. Laura gives common sense advice to her mostly pathetic callers.
For the most part I do agree with the advice she gives – but not necessarily the way she gives it. Her tone often matches what I am thinking in my head – though I doubt I’d ever talk to a total stranger that way: “why in the world are you even in this position when you are obviously too stupid to figure out what it was that even brought you here?”
Her answers are short, direct – never sweet. Seriously. Why are there callers who only encourage her to stay on the air? After only three calls (if that) we are done. If Roland and I have not arrived to our destination by then, I will change the station. Please.
I copied this from a blog quite recently. Love the message. I wonder how many people get it though.
Thank you for doing so much to educate people regarding God’s Law. I have learned a great deal from your show, and try to share that knowledge with as many people as I can. When someone tries to defend the homosexual lifestyle, for example, I simply remind them that Leviticus 18:22 clearly states it to be an abomination… End of debate.
I do need some advice from you, however, regarding some other elements of God’s Laws and how to follow them.
1. Leviticus 25:44 states that I may possess slaves, both male and female, provided they are purchased from neighboring nations. A friend of mine claims that this applies to Mexicans, but not Canadians. Can you clarify? Why can’t I own Canadians?
2. I would like to sell my daughter into slavery, as sanctioned in Exodus 21:7. In this day and age, what do you think would be a fair price for her?
3. I know that I am allowed no contact with a woman while she is in her period of menstrual uncleanliness – Lev.15: 19-24. The problem is how do I tell? I have tried asking, but most women take offense.
4. When I burn a bull on the altar as a sacrifice, I know it creates a pleasing odor for the Lord – Lev.1:9. The problem is, my neighbors. They claim the odor is not pleasing to them. Should I smite them?
5. I have a neighbor who insists on working on the Sabbath.Exodus 35:2. clearly states he should be put to death. Am I morally obligated to kill him myself, or should I ask the police to do it?
6. A friend of mine feels that even though eating shellfish is an abomination – Lev. 11:10, it is a lesser abomination than homosexuality. I don’t agree. Can you settle this? Are there ‘degrees’ of abomination?
7. Lev. 21:20 states that I may not approach the altar of God if I have a defect in my sight. I have to admit that I wear reading glasses. Does my vision have to be 20/20, or is there some wiggle- room here?
8. Most of my male friends get their hair trimmed, including the hair around their temples, even though this is expressly forbidden by Lev. 19:27. How should they die?
9. I know from Lev. 11:6-8 that touching the skin of a dead pig makes me unclean, but may I still play football if I wear gloves?
10. My uncle has a farm. He violates Lev.19:19 by planting two different crops in the same field, as does his wife by wearing garments made of two different kinds of thread (cotton/polyester blend). He also tends to curse and blaspheme a lot. Is it really necessary that we go to all the trouble of getting the whole town together to stone them? Lev.24:10-16. Couldn’t we just burn them to death at a private family affair, like we do with people who sleep with their in-laws? (Lev. 20:14)
I know you have studied these things extensively and thus enjoy considerable expertise in such matters, so I am confident you can help. Thank you again for reminding us that God’s word is eternal and unchanging.
Your adoring fan.
James M. Kauffman, Ed.D. Professor Emeritus Dept. of Curriculum,
Instruction, and Special Education University of Virginia”
I did not get Mr. Kauffman’s permission to reprint. Nor did I get Dr. Laura’s. But I do think it is something that should be shared. And has been (as it was not Dr. Kauffman’s blog where I first read it.)
(Now at this point Dr. Laura would tell me that I shouldn’t even have a Blog – as I am too stupid to figure out the gadgets and insert here to refer to another post. And I really shouldn’t just let my feet dangle in the water unless I can prove that I can swim)
Scriptures have been used to prove and disprove certain lifestyles. Take slavery for example. Both north and south used supposedly the same set of scripture to oppose or endorse slavery. Why God was for it. Why God was against it. I don’t believe the Bible is black and white. It’s not complete. There are oodles of grey.
Where are the actual writings of Moses or Joseph or Methuselah? Do we really have all the epistles that were written by Paul? And what about the Apocrypha? I would gander a guess that it is not even included in most Bibles. And the Songs of Solomon – really? Grey. (Or is it in colour?)
Pharisees were so busy living to the letter of the law, they didn’t take time out to understand why the laws were even given. A parent who has a variety of personalities among his/her children knows that one method of discipline that works on one child may not work on another.
For example grounding Patrick to his room was treacherous punishment. But Corey and I actually preferred our alone time. Banishing us to our rooms was actually quite preferable. Whereas forcing us to go outside was torture – or so we believed at the time. Actually forcing me to go outdoors in reality contributed to my becoming a more well rounded person.
The point is that individualism isn’t black and white. There are several shades of grey. But more importantly there is color. Lots of color. And what a blessing it is for us to have those rainbows in our lives. And for those who will accept the rainbows and appreciate that not everything is black and white.
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