A Modest Proposal for Biblical Reforms

                A Modest Proposal for Biblically Based Reforms.

Now that so many of us have begun to take seriously God's law and have expressed a firm desire to order our civil society by its precepts, I am certain we will want to examine our society in order to arrange it accordingly. Committed to avoiding abominations, I offer the following platform of reforms in the areas of health-care, juvenile corrections, farming, family law, and labor practices.

Farming.

It is not unusual for farmers to plant more than one type of crop in their fields. I have, for example, seen wheat sewn as a border around a field of beans, often with corn or beets pressed close against it in adjoining fields. This must stop. It is contrary to God's law (Lev. 19). According to the clear commands of God one must not sew different seeds in the same field. Further, the discussion of hog farms in Cando, and other areas, is moot. Hogs are unclean animals (Lev. 11) and cannot be touched without a person becoming unclean. There is no place for swine in our agricultural industry without incurring the displeasure of God.

Health-care.

Altru offers some of the finest medical care available in our region. MeritCare adds to our health-care resources offering a clinic on the east-side, and its fine hospital in Fargo. Unfortunately neither Altru nor MeritCare offer their services in accordance with the commands of God for neither offer the required Priests who must declare one clean in order be pleasing to God.

According to the commands of God, if one has a leprous discharge on their body, or a discoloration of their skin (these could be anything from a boil to skin cancer) a Priest of God must observe the affliction and pass judgment on your health and cleanliness (Lev. 14). In order to meet this requirement I propose that bring a civil punishment of a $10,000.00 fine.

Juvenile corrections.

Our society is fast dissolving into disobedience and disrespect. Our elder family members are shunted aside by discourteous and rebellious offspring. Our public schools are filled with children who never learned to hold their tongue or respect their superiors. Our juvenile courts tread lightly in a misguided effort at rehabilitation.

In order to correct this situation I propose a law that follows the proscribed practice of Leviticus 20 and Deuteronomy 21. A child who mouths-off to a parent, a child who persists in disobedience, a child who curses their mother or father, shall be taken to the edge of town (perhaps in a parking lot on the west end of town between I-29 and the air base) and the elders of the town (I would expect this could be fulfilled by the Mayor and the City Council) shall stone them to death. This would serve as a deterrent for all disrespectful and disobedient children.

Family Law.

This is one area where I foresee difficulty obtaining the necessary public support for instilling the commands of God into our civic code. We fail to observe most of the precepts God has ordained. We know, for example, that adultery is wicked. Yet we fail to execute those who are caught in adulterous relationships. Moreover we fail to properly define adulterous relationships. According to God's precepts (Lev 20) adultery occurs only when the female involved is married to our neighbor. In such a case both the male and female are to be stoned.

There are other less-than-righteous relationships that we must stand firm against. A man who sleeps (has sex) with his daughter-in-law; a man who sleeps with his father's wife; a man who takes (presumably as wife but sex is involved) both a woman and her mother; all are sexual perversions and must be dealt with harshly. God's precepts call for those who do such things to be put to death (Lev. 20). However, sleeping with your stepsister, or with a woman during her menstrual period, while a perversion, requires only that one be "cut off" from one's people. Perhaps we could banish such people to Wyoming.

I have found no law against females lying with one another. Perhaps I have not searched enough.

Labor Practices.

We all recognize that God's precepts tell us that "six days shall you labor; the seventh is a Sabbath to the LORD". Most of us work only 5 days taking a full day more to mill around the house than God has prescribed. I do not think, however, this is a case of disobedience.

There is one practice spoken of, which if instituted, would help lower the labor costs of our businesses. According to God's precepts God's people can take slaves from their neighboring countries (Lev. 25). Living this close to Canada, a few expeditionary raids into southern Manitoba might solve some of the problems our captains of industry face.

Space prevents me from discussing in detail laws against women wearing pants (it's prohibited), cross-dressing (prohibited), wool/polyester blend suits (prohibited), the menu at Red Lobster (shellfish are unclean), and fair trade laws regarding usury (lending institutions are prohibited from charging interest on loans). I am encouraged, however, that, as a community, we are beginning to take seriously the precepts and commands of God. I hope this trend is carefully watched.

Oh, one more thing. According to Deuteronomy 13, if you disobey the Priest appointed by God, you shall die (Deut. 17).