Perhaps one of the most common reactions I receive when people learn that I hold to pronomian theology comes in the form of a question, “do you wear any clothes with mixed fabric?!?” Inevitably the person asking the question has used this line of questioning before and believes it is the nail in the coffin for those of us wanting to keep God’s law. Interestingly, I have never once heard a person ask this same question to a practicing Jew (a law called “Shatnez”). This shows one of two things, that people who ask such a question don’t realize that modern Judaism holds to these same laws, or that they only care about trying to corner pronomian believers in an argument. No matter the motivation, let’s look at this argument and see if it holds weight.
The reference that is being made is to Leviticus 19:19 which states:
“You shall keep my statutes. You shall not let your cattle breed with a different kind. You shall not sow your field with two kinds of seed, nor shall you wear a garment of cloth made of two kinds of material.” (Leviticus 19:19 ESV)
These laws are not arbitrary but serve a function. Yet the reason for the law is not yet in question. Rather, the question at hand is should we be keeping this law? The first thing we should do is look to the Scriptures to see if there are any other passages that will shed more light on this command. The reformers rightly stated:
A general rule is laid down by the Confession at this point, which is then broken down into three particulars. The general statement is that the infallible rule of the interpretation of Scripture is the Scripture itself.1
The infallible rule for interpreting Scripture is the Scripture itself. Therefore, when there is a question about the true and full meaning of any part of Scripture (and each passage has only one meaning, not many), it must be understood in light of other passages that speak more clearly.2
Within the renewal covenant of Deuteronomy, we do find this law restated. Within the restating of the law we are given more specifics:
“You shall not sow your vineyard with two kinds of seed, lest the whole yield be forfeited, the crop that you have sown and the yield of the vineyard. You shall not plow with an ox and a donkey together. You shall not wear cloth of wool and linen mixed together.” (Deuteronomy 22:9–11 ESV)
From the Deuteronomy passage, we see that the law involves two specific kinds of fabric, linen, and the other of wool.
Before we move on, for those who are simply looking for the answer, no I do not own any clothes made of linen and wool, and yes, I check the label before I buy anything new.
There have been all kinds of suggestions on why God would command such a law. Some believe that pagan cults used to clothe their priests with garments that mixed these two fabrics. Others have suggested that it points to Cain and Abel and that Cain brought flax for his offering while Abel brought a lamb. Some within the more mystical camps have suggested that God endowed various materials with their energy and that the energy of wool and linen counter each other. And still, some have claimed that it is looking forward to the world to come where animals will be elevated to a higher status.
None of these suggestions have any backing from Scripture and we are left to wonder. Within Judaism, the law is considered to be hok, i.e. a law that has no logical reason behind it. This much I can say, God does not make arbitrary laws. There is a reason He gave this law and as believers, we should follow His commands.
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