Most modern-day Christians respect biblical teachings, laws, and stories, but that doesn’t mean they follow every rule or interpret every passage literally. Although most try to live according to the core principles of the religious text, there are specific parts that they feel can be safely ignored in modern times—here are 19 examples of rules most Christians don’t abide by.
Dietary Laws
Leviticus 11, in the Old Testament, describes specific dietary restrictions for believers, including not consuming pork, shellfish, and “all creatures in the seas or streams that do not have fins and scales.” Modern Christians don’t generally follow these rules, viewing them as specific to the ancient Israelite community, and most happily eat foods like hot dogs, calamari, and clams!
Capital Punishment
Prison Fellowship claims the Bible’s rules about taking another human life are contradictory, yet Exodus 21 outlines various penalties for crimes, including capital punishment for offenses like murder, adultery, and blasphemy. Many Christians would never suggest such harsh punishment for anyone other than serial killers, and even then, many would advocate for imprisonment.
Stoning as Punishment
In the Old Testament, namely Deuteronomy 22, several transgressions against God or other people carried the penalty of death by stoning. This practice is considered barbaric by modern standards, and Christians generally believe in forgiveness and reforming criminals. Even if they did consider capital punishment appropriate, they would suggest a more humane method!
Theocracy and Monarchy
In 1 Samuel and other related books, the Bible depicts a period where Israel was governed by a theocracy, with God’s chosen leaders having complete religious and political authority. This idea is now considered dangerous and outdated, and most modern Christians believe the church and state should be separate and the people should democratically decide whom they want in power.
Eye for an Eye
The concept of “an eye for an eye” is detailed in Exodus 21:24 and permits equal punishment in return for a crime. For example, if someone killed your child, then you could kill theirs in response! Of course, modern society has an impartial legal system to convict and sentence criminals, and contemporary Christians wouldn’t accept vigilantes committing acts of barbarism.
Slavery Regulations
Many Bible passages advocate kindness to others, yet Exodus 21 lists acceptable regulations for slavery, which was a common practice in the ancient world. Today, almost all Christians condemn slavery as morally wrong and utterly unacceptable in any situation. They see these biblical recommendations as a reflection of ancient times, not a moral code.
Treatment of Enemies
According to MIT, Deuteronomy 20 in the Old Testament condones violence against one’s enemies during wartime, which seems to contradict other Bible teachings about love, forgiveness, and peace. Most Christians now put the sanctity of life first and would never advocate for the horrors of war or choose violence as the best way to settle a conflict.
Clothes Making Restrictions
Strangely, a passage in Deuteronomy 22:11 prohibits wearing garments woven from two different kinds of fabric, like wool and linen. It even forbids the sowing of different types of seeds at the same time! This law is seen as part of a larger set of regulations specific to the ancient Israelite community of the time, and few, if any, modern Christians consider it valid today.
Animal Sacrifice
Despite being associated with devil worship, the Old Testament (Leviticus) references a system that involves offering animals to God to atone for human sins. Nowadays, the idea that Christ died for the sins of mankind is largely accepted by Christians, but they see absolutely no need to spill the blood of innocent animals, and many would be morally incapable of doing so.
Tithing
Bible.com says Leviticus 27:32 mandates the paying of a tithe to the Lord equivalent to 10% of all their income or produce (it specifically states 1 in 10 livestock). Although some strict secular religious groups do encourage donations based on income, most modern Christians have a more flexible approach to charitable giving and don’t enforce specific requirements.
Head Coverings
Female modesty was essential to ancient people, and 1 Corinthians 11 mentions that women should cover their heads during prayer and prophecy. Interpretations of this passage vary widely, and most Christians now think that it’s a culturally specific requirement that no longer applies to modern women. Many dislike the idea, seeing it as a patriarchal tool for female obedience.
Greetings and Social Interactions
Various passages in the Bible give instructions on proper greetings, social etiquette, and how different genders and social classes should interact. These guidelines are seen as a relic of those times and not guidance related to modern society, which has updated social norms. Today’s Christian community treats them as historical curiosities, not requirements.
Clean and Unclean
According to Leviticus, particular objects and people are “clean” or “unclean.” Enter the Bible writes, “Clean land animals are those that have divided hoofs, chew the cud, and are cleft-footed. Any animal that meets only two of these three criteria is unclean.” Dirty things included leprosy, menstruating women, dead bodies, shellfish, and pigs. Not exactly progressive.
Women’s Rights
The Bible is an ancient text, so it naturally reflects the patriarchal societal structure of its time, with various sexist limitations placed on women, including forbidding them from inheriting, being a religious leader, or engaging in politics. Modern Christian denominations interpret these passages in various ways, although most give women a far more equal standing in society.
Sacred Saturdays (or Sundays?)
Exodus 20 in the Old Testament mandates keeping the Sabbath holy, traditionally on Saturdays, yet many Christians observe Sunday worship services instead. While strict Christians may observe a day of rest on a Sunday, many do not—engaging in paid and unpaid work if necessary and not allocating either day as a dedicated time for rest and spiritual reflection.
Temple Ceremonies
Elaborate temple rituals and sacrifices are described in Leviticus, yet such practices are now physically impossible due to the destruction of the Second Temple in Jerusalem by the Romans in 70 CE. There is now a focus on the concept of Jesus as the ultimate sacrifice and the Church as the new Temple of God, allowing modern Christians to fulfill these requirements in a more abstract way.
Speaking in Tongues
The book of Acts 2 describes speaking in tongues as a sign of the Holy Spirit. Bible Hub gives the specific wording—”All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them.” Modern Christian denominations have varying beliefs regarding speaking in tongues, with many seeing it as no longer relevant or necessary.
Literal Interpretations
The Bible recounts numerous miraculous events, including miracles that Jesus reportedly committed, like feeding the five thousand, walking on water, and healing injuries. Modern Christians often interpret these miracles symbolically, focusing on the message behind them and the spiritual meaning rather than touting them as events based on historical fact.
End-Times Prophecies
In the Book of Revelation, there is some pretty apocalyptic imagery describing the foreseen ‘end times’ of mankind. Interpretations of these prophecies vary widely among Christians; some believe in a literal rapture for true believers before the end, while others take it to mean something more symbolic and don’t think the world will be destroyed as such.
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