God, in the book of Leviticus, was preparing the hearts of His people for when they would enter Canaan. He gave them commands and statutes to develop within them a view toward holiness. The holiness of His people, had they accepted would have made them separate from all those in the land of Canaan. A major concern as revealed in scriptures was that God did not want His people to act like those of the land of Canaan.
He speaks about all the abominations which those of Canaan had engaged in, for by doing so they had defiled the land (Lev. 18:27). Which raises this simple question. What defines what an abomination is? The answer should not be in doubt with anyone then or now that it is God who determines something is an abomination. Israel had no say so when it came to the way God desired for them to live. He desired a holy people. If they engaged in the same acts which had defiled the land of Canaan, the result would be the same for them. God had said to Abraham years before that the iniquity of the Amorites was not yet full (Gen. 15:16).
After the passage of some 400 years, that iniquity was now full. There was no hope for the people in Canaan to change. God warned Israel about what He expected. You will not bow down to their gods, serve them nor do after their works. You must overthrow them and break down their idols (Ex. 23:24). How could God’s people be holy if they practiced the very things which defiled the land of Canaan. Two men could not lie with each other as one would do with a woman. This from the lips of God was an abomination (Lev. 18:22). Did Israel have any right to tamper with and decide for themselves this is not an abomination, any longer?
We have the example, many chapters earlier where Nadab and Abihu presumed because of their position to alter what God had said (Lev. 10:1,2). It cost them their lives. All they did was to get the fire for the incense from some place God did not authorize. Did God have to use the word abomination or did the death of these two sons of Aaron convey the same idea? The law came by Moses but grace and truth came by Jesus Christ (John 1:17). The fact of God’s favor coupled with truth causes us to make application of abomination to the New Testament down to us today.
As Christians we are to present our bodies as living sacrifices (Rom. 12:1). What else besides being living sacrifices? The passage in Romans 12:1 says, “…holy, acceptable to God”. Did God desire for Israel to be holy separating them from those in Canaan. Now I find that as a follower of Jesus Christ I also am to be holy and acceptable to God. If God gave Israel commands, statutes and judgments in order for them to know what was expected, why are we any different? Briefly consider Paul’s words, from God to Corinth. There are some things you cannot be involved in because you are separate from the world (I Cor. 6:9,10).
In our lifetime the idea, not law, that two men or two women can be married to each other; live together as though they are married; men being allowed in women’s bathrooms and so forth. Paul then states that fornication, which means all sexual sins cannot be named among Christians . Christian could not bow down to idols. They were bound to keep the vows they made in being married. God says likewise concerning the clothing that men wear, that it cannot be that which pertains to women (effeminate). Neither can they be with men as they would be with women (abusers of themselves with mankind).
The world does not live by the laws given by His Son (truth-John 1:17). The abomination practiced by Israel should teach us of the necessity of not being like the world in attitude, dress or conduct. God still declares what is an abomination even in our generation.