Lefties and the Bible

Introduction

        Let me begin this article by saying that I am a left-handed individual and am very proud to be a “Leftie”. The old saying goes that if the right side of the brain controls the left side of the body, then left-handed people are the only ones in their right mind.

        Now, the reason for this hoopla over what hand I use is based upon an ancient superstition that using the left hand, as the dominate hand, is consider evil or satanic. In the examples to follow (from scripture) we’ll see why people believe this and what the truth really is.

Seated at His Right Hand

                The main example for considering the left hand to be evil can be found in Matt. 26:64, “Jesus said to him, "It is as you said. Nevertheless, I say to you, hereafter you will see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of the Power, and coming on the clouds of heaven.” Because Jesus is seated at God’s right hand, this is why the left hand is considered evil or satanic. Mk. 14:62 says the same thing and, in Act 7:56, Stephen saw this come to pass as he was being killed; “…Look! I see the heavens opened and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God!"

        Here’s a question to consider: If Jesus sat on the right hand of God, then who sat on his left? Satan? Are we to believe that Satan is going to be in heaven to fulfill this belief that the left side is evil? If not Satan, then how about the Holy Spirit? If He is on the left side, does that make Him evil? If so, then the whole of the bible should be considered evil since the Holy Spirit inspired men to write it. This is the absurdity you have to consider!

Back in the day of superstitious people, children who were left-handed were forced to learn how to write with their right hand; even to the point of tying their left hand down on the desk to break them of this habit. And it is sad to think that there are those even today who still practice this nonsense.

Here are some further examples in both Old and New Testaments as to why the right hand is preferable to God…

Right-Hand references in the Old Testament

Ex. 15:6, “Your right hand, O LORD, has become glorious in power; Your right hand, O LORD, has dashed the enemy in pieces.” (NKJV)

Ps. 118:15-16, “The voice of rejoicing and salvation Is in the tents of the righteous; The right hand of the LORD does valiantly. The right hand of the LORD is exalted; The right hand of the LORD does valiantly.” (NKJV)

Eccl. 10:2, “A wise man's heart is at his right hand, But a fool's heart at his left.” (NKJV)

Right-Hand references in the New Testament

Mt. 6:3, “But when you do a charitable deed, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing” (NKJV)

Mt. 25:33, “And He will set the sheep on His right hand, but the goats on the left.” (NKJV)

In regards to all of these examples, what people fail to realize is that these are simply metaphorical phrases. Since 90% of the world is right-handed, this is referred to as the dominate hand. Nowhere in scripture does it ever say that the left hand is evil, nor does God command people to use the right hand only. And furthermore, if the left hand is so evil, why did God give us one? Certainly, there must be a purpose for it; aside from just dangling from the left arm.

Praise for Left-handed People

        Ehud, The Left-handed Judge (Jud. 3:15-30) was raised up by God to deliver Israel from the hands of King Eglon and the Moabites. If lefties are evil, then why did God choose one as a deliverer of his own people? Wouldn’t God have chosen someone else?

In Judges 20:16 it references “seven hundred select men who were left-handed; every one could sling a stone at a hair's breadth and not miss.” These were of the Children of Benjamin. 700 evil men fighting on behalf of God? Why would he allow such a thing?

        In 1 Chron. 12:2 it tells of men (both lefties and righties) came to David’s aid at Ziklag. These were also from the Children of Benjamin. Whichever hand was the most valuable in the time of war was the one that was used. Again, if lefties are so evil, then why didn’t they force those left-handed individuals to fight with their right hand?

        Finally, in Mk. 10:37, James and John; the Sons of Zebedee, came to Jesus as asked to sit on His right hand and His left hand in the kingdom. Both of them were considered part of the inner circle, with Peter, among the disciples (Mk. 5:37; Mk. 9:2; Mt. 26:36-39).

Here, they still thought he was going to establish an earthly kingdom and wanted the prominent positions next to Jesus; the prince. It shows here then that the left hand of someone is a place of honor just as much as the right. Remember what we said about being seated on God’s left side if Jesus is on the right?

What about the wedding ring?

        Traditionally, the wedding ring is worn on the fourth finger of the left hand. The reason for this is that it is said that a vein from that finger goes straight to the heart. There are those, in some cultures or religions, who wear the wedding ring on the right finger and this is acceptable too.

        If the left hand is evil, and the wedding ring is worn on the left hand, shouldn’t that make marriage an evil thing? This, of course, is absurd! Marriage is an invention of God dating all the way back to the Garden of Eden (Gen. 2:24). If it matters not which hand you wear your wedding ring on, then it shouldn’t matter which hand is dominant and therefore there is nothing wrong with being left-handed.

Conclusion

        To say that left-handed people are satanic and evil is hogwash! It is simply an ancient superstition which people hold to (even today) as they take the scriptures too literal.

If you are a left-handed individual, such as myself, you should take pride in that fact and don’t allow anyone to tell you otherwise. You will not lose your standing with God and won’t be sent straight to Hell because of it.