Snake-handling preacher dies from rattlesnake bite in W.V.

actually - you were told not to test the Lord your G-d.

(Deut 6:16 --- also Matt 4:5, and Luke 4:9)

Actually, there were a lot of other things that we were told not to do in Deuteronomy & Leviticus...

Dear Dr. Laura,

Thank you for doing so much to educate people regarding God's Law. I have learned a great deal from your show, and I try to share that knowledge with as many people as I can.

a) When I burn a bull on the altar as a sacrifice, I know it creates a pleasing odor for the Lord (Lev 1:9). The problem is my neighbors. They claim the odor is not pleasing to them. Should I smite them?

b) I would like to sell my daughter into slavery, as sanctioned in Exodus 21:7. In this day and age, what do you think would be a fair price for her?

c) I know that I am allowed no contact with a woman while she is in her period of menstrual uncleanliness (Lev 15:19-24). The problem is, how do I tell? I have tried asking, but most women take offense.

d) Lev. 25:44 states that I may indeed possess slaves, both male and female, provided they are purchased from neighboring nations. A friend of mine claims that this applies to Mexicans, but not Canadians. Can you clarify? Why can't I own Canadians?

e) I have a neighbor who insists on working on the Sabbath. Exodus 35:2 clearly states he should be put to death. Am I morally obligated to kill him myself?

f) A friend of mine feels that even though eating shellfish is an Abomination (Lev 11:10), it is a lesser abomination than homosexuality. I don't agree. Can you settle this?

g) Lev 21:20 states that I may not approach the altar of God if I have a defect in my sight. I have to admit that I wear reading glasses. Does my vision have to be 20/20, or is there some wiggle room here?

h) Most of my male friends get their hair trimmed, including the hair around their temples, even though this is expressly forbidden by Lev 19:27. How should they die?

i) I know from Lev 11:6-8 that touching the skin of a dead pig makes me unclean, but may I still play football if I wear gloves?

j) My uncle has a farm. He violates Lev 19:19 by planting two different crops in the same field, as does his wife by wearing garments made of two different kinds of thread (cotton/polyester blend). He also tends to curse and blaspheme a lot. Is it really necessary that we go to all the trouble of getting the whole town together to stone them? (Lev 24:10-16) Couldn't we just burn them to death at a private family affair like we do with people who sleep with their in-laws? (Lev. 20:14)

I know you have studied these things extensively, so I am confident you can help.

Thank you again for reminding us that God's word is eternal and unchanging.

Your devoted disciple and adoring fan.

Had any shellfish lately? (shrimp? crab? lobster?) How's your eyesight? Gotten a haircut recently? Worn any suits lately made out of blended materials? (cotton/polyester?); Done any work on the Sabbath?

Dang, it's so hard to keep up with what is selectively considered an Old-Testament "abomination" (to be devoutly ignored when it doesn't suit you, because the "New Testament" has supposedly replaced the abominations of the Old); and those things that are still considered valid, because it supports the selective bigotry...

I've never been able to figure that out...

I Cor 5:12

Your views are really not my concern.

Neither are yours...

LadyJazzer wrote: Neither are yours...

You're a bigot.

However -

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a preacher teaching people to tempt G-d by playing with snakes - would concern me.

It's a direct violation of explicit instructions, which can't be re-interpreted, contextualized away, or otherwise contradicted.
(by comparison, there's a number of other passages in the Bible that CAN be contextualized, contradicted, or re-interpreted, and I'm content to leave them be).

In the Christian world view, Levitical law serves one purpose - to make a person aware of the ubiquity of sin.

LJ

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If my views do not concern you - why put so much energy into mocking them? When have I mocked you?

Nope - I don't agree with you much - but I don't think I mock you for that.

The Liberals GOP Twin wrote: On the purely theological side of things, this sort of action is the ultimate test of faith, and people like this preacher are displaying more faith in g-d than most

To my mind - this preacher tempted G-d --- not faith.

Testing faith --- let's say a person is walking in the jungle, and steps on a black mamba snake - and trusts G-d to heal him/her.

I think that's putting faith in Him.

The person who plays with known deadly snakes isn't putting faith to the test ---- they're putting G-d to the test. There's explicit instructions not to do that.

bailey bud wrote:

The Liberals GOP Twin wrote: On the purely theological side of things, this sort of action is the ultimate test of faith, and people like this preacher are displaying more faith in g-d than most

To my mind - this preacher tempted G-d --- not faith.

Testing faith --- let's say a person is walking in the jungle, and steps on a black mamba snake - and trusts G-d to heal him/her.

I think that's putting faith in Him.

The person who plays with known deadly snakes isn't putting faith to the test ---- they're putting G-d to the test. There's explicit instructions not to do that.

Well said.