IAN
So what’s with all these wacky rules? And why don’t we follow them all today?
CLIVE
Right. We still can’t lie, or cheat, or hurt each other.
IAN
But we can eat bacon! Or ants! Not that I’m saying I want to eat ants, but if I did no one would say it was a sin.
CLIVE
You raise a very a good question.
IAN
Thanks.
CLIVE
That’s a BIG question!
IAN
Thanks. You think it might be time for – “Big Questions”.
CHESTER WHIGGET
Big Questions with Buck Denver!
BUCK
Wait! I’m here! Big Questions with Buck Denver. Today’s question: What’s with all the wacky rules, and why don’t we follow them today?
CHESTER WHIGGET
What’s with all the wacky –
BUCK
All right, all right! You don’t need to repeat the whole thing.
CHESTER WHIGGET
Okay.
BUCK
Sunday School Lady – what do we know?
SUNDAY SCHOOL LADY
Glad to help out, Buck. What’s confusing you, Ian, is that God gave Israel more than one kind of rule because he was asking them for more than one kind of holiness. Some of the rules were for Ritual Holiness, while others were for Ethical Holiness.
IAN
That does not help at all.
CLIVE
I don’t think she’s done.
SUNDAY SCHOOL LADY
No, I wasn’t. Do you know what a ritual is? It’s something we do over and over that has a deep meaning – that reminds us of something important. For example, some football teams have an odd habit – before they run out for a game they’ll all touch a rock.
IAN
Is it a magic football rock?
SUNDAY SCHOOL LADY
No, it’s just an ordinary rock. But hitting it before each game reminds them of their commitment to playing hard and doing their very best! Hitting the rock is a RITUAL that reminds them of something important!
CLIVE
Oh, I get it! It sounds crazy to us, but it means something to them!
IAN
Just like all the crazy rules in Leviticus!
SUNDAY SCHOOL LADY
Right! All those rules about their clothes and their food and their hair would remind the Israelites 20 times a day that they were “set apart” for God! It would remind them to do their very best!
IAN
And get the most touchdowns!
CLIVE
Wait – you’re taking the football analogy a little too far.
IAN
Oh. Home runs?
CLIVE
Ahem.
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