This week in weird religious news, a Christian pastor climbed into a lion’s cage to prove G-d would protect him. He claimed he was protected by G-d, just as Daniel was protected in the lion’s den. However, his feat was nothing like the story of Daniel, and this mockery of The Torah is deeply offensive.
Daniel In The Lions Den
In the story of Daniel, Daniel is thrown in with hungry, adult lions, used to fighting gladiators. Daniel was protected by G-d, because he was being persecuted for G-d’s sake. On the other hand, this pastor climbed into a cage with tame lion cubs used to human interaction, who had just been fed. These lions were babies. Daniel’s lions were adults. These lions were just fed. Daniel’s lions were purposely starved, so they would be more aggressive in battle. These lions were tame and used to people. Daniel’s lions were used to battling with people to the death.
This Christian pastor climbed into a lion’s cage with tame lions willingly. He was not thrown into a den of aggressive lions ready for battle, by his enemies. He was not in danger of being martyred for his faith, as was Daniel. As one commenter mentioned, the lions would have probably been put down had they attacked him, and he would have been rescued. Therefore, the lions were actually in more danger than he was.
Pastor Who Climbed Into Lion’s Cage Is Deeply Offensive
Therefore, this claim, by a non-Jew, that they have somehow recreated a Torah miracle is deeply offensive. Not only did he not recreate the miracle of the lion’s den, but he endangered the lives of innocent animals and himself. Further, he tested G-d. He also made a mockery of The Torah. All of these things are forbidden by G-d. The Bible clearly states, “Do not test the Lo-d your G-d.” We are called on by The Torah to preserve life. In fact, Leviticus says, “17 “Whoever takes a human life shall surely be put to death. 18 Whoever takes an animal’s life shall make it good, life for life. 19 “ Further, The Torah is the sacred word of G-d and to add to it or take away from it is punishable by death. How much more wrong is this total mockery of the text?
Christians Cannot Be Trusted With The Torah
By doing the opposite of what The Torah instructs and making a mockery of The Torah, this pastor has proven why Christianity and Gentiles cannot be trusted with The Torah. This is exactly why oral Torah is only for Jews. He used The Torah to try and put on a show. In doing so, he endangered life and committed what is essentially blasphemy. The Christian community does not understand the deeper meaning of the stories. For example, this man obviously had no understanding of the Jewish law to preserve life at all costs, nor the danger of tempting G-d. He also had no respect for the sacred story he mocked. Christians’ wrong obsessive thinking about the texts is dangerous.
Pastor Who Climbed Into Lion’s Cage Need To Repent and Apologize
In conclusion, this pastor who climbed into a lion’s cage owes the Jewish nation an apology. However, more importantly, he owes G-d an apology. Perhaps most importantly, he should publicly admit what he did was stupid and dangerous. He should discourage any copycats who may find themselves amongst less tame lions. To this pastor, I say repent and apologize.
Next week we will return to The Women in the Bible series. Please stay tuned.
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