Joining Mark on today’s episode is his friend of 30 years, Pastor Jason Poling, an Anglican Priest serving at St. Andrew’s Episcopal Church in Baltimore who has 20 years of serving in Pastoral Ministry. Today, Jason and Mark discuss Leviticus 10:1, The Strange Fire.

After providing the context for this passage, Pastor Jason offers his perspective on the sin of Nadab and Abihu, and Mark shares his views on it as well. This passage is very special to the Pastor, and he explains the reasons why, and also introduces two things he has learned about mankind during his many years of service. Distinguishing between religious enthusiasm and religious extremism, exploring the human capacity for self-deception, and emphasizing the importance of maintaining civilization are just some of the themes running through this thought provoking and informative episode, rendering it highly relevant given the state of our world today.

Episode Highlights:

The context of Leviticus 10:1 Perspectives on Nadab and Abihu’s sin Why this passage is so special to Pastor Jason Two things that he has learned about mankind during all his years in Pastoral Ministry

Quotes:

“I think here we see some early religious extremists, and what happens to them.”

“They probably joined a cult where they didn’t get married, didn’t have kids, drank too much, and brought an alien or strange or prohibited fire to the altar.”

“We have to make a distinction between religious enthusiasm…and religious extremism.”

“The human capacity for self-deception is far beyond what most of us appreciate.”

“Civilization is a gift that we have to cultivate, we have to maintain.”

Leviticus 10:1-2 Now Aaron’s sons Nadab and Abihu each took his fire pan, put fire in it, and laid incense on it; and they offered before the LORD alien fire, which He had not enjoined upon them. And fire came forth from the LORD and consumed them; thus they died at the instance of the LORD. https://www.sefaria.org/Leviticus.10.1-2?lang=bi&aliyot=0

Links:

The Rabbi’s Husband homepage: http://therabbishusband.com/

Mark’s Twitter: https://twitter.com/markgerson?lang=en