Homer Simpson and Leviticus 19
A few weeks ago, I was trying to catch up on my year-of-the-Bible readings. (About 130 of us at church have pledged to read through the Bible together this year.) So, I was reading Leviticus 19 before I went to sleep and, for some reason, thought of Homer Simpson.Actually, I know the reason. It was verse 19: “Do not mate different kinds of animals.” I thought, “Hmm…how could one violate that?” And then I remembered when Homer hatched the idea of mating the two family dog and family cat to create: “a miracle hybrid, with the loyalty of a cat and the cleanliness of a dog.”
And that got me thinking: how many of the 35 (by my count) regulations in Leviticus 19 has Homer violated?
15 minutes and peals of laughter later, Erik and I realized that Homer has come pretty close to violating the whole list. Now, don’t get me wrong: I’m not trying to argue that Homer is a terrible guy. Actually, I think he’s one of the most honest characters on TV. He’s a great sinner, but he’s often sincere in his repentance, in his love for the people around him, and, though confused about how to go about it, he frequently seeks God.
But he definitely violates many rules along the way.
So, for those of you who care to continue with me, here are a few more I thought of. (Feel free to add if you can think of any…)
- Verses 5-6 suggest that leftovers have a shelf life. Homer never met a moldy morsel he didn’t like.
- Although the Simpsons don’t have a vineyard, Homer’s a plate-licking kind of guy. I can’t see him leaving the gleanings for the poor (verses 9-10), except maybe out of laziness.
- Verses 11,12,13 include: lying, stealing, deception, profaning the name of God (“Help me , Jebus!”), defrauding your neighbor (poor Flanders). Check, check, check, check, and check.
- Verse 16: Do not do anything that endangers your neighbor’s life? Remember when Homer ducked in the stands at a race-car event, resulting in Mrs. Flander’s death-by-T-shirt-missile?
- Verse 19 includes the wearing of mixed-material fabrics. Homer seems like a poly-cotton-blend kind of guy to me.
- Verses 23-25: I don’t think Homer would have th self-restraint to wait that many years to eat from a special fruit tree.
- “Have reverence for my sanctuary.” (Verse 30) Remember when Homer wins the church in a court settlement? Just a little defiling going on there.
- Verse 32: respect for the aged? Just last week, Homer took is dad out of the old-folks-home as an early step in cutting back the family budget.
- Verse 33-34, how to treat “aliens” living among you. Although he tries to do right, Homer’s treatment of Apu is somewhat lacking.