LOMA LINDA, Calif. — Local Adventist gamer Landon Reese invoked the rarely used “ox in the ditch” clause this past Sabbath to continue working on beating a particularly difficult video game level.
The theological loophole, based on a statement Jesus made about rescuing an animal that falls into a ditch on the Sabbath, is intended to allow for emergency work on the day of rest.
Reese claimed that getting his ox-like video game avatar out of the “ditch” of the unbeaten level qualified as extenuating circumstances.
“Look, if my ox is stuck on level 9, then it’s my moral imperative to get him to level 10,” said Reese, controller in hand. “It’s what Jesus would do.”
Reese’s mother was less than impressed with his creative application of the principle. “Last time I checked, PlayStation doesn’t have anything to do with farm animals.”
The gamer’s pastor declined to comment on the validity of the loophole usage but did express concern about the slippery slope of equating virtual challenges with real-life emergencies.
At publishing time, Reese had triumphantly rescued the ox from the ditch and was last seen taking an ox-like Sabbath afternoon nap on the couch.
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