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The Fine Art of Godly Mockery
Zianet ^ | April 20, 2003 | Al Maxey

Posted on 03/23/2010 10:58:16 AM PDT by delacoert

An acquaintance of a noted Greek philosopher once lamented, "They deride thee, O Diogenes!" Unperturbed, the philosopher replied, "But I am not derided." Diogenes, who lived from 410-320 B.C., understood that truth, if it is truth, can never be truly harmed by mockery, ridicule or derision .... nor can those who promote it. Falsehood, on the other hand, will easily wither under intense and finely focused disparagement. Thus, ridicule and mockery have long been employed as legitimate devices for distinguishing fact from fallacy.

There is a fine line, however, between responsible ridicule and malicious mockery, and what begins as an honorable effort to separate truth from falsehood can quickly deteriorate into vicious villainy. Thus, there is indeed a fine art to practicing what might be termed godly mockery. Since so few people have mastered this art, most critics suggest this device should not be utilized at all. Some even believe it sinful to employ it. That is a case of casting out the baby with the bath water, however. There is no need to be so radical, if one is simply willing to be responsible.

A scalpel in the hands of a surgeon may result in healing for the one upon whom he uses this blade. In the hands of a sadist that same instrument will inflict harm. It is not the device itself, but the mindset of the one who would employ it, that determines the nature of the outcome. The same with mockery. It can result in suffering or salvation depending upon the heart and mind of the mocker. Some young lads, for example, mocked Elisha and were torn up by two female bears (2 Kings 2:23-24), whereas Elijah mocked the false prophets of Baal (1 Kings 18:27) and won a great victory over them at Mount Carmel. The latter was skilled in the fine art of godly mockery, the former were not. The difference was one of life and death!

While it is certainly true that there are perversions and abuses of mockery, ridicule, sarcasm and other legitimate biblical devices, and that these have on occasion been maliciously employed to stir up strife and generate schisms, it is equally true that these devices have been employed responsibly resulting in positive outcomes. Just because there are fake diamonds being manufactured and sold on the market as genuine jewels doesn't mean there are no real diamonds to be found. One must simply be discerning.

The Pharisees likely did not take kindly to the picture Jesus painted of them as blind men guiding blind men head over heels into a pit (Matthew 15:14), or as legalists straining out gnats while swallowing camels (Matthew 23:24), but this was subtle mockery with a spiritual message! Earlier in the latter chapter, Jesus mocked the rigid religious leaders with these words (aptly paraphrased in the Living Bible) -- "You would think these Jewish leaders and these Pharisees were Moses, the way they keep making up so many laws! And of course you should obey their every whim!" (Matthew 23:2-3). Mockery! But, godly mockery! Jesus sought to alert the people to the arrogance, as well as the dangers, of their leaders, portraying them as Moses-mimes and mandate-makers, men whose whims were expected to be obeyed as though their pronouncements had fallen from the lips of Moses himself. I believe the people got the message. So did the leaders, who wasted no time in seeking to destroy Him. The truth conveyed by the mockery was unmistakable, and it made a lasting impression upon impressionable minds.

As noted earlier, Elijah, one of only two men spared the pain of death, as he confronted the false prophets of Baal on Mount Carmel, "mocked them" (1 Kings 18:27). Through this device the people came to perceive the ridiculous plight of these men as they called out to their lifeless idols and cut themselves in frustration over the deafening silence of their deities. The godly mockery utilized by Elijah presented a profound message to those assembled to witness this duel of deities. What was the outcome? "And when the people saw it, they fell on their faces; and they said, 'The Lord, He is God; the Lord, He is God" (1 Kings 18:39).

The prophet Ezekiel was instructed to prophesy to the people of Jerusalem that God would bring mockery against them for the purpose of shaming them. When sin has brought a people low, derision is one device which just might help facilitate their repentance. "You have brought your days to a close, and the end of your years has come. Therefore I will make you an object of scorn to the nations, and a mocking to all the lands. Those who are near and those who are far from you will mock you" (Ezekiel 22:4-5). The ultimate intent of godly mockery is to restore a people, not to ruin them! Responsible ridicule will bring reformation in its wake, although its barbs may initially be quite painful to bear.

In the first chapter of Proverbs we find Wisdom, personified, speaking rather bluntly to those who have rejected her. "Since you rejected me when I called and no one gave heed when I stretched out my hand, since you ignored all my advice and would not accept my rebuke, I in turn will laugh at your disaster; I will mock when calamity overtakes you" (Proverbs 1:24-26). As with Jerusalem during the time of the prophet Ezekiel, sometimes mockery becomes necessary as a means of bringing a people to an awareness of their spiritual plight. Godly mockery can indeed be used effectively to bring about godly responses from those who have succumbed to the folly of falsehood.

Some of God's people today are ill-informed and misguided. For a few, however, these characterizations are much too generous! A healthy dose of responsible ridicule and godly mockery might just be what the Great Physician requires for some professing His name! Some people respond well to subtleties .... others need a two-by-four between the eyes! That's where mockery, derision, sarcasm and ridicule come in. Used sparingly and responsibly by Spirit-led disciples it may well bring about spiritual healing and reformation.

Joshua Clark, from Washington state, in an article entitled "Satire and Sarcasm" (published on the Internet: July 18, 2002), made some insightful remarks that we would all do well to carefully and prayerfully consider:



TOPICS: General Discusssion
KEYWORDS: antimormonthread; beck; glennbeck; lds; mormon; mormon1; mormonism
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To: svcw

And Jesus with out stretched arms says “come as you are”. Thank You!


201 posted on 03/28/2010 9:53:17 AM PDT by roylene (Don't believe everything you think!)
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To: T Minus Four; Arrowhead; Logophile

‘zackly. A Christian never has a testimony of a church, or the Bible or ANYTHING, ANYTHING but how they were saved by the Grace of Jesus Christ and His death on the cross.

And Blessed Palm Sunday, the celebration of our Lord’s triumphant entry into Jerusalem. Hosanna!


202 posted on 03/28/2010 5:16:23 PM PDT by reaganaut ("I once was lost but now am found, was blind but now I see")
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To: svcw
What is posted is direct words, videos, articles from lds sources...

Of COURSE!

But it SOUNDS so much like someone who HATED MORMONs would say!

203 posted on 03/28/2010 7:34:41 PM PDT by Elsie (Heck is where people, who don't believe in Gosh, think they are not going...)
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To: Elsie

bttt


204 posted on 03/29/2010 9:23:56 AM PDT by reaganaut ("I once was lost but now am found, was blind but now I see")
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To: reaganaut
Sleeper troll at #191 and I remember another LDS’er saying the exact same thing a few days ago. hmmm...looks like a duplicate acct.

I have been here longer than you reaganaut. And I have never had another account. Like everything else i read on these forums, more baseless accusations which serve no purpose but to ridicule the poster. I choose not to participate too often in this worthless environment of mincing and parsing of words that you and all your ilk live your lives for, hating the LDS people. Besides, I am too busy trying to help the Savior save God's children from the likes of stupid religions like protestants who have not a tittle of God's authority, speaking presumptuously from a bully pulpit of which they bark like dogs.

205 posted on 03/30/2010 12:19:54 AM PDT by Arrowhead
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To: Arrowhead; colorcountry; Colofornian; Elsie; svcw; Zakeet; Tennessee Nana; FastCoyote; ...

I am too busy trying to help the Savior save God’s children from the likes of stupid religions like protestants who have not a tittle of God’s authority,

- - - - - - - -
Wow, just WOW.

You can’t help save anyone. Typical LDS arrogance.

The LDS authority is the one that is made up. My authority comes from God.


206 posted on 03/30/2010 7:21:12 AM PDT by reaganaut (Ex-mormon, now Christian - "I once was lost but now am found, was blind but now I see")
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To: reaganaut; Arrowhead
Wow. That pretty much sums up a century plus of lds thought about Christians. Finally an lds who speaks the truth about a portion of what lds believe. stupid religions like protestants who have not a tittle of God’s authority,
207 posted on 03/30/2010 7:29:32 AM PDT by svcw (Religion is like giving someone who is dying of thirst mouthwash.)
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To: svcw

Seriously. I’m keeping that post for future reference.


208 posted on 03/30/2010 7:31:54 AM PDT by reaganaut (Ex-mormon, now Christian - "I once was lost but now am found, was blind but now I see")
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To: Arrowhead
Besides, I am too busy trying to help the Savior save God's children from the likes of stupid religions like protestants who have not a tittle of God's authority, speaking presumptuously from a bully pulpit of which they bark like dogs.

Real *Christian* attitude there.

Another reason to not listen to the LDS when they come to my door.

209 posted on 03/30/2010 7:32:27 AM PDT by metmom (Welfare was never meant to be a career choice.)
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To: metmom
Another reason to not listen to the LDS when they come to my door.

I still have never had one come to my door. A couple of J.W.s but no Mormons.

I hope they realize they are missing out on a possible convert.

I hope they realize they are missing out on a possible convert.

Uh oh, I can't tell a whopper that big without letting folks know I am only a joshin'.

Besides, I've always wanted to quote myself!

God bless you, one and all. It's another beautiful Lord's day.

210 posted on 03/30/2010 7:41:24 AM PDT by Graybeard58
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To: Graybeard58

When I asked them how they could reconcile Jesus being a separate deity from God the Father and not break the first commandment by insisting that we go to God through Jesus and at the same time not having other gods before Him, they looked like they were going to be hit by a train.


211 posted on 03/30/2010 7:46:05 AM PDT by metmom (Welfare was never meant to be a career choice.)
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To: svcw

bitttt


212 posted on 03/30/2010 8:08:15 AM PDT by svcw (Religion is like giving someone who is dying of thirst mouthwash.)
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To: Arrowhead
I am too busy trying to help the Savior save God's children from the likes of stupid religions like protestants who have not a tittle of God's authority, speaking presumptuously from a bully pulpit of which they bark like dogs.

Wow, at last, a Mo who had the guts to actually spout what you all probably believe! Awesome!

213 posted on 03/30/2010 10:08:30 AM PDT by T Minus Four ("You do not have soul, you ARE a soul. You have a body." C.S. Lewis)
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To: Arrowhead; restornu
mincing and parsing of words

If you aren't Resty, you two must be in cahoots.

214 posted on 03/30/2010 10:09:29 AM PDT by T Minus Four ("You do not have soul, you ARE a soul. You have a body." C.S. Lewis)
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To: reaganaut
I am too busy trying to help the Savior

If you were a Christian you would realize that you are a speck of dust to Jesus, not worthy of His attention and certainly not capable of helping Him in any way whatsoever.

Maybe the Mormon savior needs help, being a former human and all.

215 posted on 03/30/2010 10:14:21 AM PDT by T Minus Four ("You do not have soul, you ARE a soul. You have a body." C.S. Lewis)
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To: reaganaut
Nah no sleeper troll just LDS SOP response. Train the same sound the same.
216 posted on 03/30/2010 10:37:14 AM PDT by ejonesie22 (Palin bashers on freerepublic, like a fart in Church...)
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To: reaganaut
I should not have read that with a mouthful of Mtn Dew...

Have to clean up once I can quit laughing...

217 posted on 03/30/2010 10:42:35 AM PDT by ejonesie22 (Palin bashers on freerepublic, like a fart in Church...)
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To: reaganaut

I am keeping it for future laughs...


218 posted on 03/30/2010 10:44:59 AM PDT by ejonesie22 (Palin bashers on freerepublic, like a fart in Church...)
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To: metmom

I like that.

I love the looks on their faces when I tell them that my husband and I WILL be together forever, for eternity, right next to each other worshiping at the Throne since we are both Christians.

They just don’t get it.


219 posted on 03/30/2010 10:56:35 AM PDT by reaganaut (Ex-mormon, now Christian - "I once was lost but now am found, was blind but now I see")
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To: T Minus Four

Amen T


220 posted on 03/30/2010 10:57:20 AM PDT by reaganaut (Ex-mormon, now Christian - "I once was lost but now am found, was blind but now I see")
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