The Fine Art of Godly Mockery

Zianet ^ | April 20, 2003 | Al Maxey

[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:

• "The antithesis between the seed of the serpent and the seed of the woman can at times be found in somewhat biting laughter and mockery. Often Christians get so caught up in restraining themselves from hating their enemies that they end up thinking it is entirely unrighteous to show disdain for them or to mock them. But we find that the Bible is not devoid of ridicule for the fools, and that Christ Himself spread it rather thick on the Pharisees.

• "So we see then that sarcasm can be used righteously, but we must define the goal of sarcasm if we are to avoid the more invidious uses that hinder Christian truth. The goal of satire, as with all forms of rebuke, should be to save a person from error. Mockery should not be the form of rebuke in every situation. Yet sometimes mockery is appropriate. Once a person has spurned rebuke, and especially when other Christians are falling into this person's error, open ridicule may be an appropriate way to call them back to truth. There is no cookie-cutter approach to determining propriety in satire, but at times the shrewdest approach appears to be a public ridicule of a person's doctrine so that others are not led astray.

• "In summary, we must remember that Christianity is not so limp-wristed as to avoid all mockery of wrong positions. But we must also remember that the purpose of mockery should always be to point out error, and when mockery is causing undue offense or further entrenching of a person in their error, it should be pulled back. We must constantly keep in mind that satire, when wrongly used, can be a divisive blade, cutting brethren to pieces where a simple rebuke would have been admonishment enough; but when rightly used, satire can be an exposing light, revealing error and exhorting to repentance. So let us use satire with wisdom, and pray for such unity in the faith that satire will become entirely unnecessary."

[restornu]

I really don’t care who or what all I am aware of is that discernment was not on duty!

But than again if the Holy Ghost was not invited...

[reaganaut]

Wuthering Heights, 1939.

[reaganaut]

ROFL. A lot of assumption there, Resty.

The problem with legalism like that is it assumes WE know best, not God.

[restornu]

Joseph Smith was pushing more than the ‘envelope’ and it got HIM killed!

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And the wicked also crucified the Lord and many of His other prophets and apostles!

[Elsie]

 

Can't say I'm surprised. :-)

 

 

Profundities follow:

 

 

 

Remember, ridicule is an ad hominem attack and is the favored refuge of those who have no sound argument, because it makes them look jovial and good-natured and hides the vicious face behind their laughing facade.

[restornu]

discernment come from the Holy Ghost not legalism

[Elsie]

[Elsie]

I really don’t care who or what all I am aware of is that discernment was not on duty!

But what are YOU?

[Invincibly Ignorant]

Remember, ridicule is an ad hominem attack and is the favored refuge of those who have no sound argument, because it makes them look jovial and good-natured and hides the vicious face behind their laughing facade.

Wow. I expected a denial. Ruh row. (smiley face, no laughing facade)

[restornu]

Nice photo of you

[Elsie]

 

And the wicked also crucified the Lord and many of His other prophets and apostles!

 

 

So; you are equating JESUS and Joseph Smith?

 

Nothing new since the old days in MORMONism...

 

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"He (Joseph Smith) is the man through whom God has spoken... yet I would not like to call him a savior, though in a certain capacity he was a god to us, and is to the nations of the earth, and will continue to be."

 - Brigham Young, Journal of Discourses 8:321

 

 

"You call us fools; but the day will be, gentlemen and ladies, whether you belong to this Church or not, when you will prize brother Joseph Smith as the Prophet of the Living God, and look upon him as a god..."

- Herber C. Kimball, Journal of Discourses 5:88

 

 

"If we get our salvation, we shall have to pass by him [Joseph Smith]; if we enter our glory, it will be through the authority he has received. We cannot get around him [Joseph Smith]"

- (as quoted in 1988 Melchizedek Priesthood Study Guide, p. 142)

 

 

There is "no salvation without accepting Joseph Smith. If Joseph Smith was verily a prophet, and if he told the truth...no man can reject that testimony without incurring the most dreadful consequences, for he cannot enter the kingdom of God"

- Joseph Fielding Smith, Doctrines of Salvation, vol. 1, p.190

 

 

"I tell you, Joseph holds the keys, and none of us can get into the celestial kingdom without passing by him. We have not got rid of him, but he stands there as the sentinel, holding the keys of the kingdom of God; and there are many of them beside him. I tell you, if we get past those who have mingled with us, and know us best, and have a right to know us best, probably we can pass all other sentinels as far as it is necessary, or as far as we may desire. But I tell you, the pinch will be with those that have mingled with us, stood next to us, weighed our spirits, tried us, and proven us: there will be a pinch, in my view, to get past them. The others, perhaps, will say, If brother Joseph is satisfied with you, you may pass. If it is all right with him, it is all right with me. Then if Joseph shall say to a man, or if brother Brigham say to a man, I forgive you your sins, "Whosoever sins ye remit they are remitted unto them;" if you who have suffered and felt the weight of transgression—if you have generosity enough to forgive the sinner, I will forgive him: you cannot have more generosity than I have. I have given you power to forgive sins, and when the Lord gives a gift, he does not take it back again."

 - Orson Hyde, Journal of Discourses, Vol. 6, p.154-155

 

 

 

"It is because the Lord called Joseph Smith that salvation is again available to mortal men.... If it had not been for Joseph Smith and the restoration, there would be no salvation,"

 - Bruce McConkie, Mormon Doctrine, p. 396, 670

 

 

[reaganaut]

Yep, but you only get the Holy Ghost from being Born Again through faith in Christ, and remains with believers, it isn’t conditional upon your ‘works”.

[Elsie]

discernment come from the Holy Ghost not legalism

Too bad the HOLY GHOST has given you NO discernment about what Joseph Smith learned was UNTRUE about PRESBYTERIANism!

[Elsie]

 

Wow. I expected a denial.

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Welcome to the Congregation of HaMishpacha Yahushua!

 

"Where there is no vision, the people perish; but he that keepeth the law, happy is he." Proverbs 29:18(IV(JST))

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The Congregation of HaMishpacha Yahushua is a new community of Bible and Book of Mormon believers within the Restoration Movement.

 

We are a funky blend of traditional yet modern, and serious yet joyful.

 

We like to think of ourselves as "Whole Gospel Netzarim" in other words we believe the whole gospel, from Genesis to Moroni!

 

We are still growing in our understanding of the whole gospel, and are discovering many wonderful things that have challenged our traditions.

 

We, the Congregation of HaMishpacha Yahushua have come to believe that the church organized on April 6th, 1830, has been scattered by the hand of YHWH.

 

We believe the intense focus by the varying churches on being the "true and living church" has only served to distract the Saints and hinder the building up of the New Jerusalem.

 

But we know the designs of YHWH will not be frustrated, and that the New Jerusalem will be built in His own due time.

 

We believe that YHWH is revealing the importance of a return to Torah (the Law) in preparation for bringing about His purposes in regards to Zion.

 

We don't see ourselves as the "true and living church" but only a branch of that church.

 

We believe it is our mission to bring the Children of Israel (especially Ephraim and Manasseh) to a remembrance of the Law YHWH gave to us anciently and to be a place to learn and live that Law. Come, grow with us and restore the vision of Zion in your heart!

 

ALL are welcome... black, white, yellow, red, short, tall, fat, skinny, ugly, beautiful, saint or sinner!

 

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[Elsie]

(For you & II!)

[Invincibly Ignorant]

Nice. You should fit in well.

[Invincibly Ignorant]

You’ve got the fine art of mockery down. You didn’t need this article. (notice I left out the word “Godly”)

[Vendome]

...He’s with her. They’ve only just begun to live. Goodbye Heathcliff. Goodbye my wild sweet Cathy.

Many girlfriends over the years have made me suffer through it. I can repeat whole sections of it. LOL

[Elsie]

[Elsie]

 

You’ve got the fine art of mockery down.

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Joseph Smith was a famous Preacher in the Eastern USA. His teaching empire grew to include acquisition of valuable printing assets and intimate dealings with the Missouri courts.

 

 He devoted several years of his early life to exploratory service, finally taking leave to assume his dealings with various Spiritual Beings.

 

As an adjunct to his exploratory work, Mummies and papyrus are purchased from Michael Chandler.  On July 19, 1835 at age 29; Joseph began translating the papyrus. It will be known as the Book of Abraham, generating quite a lot of interest by leading archeological experts.

 

 In 1844, he was a key player in a vital investigation run by the authorities in Carthage, Hancock County, Illinois. That same month, Smith passed away during an important civic function held in his honor when the excitable group who had come to visit him pressed too many into the room he was in and his death resulted.