Posted on 03/23/2010 5:44:17 PM PDT by delacoert
Opponents of satire and sarcasm argue that the mockery behind such monikers and books is not grounded in the love of Christ that is best manifested in charity toward enemies. They say that such ridicule is entirely against Paul’s command in 2 Cor. 6:3 to “give no offense in anything, that our ministry may not be blamed.” And in addition, they say that such sarcastic remarks about theological opponents ignore the fact that we are still brothers in the Lord despite doctrinal differences, and thus a spirit of sectarianism is promoted rather than a spirit of unity in Christ.
While there definitely are perversions of satire that are intended only to stir up strife and dispute, you cannot toss out the principle of Biblical sarcasm just because of its perversions. This is akin to the argument that Christianity is a sham because there are hypocrites calling themselves Christians. Just because there are fake diamonds being manufactured and sold as genuine doesn’t mean true diamonds don’t exist. And so offensive satire should only lead us to seek out what Biblical satire looks like.
Tremendous insights can be gained by looking at Christ’s diatribe against the Pharisee’s in Matthew 23. In vv. 24-27 Jesus says,
Ye blind guides, which strain at a gnat, and swallow a camel. Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye make clean the outside of the cup and of the platter, but within they are full of extortion and excess. Thou blind Pharisee, cleanse first that which is within the cup and platter, that the outside of them may be clean also. Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye are like unto whited sepulchres, which indeed appear beautiful outward, but are within full of dead men’s bones, and of all uncleanness.
This passage and the rest of the chapter show that the Christianity of the Bible is not always as “nice” or “kind” as we would like. The “love of Christ” is not so warm and nonconfrontational as is commonly assumed. Rather, when there is an antithesis between two groups of people, mere intellectual wrangling can rarely resolve the conflict, and often more inflationary language is required. Christ used this method of caricaturing to show the distinction between His followers and the “blind guides” and “whited sepulchres” that were the scribes and Pharisees.
Also indicative of this sarcastic spirit are the references in the Psalms to laughing at your enemies and having them in derision. The image of Christianity presented in the Psalms is one both of praise to God for preserving the lives of His saints and of prayers to God to cut off evildoers and judge the wicked. Take Psalm 52:6-9:
The righteous also shall see, and fear, and shall laugh at him: Lo, this is the man that made not God his strength; but trusted in the abundance of his riches, and strengthened himself in his wickedness. But I am like a green olive tree in the house of God: I trust in the mercy of God for ever and ever. I will praise thee for ever, because thou hast done it: and I will wait on thy name; for it is good before thy saints.
Such passages as this show that although we are certainly to love our enemies and pray for their salvation, we must also remember that it is God who casts down those who strengthen themselves in wickedness, and preserves as an olive tree those who fear Him. And the revelation of this 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. In our attempts to understand how best to confront those we disagree with, we must never disregard the pattern of Scripture, as this will always lead to futility.
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. As James 5:20 says, “He which converteth the sinner from the error of his way shall save a soul from death, and shall hide a multitude of sins.” Rebuke in any form is a very gracious act when done with concern for the soul of the man in error.
Mockery should not be the form of rebuke in every situation, however. In Galatians 1:1, Paul says, “Brethren, if a man be overtaken in a fault, ye which are spiritual, restore such an one in the spirit of meekness.” Never should the usage of sarcasm in the Bible be interpreted to support immediate harshness whenever a brother errs; rather, the emphasis should first be placed on a private rebuke, as this is the first step in the Matthew 18 process.
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. And when the object of the ridicule is the heathen and the workers of iniquity, then mockery is definitely appropriate, as they don’t even share the privilege of brotherhood in Christ. These are the people David and Christ were reproving and mocking. Regarding church discipline, 1 Timothy 5:20 reads, “Them that sin rebuke before all, that others also may fear.” And this should also be the heart of any appropriate satire; that others also may fear.
So we find that there is no cookie-cutter approach to determining propriety in satire. At times it seems best to just let an error be, or to go privately to the straying brother. But at other times the shrewdest approach appears to be a public ridicule of a person’s doctrine so that others are not led astray. In order to make this judgment of suitable action, we must have a firm grasp of the basic principles and purpose of satire and then let wisdom guide our actions. If we try to lay things out unilaterally, cut and dry, then we will inevitably hurt somebody since situations are more variable than that. But if we rely on wisdom, we can have assurance that our form of rebuke will be fitting for the occasion.
In summary, we must remember that Christianity is not so limp-wristed as to avoid all mockery of wrong positions, as the examples in Scripture show that this is allowable at least in some circumstances. 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 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.
Don’t confused Salvation is by grace. I don't know what you guys are trying to say here.
placemarker
well, Christians believe that where you end up is by following the light of the world, Jesus.
When Jesus spoke again to the people, he said, "I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life." John 8:12
In him was life, and that life was the light of men. The light shines in the darkness, but the darkness has not understood it. There came a man who was sent from God; his name was John. He came as a witness to testify concerning that light, so that through him all men might believe. He himself was not the light; he came only as a witness to the light. The true light that gives light to every man was coming into the world.John 1:4-9
Resty, there is not one single thing we can do to save ourselves or to glorify ourselves. We have to GIVE UP and follow the light, Jesus. If we trust Him, He will save us. Anything we try to do on our own is insulting to God - like filthy rags.
That's what Christians know is true.
Oh I love that parable! I became a Christian rather late in the “day”, but I know that my reward will be just the ame as all believers!
I think it means that if you think salvation is by grace you are confused. That is, if I translated that correctly.
,-)
Don’t confused Salvation is by grace.
I think it means that if you think salvation is by grace you are confused. That is, if I translated that correctly.
***
Don’t put words in my mouth thank you
Salvation is by grace!
I almost fainted when I read that. I do not think I could count the number of posts by lds in the few months that say "salvation is by works".
Salvation is by grace!
- - - - - -
Define what you mean by ‘salvation’. Because the LDS mean something different by it than Christians do.
For Christians, salvation is living with Heavenly Father (in His presence) for ALL eternity.
To the LDS, salvation (by grace) is resurrection.
go contend with yourself!
Salvation is by grace!
I almost fainted when I read that. I do not think I could count the number of posts by lds in the few months that
say “salvation is by works”.
****
WRONG!
So which is it? By the grace of God through Jesus or by how much oil you have in your lamp and by not slacking?
Don’t any of you get tired of trying to provoke and tease are you all so bored or maybe losing your short term memory!
***
Salvation is by Grace! (saved)
another topic
The reward is the degree of glory one is able to endure and receive it.
Oil, light etc meaning what you have deposit in your spiritual bank account.
The cleaner the vessle the greater the Light one will be able to endure.
Example when Moses spoke to the Lord face to face the rest of the children could have not endure the Lord’s present.
I notice you did not say my definition was incorrect.
To the LDS - Salvation = resurrection only and one of the three kingdoms.
Exaltation (part of the Celestial Kingdom) and getting to the CK is based upon LDS membership and their own works.
For Christians, all will be resurrected but only those who have a faith in Christ alone are ‘saved’ by His grace not our works. For Christians, salvation IS living with God the Father.
Do you see why Christians think the LDS are being misleading when they say they believe that they are ‘saved by grace’?
I agree
Oh snap!
Will reread it more closely and try and comment more at length maybe tomorrow.
Sounds like a good article with good Biblical points.
“I also think that, in today’s climate, it’s more likely to miss the target than not.”
In today’s climate, it’s hard to figure out what is satire:
a) The U.S. President gives the Queen of England an I-pod as a gift.
b) The U.S. President fires the CEO (President?) of General Motors.
c) The Vice President of the United States of America, in discussing the Healthcare Nationalization Plan says “This is a BIIGG F’ing deal”.
. . .
1. As with beauty in the eye of the beholder and one man's junk is another man's treasure . . . so, too, fitting satire and mockery are in the eye of the beholder. It depends on who's ox is gored.
2. Usually, the huge chips on shoulders and the super thin skins tend to decide such, more even, than the blackened glasses.
3. There are probably less than 5 people who post frequently on the Rel Forum threads who seem to have any remotely reliable capacity to take satire or mockery directed at them and their perspectives and roll with such, laughing at themselves or at least noting that the satire or mockery was well done or made some fitting points or some such.
4. I don't know of ANY rabid clique Roman Catholics et al who come remotely close to being the least bit able to laugh at themselves or openly confess that some satire or mockery made some fitting points about them or their perspectives.
5. Generally speaking, it seems that such cliques hereon are pretty much like my hyper liberal associates on various forums and at the univ. They are virtually one and all extremely brittle; with huge chips on their shoulders and super thin skinned--and extremely quick to be hostile, super bitterly defensive and the like.
6. For some reason, it seems that satire etc comprises some of my best writing.
7. I find satire and mockery are potent, pointed, condensed, humorous, concise ways of making some powerful points that might take many pages to make the same points much more poorly.
8. Personally, I don't think that folks for whom the satire or mockery do not apply, need have the least bit of an emotional response to it. Let it be water off a duck.
9. On the other hand, it seems to me that virtually always, WHEN THERE'S A FIERCE RESPONSE, it seems to be a VERY RELIABLE SIGN that the arrow of the satire has struck the bull's eye. And the gored ox can't stand the mirror.
10. Whooooop-T-Do! Grow up! Learn! Grow! Go on!
11. If folks are tooooo thin skinnes, brittle, insecure, with gargantuan chips on their shoulders and more than enough bitterness and bile to curdle water . . . they probably ought not read such posts by me or by anyone else. Their blood pressure might well be better off--along with their blood vessels, hearts, and other organs influenced by cortisol.
12. I usually get a kick out of it when some Roman Catholic et al folks in the rabid cliques try to manage some satire or mockery. Very occasionally, it's witty, humorous and at least a little above average enough to be entertaining. Sadly, most of the time, it just falls flat as a vain, failed effort. Then I tend to feel embarrassed for those of that perspective.
13. My own spiritual growth was immeasureably enhanced by very witty satire & mockery directed at me. Few things could cause me to think as deeply and productively as such presentations of and challenges to my own inherent absurdities. Yeah, some of such assaults left me hurt to furious. Yet, they "hurt good" and left a redemptive result--LARGELY BECAUSE I WAS DETERMINED TO GROW--REGARDLESS OF THE INPUT.
14. I think it is crucial for all Believers to offer up everything in their day and in their lives on the altar--put it all on the altar or The Cross and wait upon God for whatever He hands back as a lesson, reward or rebuke.
15. THEN we are dealing with GOD'S PERSPECTIVE on our stuff and have no business nor any need to be the least bit upset with the mortal(s) involved. God has merely used them as messengers or catalysts.
16. Anyway--I find satire and mockery to be quite efficient and effective ways to communicate in relatively brief ways great import as well as great quantities of points that would require pages or chapters otherwise.
17. And, I love the wit and humor of such--often as much when I'm on the receiving end as when I'm the sender.
Cheers.
Sounds about right to me, dear brother in Christ!
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