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.
Right /sarc
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Jeepers. Thanks!
You know, my feelings are getting hurt. You won’t talk to me (pouts)
Resty, I would LOVE to know what leap of logic had you pair up the use of sarcasm with God’s promise to prepare places in heaven for his children. Do you think He was being sarcastic?
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I thought the reply was self explanatory to the quote.
“Seems there’s a few of us that can appreciate sarcasm.”
So if there are only a few there would need to be a place for those who think that way!
You know the Father house is very spacious and therefore it covers all degrees of glory!
Um.....no, sorry
Resty: “Seems there’s a few of us that can appreciate sarcasm.”
I think it's more a matter of being able to dish it out vs taking it.
Resty: "So if there are only a few there would need to be a place for those who think that way!"
are you trying to say that God is promising to make a special mansion in heaven for those who appreciate sarcasm? That doesn't sound right to me.
Resty:You know the Father house is very spacious and therefore it covers all degrees of glory!
Well, Christians don't believe in "degrees of glory". However, I know that LDS do. Whay is confusing to me is the next verse in the chapter you quoted (remember - context, context, context)
When everything is ready, I will come and get you, so that you will always be with me where I am. John 14:3
Is that right? The LDS can't believe this is true. Jesus will only visit the two highr degrees of glory, the Celestial and the Terrestial kingdoms. Those in the lower Telestial kingdom never get to see Jesus again, nor "Heavenly Father"
So is Jesus being sarcastic?
Oh noes - another of those 'Bigots'
Welllll......technically Jesus could go and visit them, but would he want to? They might use sarcasm and that would just be totally disgusting!
Well, who said the sarcastic mansions are in the lowest level of glory?
Only as far as it is correctly translated. <rolleyes>
Did I say that outloud?
oh snap
Satire, in a way, is telling the truth; in making it obvious why the object of the satire is ridiculous, error is rebuked.
Actually, not true according to their Doctrines and Covenant:
Joseph Smith taught that individuals in the telestial kingdom will be servants of God, but "where God and Christ dwell they cannot come, worlds without end";[25] however, they will receive the ministration of the Holy Ghost and beings from the terrestrial kingdom
How bizarre to think of a heaven where you will never be in the presence of God. I’m glad you’re going to be in the Christian heaven with me and all other believers CC :-) And we will glory in the presence of God forever.
When everything is ready, I will come and get you, so that you will always be with me where I am. John 14:3
Is that right? The LDS can’t believe this is true. Jesus will only visit the two highr degrees of glory, the Celestial and the Terrestial kingdoms. Those in the lower Telestial kingdom never get to see Jesus again, nor “Heavenly Father”
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It seems to me it is you who assumes Jesus will bring everyone.
Why should the slacker be rewards as well as those who strive to do the things asked them to do?
Each reward is according how much oil they have in their lamps!
REsty, you yourself just said a few posts back that all degrees of glory are included.
You: "You know the Father house is very spacious and therefore it covers all degrees of glory!"
So, it's true - you believe in earning your way to heaven rather than grace.
Gotta go for a few hours
Don’t confused Salvation is by grace.
Where you end up is by how much light you have in your lamp!
You may dismiss the degree of glory but one can only go so far as they can receive light!
1 "For the kingdom of heaven is like a householder who went out early in the morning to hire laborers for his vineyard. 2 After agreeing with the laborers for a denarius a day, he sent them into his vineyard. 3 And going out about the third hour he saw others standing idle in the market place; 4 and to them he said, `You go into the vineyard too, and whatever is right I will give you.' So they went. 5 Going out again about the sixth hour and the ninth hour, he did the same. 6 And about the eleventh hour he went out and found others standing; and he said to them, `Why do you stand here idle all day?' 7 They said to him, `Because no one has hired us.' He said to them, `You go into the vineyard too.' 8 And when evening came, the owner of the vineyard said to his steward, `Call the laborers and pay them their wages, beginning with the last, up to the first.' 9 And when those hired about the eleventh hour came, each of them received a denarius. 10 Now when the first came, they thought they would receive more; but each of them also received a denarius. 11 And on receiving it they grumbled at the householder, 12 saying, `These last worked only one hour, and you have made them equal to us who have borne the burden of the day and the scorching heat.' 13 But he replied to one of them, `Friend, I am doing you no wrong; did you not agree with me for a denarius? 14 Take what belongs to you, and go; I choose to give to this last as I give to you. 15 Am I not allowed to do what I choose with what belongs to me? Or do you begrudge my generosity?' 16 So the last will be first, and the first last."
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