Satire
Jewish and Christian Apologists have always used satire in the defense of the faith and the ridicule of unbelief. The satire of Elijah on Mt. Carmel was as brilliant as it was brutal (1 Kings 18:27). Jesus and Paul did not lack in the use of satire (Gal. 5:12). John Bunyan and many great Christian writers and preachers used satire as a sword to cut to the heart of unbelief. Did they offend people and hurt their feelings? You bet they did! Did they care? NO! In Matt. 15:12-14 we read,
Then the disciples came and said to Him,
“Do You know that the Pharisees were offended
when they heard this statement?”
But He answered and said,
“Every plant that My heavenly Father did not plant shall be rooted up”.
“Ignore them.”
“They are blind guides of the blind.”
“And if a blind man guides a blind man, both will fall into a pit.”
Jesus had just ridiculed them and called them “hypocrites” for robbing their parents in the name of God (vs. 1-18). Did the Pharisees “feel hurt” when Jesus publicly called them names and described them as thieves? Yes. Did Jesus run over to them, get down on his knees, and beg their forgiveness for hurting their feelings? No. But that is what modern evanjellyfish Christianity would tell him to do.
Just before Walter Martin died, he had been scheduled to speak at a conference on apologetics in Rockford, Illinois. The conference organizers asked me to take his place and give a main lecture on “The Cost of Discernment.” Here is the recording.
Length of audio: 43:10
In that message, I demonstrated from Scripture that “being sensitive” and doing your best to avoid “hurting people’s feelings” are vices, not virtues. If getting people mad, making them cry, and hurting their feelings were sins, then hell is the greatest sin God commits! God does not give a rip about your feelings. He wants you to be holy, not happy.
Walter had been condemned as mean, rude, and offensive by the lampooned cultists and occultists. He was my friend for 27 years and, believe me, he used satire a lot. It was part of his appeal to those who had not bowed the knee before the idol of sensitivity training. Those of you who love apologetics now understand why you are accused of “poor taste,” “meanness,” etc. Spineless evanjellyfish are everywhere condemning us left and right for following the example of the prophets, the apostles and Jesus Himself.
I spoke at Biola University on Islam and young girl came up all upset because I said that Muhammad was stupid as well as evil. I used the comic book, Muhammad’s Believe it or Else, as a satire of a nut case who got an army to do his bidding. She had tears in her eyes and demanded to know if the feelings of any Muslims were hurt when I called their prophet stupid. I asked her to email me, as there was no time at the lecture to open the Bible with her. We began to correspond and, in the end, she agreed that the prophets, the apostles, Jesus, and God the Father ridiculed and mocked people and called them names such as “stupid” (ex. Jer. 10:8-21). She replied: “BUT WE SHOULD NOT FOLLOW THEIR EXAMPLE BUT BE NICE!” Such ignorance! Such stupidity is only rebellion covered up in the name of being nice.
You will never be effective as an apologist until you learn not to be man-pleasers but God-pleasers. Fear the frown of God more than the frown of man. The smile of God should mean more to you than the smile of man.
“Wickedpeedia,” the highly unreliable and liberal-biased online encyclopedia, usually doesn’t get things right. But because anyone can submit an entry, and because they can’t censor everyone, sometimes a good article appears that is right on the money. The entry on satire is an example of a good article.
14 Comments, Comment or Ping
5pointbaptist
Amen! I am often refered to as mean, rude, arrogant, and so on. I have been suspended from apologetic forums for using satire. Though I believe it is biblically valid, I admit that I do not always use it the way I should. There are times when I might go too far or when it is uncalled for. I pray that I would better learn to use this technique to the glory of our Lord.
Your CD on this was awesome and opened my eyes. Thank you.
Nov 6th, 2007
Stephen
Dr. Morey,
I really needed to hear this, thank you! Lately I have been taking a lot heat from the PC crowd for calling N.T. Wright a heretic in my new perspective articles. Fearing the frown of God more than the frown of man, like you said, keeps me in the game. Seminary students and pastors from all over are emailing me and accusing me of dishonoring a brother who names Christ as Lord. Of course when I respond and show them the quote, source, and page they ignore it and continue to caution and warn me. The funny thing is that they all add this strange disclosure at the bottom of their emails that prohibits the use of the transmission without written consent.
Nov 6th, 2007
Mario
Definitely need to hear this! Praise God, we can be bold and strong for Christ! Today’s evanjellyfish church with its weak, watered down teaching creates men that are super sensitive, man pleasers! Being delivered from one of the big tent movements into the Doctrines of Grace drives me as a Christian to realize that it is the Lord Jesus Christ alone who is to be pleased! There is a cost that comes with being biblical! By grace let us press on together in this battle for we have the ultimate example of Messiah to follow! Thanks Pastor for not compromising the Scriptures and imparting to us the glorious treasure of Biblical Doctrine which empowers us by grace, to take the battle into the very gates of the enemy! Jude3, 24-25
Nov 6th, 2007
Tad
Thank you, Dr. Bob, for bringing balance back to Christianity! How is it that so many “Christians” believe the Gospel should never offend?!
No Hairdresser Jesus here
Nov 6th, 2007
Firstperson i
WOW! That lecture was awesome! It opened my eyes to so much. I will have to get a hold of that audio some how.
Sep 23rd, 2008
Bryan Hupperts
The whole body of Christ needs to man-up. Thought-provoking satire is beautiful!
Feb 27th, 2009
Brian
This is exactly what I needed to hear… you have no idea how this has helped me realize… I made the right decision in leaving this Christian nonsense behind me. God bless you – for showing the true dark ire and evil nature of the Fundamentalist Christian heart.
Jul 13th, 2009
Servus Absurdus
This guy really gets on my nerves. Yes, Jesus insulted the Pharisees, and they indeed deserved it- and the prophets as well were not “nice” guys. But notice how he left this out “Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with GENTLENESS and RESPECT” 1 Peter 3:15. Yes, sometimes it is necessary to use forceful language, but it all depends on the specific situation. There is a time for everything (Eccl 3). I heard Mr. Morey speak on the subject of “Does God love Everybody” and his demeanor was so repulsive I do not see how that could bring anyone, especially a non-believer, closer to God.
In Conclusion, tactics such as are described in Mr. Morey’s article here are only meant to be used on arrogant, stubborn fellows such as Dr. Robert Morey himself.
Nov 13th, 2009
Travis
Servus Absurdus
How do you know what his intentions were, maybe they were just instructional for specific situations.
Could it be you whom is being stubborn, as well as Mr. Morey.
I agree with you it doesnt always need to be done, but I think Mr. Moreys life is an example of that as well, he doesnt deal with all people like that, just the “Pharisees” and the “mockers” and the like.
Dont be so quick to understand the heart of men from a BLOG POST!
Nov 13th, 2009
Servus Absurdus
I was more annoyed with a video I saw of his, entitled “God Doesn’t Love Everyone” than I was at this blog post, and my frustration poured into my comment. I will admit I was probably too judgmental, but it is still important to to remember that this type of apologetics is only beneficial in certain situations.
Nov 13th, 2009
Travis
Servus Absurdus
Agreed,
it is a very emotional doctrine due to what is taught today in churches, it brings up a lot of questions that I would say need to be hashed out in scripture.
Nov 13th, 2009
Brad B
I kinda get annoyed everytime someone slings 1 Pet. 3:15 around for the purpose of putting all of the duty on the Christian to take abuse. The scriptures dont demand this and Jesus’ words to that effect were to not cast your pearls before swine. He also instructed the disciples to shake the dirt off their feet to those cities that didn’t receive them.
I honestly have to ask, is 1 Pet 3:15 even being exegeted properly? Maybe someone [Stephen] : ) can shed some light on this. Since I read several different translations with regularity, I have opportunity to notice different nuances in the different versions.
Here is the NKJV: “But sanctify the Lord God [fn] in your hearts, and always [be] ready to [give] a defense to everyone who asks you a reason for the hope that is in you, with meekness and fear;”
Here is the KJV: ” But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and [be] ready always to [give] an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear: ”
Here is the NASB. “but sanctify Christ as Lord in your hearts, always {being} ready to make a defense to everyone who asks you to give an account for the hope that is in you, yet with gentleness and reverence”
Here is the ESV. ” but in your hearts regard Christ the Lord as holy, always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you; 1 Pet 3:16 yet do it with gentleness and respect…”
Now I ask, why is the comma placed after the word “you”? In the KJV, it could easily be understood to mean that the *asker* is the one to have meekness and fear. This understanding would square with other scriptures where the prophets and even Jesus dealt with hostile opponents, not just “honest” confused seekers.
The ESV seems to have taken this meekness thing even further down the road, putting the “gentleness and respect” phrase into the latter verse where it leaves no room for the Christian to answer fools according to their folly. Not being a greek student, I dont know what to make of this, but it’d be nice to have it looked into. BTW, I”m no KJV only nut.
Nov 13th, 2009
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