Don’t mock my brother. (That’s my job!)
Here is something I find interesting: when a non-Christian mocks any Christian, other Christians (even if they do not share the view being mocked) will take this as an affront to the religion as a whole and they will stoke their righteous fires. But Christians feel free to mock other Christians without viewing this as an affront to Jesus (so long as they are mocking another Christian who doesn’t share their views).
Examples? Mainstream Christians joking about the Amish. Or joking about tree-hugging hippy-dippy Christians that “compost for Christ” har har har. Or liberal Christians joking about conservative ones. Or the constant infighting between Republicans and Democrats, who all too often seem to lose all respect for the FAITH of their counterparts just because they don’t share political views. Or any time people joke callously about a particular theology, completely oblivious to the fact that someone in the room with them may still share it. A good example of this is women who will mock the concept of being submissive to their husband- how hurtful is it for another woman who still holds that belief as sacred to hear herself being categorized as a lobotomized extension of her husband’s will?
How odd is it that if a non-Christian were to say “hey, hippy, are you sure you’re high on God and not the special cookies?” all Christians in the proximity would call to arms, but when a fellow Christian does it, it is iron sharpening iron?
I think it’s the same mentality that allows a big brother to mock his sister, but punch another guy in the face if said guy does the same.
Or, more accurately, situational hypocrisy.
Something to think about. I think we all do this- not just Christians, but any time there’s a bubble culture it takes on that kind of tone. A “we can rib our own but you stay OUT” tone.
Humanity is so fascinating.
faemom replied:
Isn’t that what families do?
Joking aside, since I grew up submersed in Catholicism until I was in high school, I have found it interesting to hear what people say about Catholics. Smiling as they make jokes, and laughing when they apologize when they find out I’m a Catholic. But I do joke about Catholics and other faiths. I tell myself and others that I do it because religion is too dangerous to do take it too seriously. But maybe you’re right, and I’m being hypocritical. Because I know when my husband turns all holier-than-thou-athiest, smack talking the very beliefs and people I find just as crazy, I rise to the occasion, which esculates to an all out “all relgions are crazy” vs “man must have faith” argument, which in turn makes me feel like I have a theology hang over, wondering why I even care what he thinks as I sip hot chocolate the next morning.
Is there a hypocrits anonymous?
June 9, 2009 at 5:44 am. Permalink.
Christian Beyer replied:
Yeah. I think you’re right. But then again I’ve been in situations where we’ve been ‘sharpening some iron’ and eventually someone says that Christians should not be arguing among themselves. Which implies that it’s OK to argue with non-Christians, just as long as we present to them some sort of appearance of solidarity. When of course, no matter how much we say it, couldn’t be farther from the truth.
I think we have two problems here;
First, there are too many Christians who feel compelled to tell other Christians that they are doing Christianity the wrong way.
Secondly, perhaps we no longer know what it means to be a “Christian” as there seem to be so many different opinions on the subject.
Anyway, nice post. Nice blog.
June 9, 2009 at 6:24 pm. Permalink.
Lindsey replied:
@ Faemom: Well, of COURSE that’s what families do! *lol* I just think that it’s rarely done, in this context, in the name of actually speaking truth to power. I can’t name the amount of times I’ve heard someone make a crack about Christian Liberals who can’t hold to their moral center when it might hurt their politically correct status, etc, and it BURNS. Because it really is a snide and aggressive questioning of someone else’s faith that holds no real value, other than it makes the jokester feel morally superior. Not that I’m claiming your jokes are like that, but if you can tell a joke you can’t tolerate your husband telling, perhaps you should examine why.
@ Christian: I think you put your finger on a particularly telling problem. Christians SHOULD be able to argue amongst themselves. If we can’t question and struggle with faith and doctrine, we can’t grow. My contention is that such conversations should never include mocking of any doctrine that people think is “clearly” wrong. Also I should make clear that there’s a huge difference between gentle chiding (which I do on this blog all the time) and respectful confrontation (which I do on this blog all the time) and outright mocking, which I think shows a kind of hypocrisy.
Thanks for dropping by!
June 9, 2009 at 9:38 pm. Permalink.
Christian Beyer replied:
I must admit that I have been guilty of outright mockery. Ernest Angely, Benny Hinn, that guy who punches people in the stomach down in Florida…I mean, c’mon!
Sorry.
June 9, 2009 at 11:30 pm. Permalink.
faemom replied:
Christian, that was hilarious.
June 10, 2009 at 7:53 pm. Permalink.
faemom replied:
You’re making a great point, Lindsey. My first reaction is I don’t have a malicious intent, but that’s not being truly honest. We mock what we can’t understand. That’s not right. Though I have a shirt that says “God is a girl and she’s cute.”
June 10, 2009 at 7:58 pm. Permalink.