The Sarcastic Word of God

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“If you’re being rude to be interesting, start again. If you’re being rude to boost your ego, start again. But above all, don’t cause divisions that haven’t already been caused by heresy.”

Ben writes a biting Razormouth essay on being as rude as Jesus.

This is of special interest to me because of a prior controversy regarding cultist Eli Soriano’s use of combative and profane language on his TV show. His supporters claim that he has authority to do so based on 1 Cor 11:1 — “Follow my example even as I follow the example of Christ.” — but his idea of “the example of Christ” seems rather selective vis-a-vis attitudes of gentleness versus “righteous” indignance.

(And yes, I played the “Jesus-is-God” card. ;)

Comments

  1. Ben says:
    2002-06-28 at 00:11

    Oh man, I was looking for that verse when I was writing the article and couldn’t find it! But I hope I’m not endorsing the actions of this Eli Soriano fellow by using similar arguments.

    About your earlier post that you linked to: It’s a good point that you made about Jesus knowing the minds of those he criticised but I don’t think the argument that the others were writing scripture is valid. Sure, they were writing divinely inspired Scripture but they were also writing as churchmen to a particular situation. They didn’t step out of their role as pastor to write the Bible.

    I believe that in the Scriptures we do have the material by which to make necessary judgments about false teachers. I also believe that it is natural to be angry about false teaching. But I doubt that most of the name calling arises from so noble a source.

  2. Emily says:
    2003-03-26 at 20:25

    If one looks at that scripture with the rest of the passages before it-and reads the entire book of 1 Corinthians through, one would see that Paul is talking about doing all things in love and not using our “freedoms” in Christ just because we can. The entire letter Paul writes is written to Corinth because they were taking their freedoms too far. They were dissregarding the customs of the time and thus dissregarding the very people they were sent to love on. “Be ye followers of me, even as I also am of Christ,” follows “Whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do all for the glory of God. Give none offence, neither to the Jews, nor to the Gentiles, nor to the Church of God. Even as I please all men in all things, not seeking my own profit, but the profit of many, that they may be saved.” Paul is asking his congregation in Corinth to follow his and Christ’s example of loving all. Anyways, I agree with Ben that this was written for a particular situation as a pastor to his flock and should not be taken out of context.

    I am enjoying reading your observations.

    God bless.