‘God Cannot Be Mocked’

 

As a teenager, I was easily offended. Any perceived slight would earn an immediate “That’s not fair!” to which adults within earshot would either roll their eyes or ignore. (I didn’t think that was fair either, nor do my tween daughters today.) At 15, I became an evangelical Christian and appended this teenage whininess to my faith. When evil sinners denigrated my God or my inchoate beliefs, I would angrily condemn their blasphemies. After all the Good Book states, “God cannot be mocked.” The Big Guy upstairs needs an uptight high schooler to defend His honor!

Wednesday we had a vastly more violent reaction to religious offense. As is all too common, Islamist radicals murdered individuals who mocked not their God, but a flawed human whom they claim as a prophet. Jihadists never seem as defensive about Islam’s other prophets, be they Jesus, Moses or Jonah. No, only the scimitar-swinging Mohammed is so fragile that he cannot even be illustrated without a bloodbath of vengeance.

In the Navy and in college, I was surrounded by petulant atheists who took joy in denigrating traditional religious beliefs. By then I’d learned that God was fully equipped to protect His reputation from their silly insults.

“Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked.” It doesn’t say we shouldn’t mock Him (though we probably shouldn’t) or that we will be punished if we do (though we might be). No, it states that He cannot be mocked — any more than we can be mocked by flies crashing into our windshield.

The staff of Charlie Hebdo not only ridiculed Islam, but furiously lampooned Judaism, Christianity and other religious beliefs. They wasted barrels of ink, intellect and artistry trying to mock their Creator. In that they failed.

But the team succeeded in their pursuit of free speech and all-too-rare classical liberalism. Their murderers may have punished them for their art, but ensured that Charlie Hebdo’s defiant message receives more exposure than ever. Several media outlets will cower while others take up the pens of Charbonnier, Cabu, Wolinski, and Verlhac to draw thousands of new blasphemies against this fragile prophet.

I’ve never claimed theological expertise in any religion. However, the terror attack on Charlie Hebdo reveals the deep insecurity and faithlessness of zealots who boast of being the world’s most pious. How pathetic is a god who needs a bumbling cloud of flies to defend him? How weak is one’s faith that he doesn’t trust this allegedly omnipotent deity to avenge himself?

They claim to follow Allah, but believe only in their lord of the flies.

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  1. user_554634 Member
    user_554634
    @MikeRapkoch

    AMEN!

    Or does that offend the prophet?

    • #1
  2. user_517406 Inactive
    user_517406
    @MerinaSmith

    Well said, especially the point that God cannot be mocked by mere humans.

    • #2
  3. user_5186 Inactive
    user_5186
    @LarryKoler

    Amin.
    Yes, thanks for the exegesis, Jon. I have just assumed the correct phrase was that God should not be mocked. I’m grateful to be corrected.

    • #3
  4. x Inactive
    x
    @CatoRand

    Mike Rapkoch:AMEN!

    Or does that offend the prophet?

    I think it would be a step in the right direction if those of us not of the islamic faith ceased referring to Mohammed as “the prophet.”

    • #4
  5. Nanda Panjandrum Member
    Nanda Panjandrum
    @

    Thank you, Jon!  Wisdom, let us be attentive…

    • #5
  6. Gödel's Ghost Inactive
    Gödel's Ghost
    @GreatGhostofGodel

    so is my word that goes out from my mouth: It will not return to me empty, but will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it.

    Isaiah 55:11

    • #6
  7. user_657161 Member
    user_657161
    @

    Romans 12:19 New King James Version (NKJV)
    19 Beloved, do not avenge yourselves, but rather give place to wrath; for it is written, “Vengeance is Mine, I will repay,”[a] says the Lord.

    I know, I know but sometimes I’d like to think that He doesn’t mind if we lend a shoulder and help push.

    • #7
  8. Douglas Inactive
    Douglas
    @Douglas

    Cato Rand:

    Mike Rapkoch:AMEN!

    Or does that offend the prophet?

    I think it would be a step in the right direction if those of us not of the islamic faith ceased referring to Mohammed as “the prophet.”

    As someone else put it today, non-Muslims referring to Mohammad as “The Prophet Mohammad” is the curious equivalent of non-Christians referring to Jesus as “The Lord Jesus Christ”.

    • #8
  9. Misthiocracy Member
    Misthiocracy
    @Misthiocracy

    “The Lord laughs at the wicked, for he knows their day is coming.” Psalm 37:13

    See, God does have a sense of humour!

    • #9
  10. x Inactive
    x
    @CatoRand

    Douglas:

    Cato Rand:

    Mike Rapkoch:AMEN!

    Or does that offend the prophet?

    I think it would be a step in the right direction if those of us not of the islamic faith ceased referring to Mohammed as “the prophet.”

    As someone else put it today, non-Muslims referring to Mohammad as “The Prophet Mohammad” is the curious equivalent of non-Christians referring to Jesus as “The Lord Jesus Christ”.

    Exactly.

    • #10
  11. user_554634 Member
    user_554634
    @MikeRapkoch

    Douglas:

    Cato Rand:

    Mike Rapkoch:AMEN!

    Or does that offend the prophet?

    I think it would be a step in the right direction if those of us not of the islamic faith ceased referring to Mohammed as “the prophet.”

    As someone else put it today, non-Muslims referring to Mohammad as “The Prophet Mohammad” is the curious equivalent of non-Christians referring to Jesus as “The Lord Jesus Christ”.

    I’m just looking over my shoulder.

    • #11
  12. PsychLynne Inactive
    PsychLynne
    @PsychLynne

    Well put Jon!  and commenters!

    I grew up in the South in the evangelical Christian world and “The Big Guy upstairs needs an uptight high schooler to defend His honor!” brings back a lot of memories.  

    • #12
  13. iWc Coolidge
    iWc
    @iWe

    I think Jon has it exactly wrong, and the Islamists have it right. In this case.

    We are G-d’s emissaries in this world. And what we do matters. That much is quite clear. So our words and deeds matter, at least in the perceptions of other people.

    So G-d can be mocked or praised, reduced or elevated in the eyes of humanity. And that is true for a false deity as well as the true one, since even a false deity is real in the eyes of his adherents.

    Islamists understand this, which is why they hate and fear humor – and why we must be ruthless in deploying it.

    • #13
  14. iWc Coolidge
    iWc
    @iWe

    In a way, the terrorists give people more credit than do enlightened westerners.

    • #14
  15. user_5186 Inactive
    user_5186
    @LarryKoler

    iWc: So G-d can be mocked or praised, reduced or elevated in the eyes of humanity.

    Somehow I don’t think that God sees things through “the eyes of humanity.”

    Sorry, I think Jon is right.

    • #15
  16. Tuck Inactive
    Tuck
    @Tuck

    Misthiocracy: See, God does have a sense of humour!

    And he always gets the last laugh.

    • #16
  17. Nanda Panjandrum Member
    Nanda Panjandrum
    @

    iWc: Islamists understand this, which is why they hate and fear humor – and why we must be ruthless in deploying it.

    iWc: I *think* I understand/agree with your take here; could you illustrate the ‘deployment’ of humor in this way, please and thank you?

    • #17
  18. iWc Coolidge
    iWc
    @iWe

    Larry Koler:

    iWc: So G-d can be mocked or praised, reduced or elevated in the eyes of humanity.

    Somehow I don’t think that God sees things through “the eyes of humanity.”

    I am a fundamentalist when it comes to sources. The Torah says that G-d’s spirit is in Adam and in all of mankind.

    We are the vessels for the divine spirit. Which is why we wear the four-cornered fringes to remind us of the tabernacle (the same color every 4 amos), and the throne of G-d (four legs), in addition to the waters above and below. We are supposed to be reminded, every day, that we are in fact connected to G-d – by our very souls.

    • #18
  19. iWc Coolidge
    iWc
    @iWe

    Nanda Panjandrum:

    iWc: Islamists understand this, which is why they hate and fear humor – and why we must be ruthless in deploying it.

    iWc: I *think* I understand/agree with your take here; could you illustrate the ‘deployment’ of humor in this way, please and thank you?

    I think Richard Harvester does a better job explaining it than I do in this thread.

    I have a watch (pre-Hong Kong unification) that features Chaiman Mao waving his hand as the second hand, looking like a perfect idiot. A man who killed 100 million people, an automated clown on my wrist.

    We should ridicule and humiliate the Bad Guys. Make them look bad to everyone else, and not with “serious” discussions about whether they are cowards or not, but with anything and everything that makes other people laugh at them.

    • #19
  20. Nanda Panjandrum Member
    Nanda Panjandrum
    @

    Got it, iWc…Can *whole-heartedly* sign on here…It’s like “Scripture/tradition jokes” on a youth retreat:

    [After the wedding at Cana]:

    Mary: Can I get you anything, Joseph?

    Joseph: A glass of water, please…but keep that son of yours away from it.

    One has to have knowledge of the story of the miracle at Cana to laugh.

    – also –

    Why do the nations protest and the peoples conspire in vain?…The one enthroned in heaven laughs; the Lord derides them[.] -Ps. 2:1 & 4.

    • #20
  21. iWc Coolidge
    iWc
    @iWe

    We can – and should – make fun of the Arabic-language shows that describe how best to beat your wife, or whether one is allowed to eat the meat of an animal one has raped.

    Better to laugh than to cry.

    • #21
  22. Tuck Inactive
    Tuck
    @Tuck

    iWc: …whether one is allowed to eat the meat of an animal one has raped.

    Note to self: skip the lamb dishes at Middle Eastern restaurants…

    • #22
  23. iWc Coolidge
    iWc
    @iWe

    Tuck:

    iWc: …whether one is allowed to eat the meat of an animal one has raped.

    Note to self: skip the lamb dishes at Middle Eastern restaurants…

    Here is Steyn on the subject

    Signora Fallaci then moves on to the livelier examples of contemporary Islam — for example, Ayatollah Khomeini’s “Blue Book” and its helpful advice on romantic matters: “If a man marries a minor who has reached the age of nine and if during the defloration he immediately breaks the hymen, he cannot enjoy her any longer.” I’ll say. I know it always ruins my evening. Also: “A man who has had sexual relations with an animal, such as a sheep, may not eat its meat. He would commit sin.” Indeed. A quiet cigarette afterwards as you listen to your favourite Johnny Mathis LP and then a promise to call her next week and swing by the pasture is by far the best way. It may also be a sin to roast your nine-year-old wife, but the Ayatollah’s not clear on that.

    • #23
  24. MLH Inactive
    MLH
    @MLH

    Nanda Panjandrum:Got it, iWc…Can *whole-heartedly* sign on here…It’s like “Scripture/tradition jokes” on a youth retreat:

    [After the wedding at Cana]:

    Mary: Can I get you anything, Joseph?

    Joseph: A glass of water, please…but keep that son of yours away from it.

    One has to have knowledge of the story of the miracle at Cana to laugh.

    – also –

    Why do the nations protest and the peoples conspire in vain?…The one enthroned in heaven laughs; the Lord derides them[.] -Ps. 2:1 & 4.

    Joseph was a teetotaler?

    • #24
  25. Ross C Inactive
    Ross C
    @RossC

    I am inclined to think that the terrorists will win on this one.  I think that the press will be cowed with respect showing or discussing things that Muslims deem blasphemous, at least in the medium to long term.  The French government was unable to protect these journalists and the Muslims were able to enforce their laws in a country that does not observe sharia.

    Many of the images that have been produced aim at a narrative that the pen is mightier than the sword, but I think we have far to go before we can say that is true.

    • #25
  26. user_5186 Inactive
    user_5186
    @LarryKoler

    iWc:

    Larry Koler:

    iWc: So G-d can be mocked or praised, reduced or elevated in the eyes of humanity.

    Somehow I don’t think that God sees things through “the eyes of humanity.”

    I am a fundamentalist when it comes to sources. The Torah says that G-d’s spirit is in Adam and in all of mankind.

    We are the vessels for the divine spirit. Which is why we wear the four-cornered fringes to remind us of the tabernacle (the same color every 4 amos), and the throne of G-d (four legs), in addition to the waters above and below. We are supposed to be reminded, every day, that we are in fact connected to G-d – by our very souls.

    You are correct. I should have said it differently. Of course, He sees things through our eyes. He knows how we feel about things. The question here, though, is: what does He feel about things? Hard to answer that question.

    • #26
  27. iWc Coolidge
    iWc
    @iWe

    Larry Koler: The question here, though, is: what does He feel about things? Hard to answer that question.

    The Torah tells us. He loves Loving-kindness. He wants us to follow his commandments, to be holy. He wants us to despise evil. He hates it when people treat each other poorly.

    G-d spells his feelings out in quite some detail.

    • #27
  28. user_5186 Inactive
    user_5186
    @LarryKoler

    iWc:

    Larry Koler: The question here, though, is: what does He feel about things? Hard to answer that question.

    The Torah tells us. He loves Loving-kindness. He wants us to follow his commandments, to be holy. He wants us to despise evil. He hates it when people treat each other poorly.

    G-d spells his feelings out in quite some detail.

    His commandments and rules and recommendations don’t tell what He feels. Not really. I’m sorry to quibble with you on this because you might well be right and also I can’t speak from any personal knowledge. I admire your approach in using scripture. Being well-grounded in the Bible is definitely a way to study God but it is not sufficient for me. God is a great mystery — “Mystery, thy name is God.”

    • #28
  29. iWc Coolidge
    iWc
    @iWe

    Larry Koler: His commandments and rules and recommendations don’t tell what He feels.

    Even when the Torah talks about G-d’s anger and love and commitment and jealousy?

    Larry Koler: God is a great mystery — “Mystery, thy name is God.”

    I understand that idea is part of the Christian/Greek tradition. But it is not a notion found in the Torah itself. The prophets get more there.. “My thoughts are not your thoughts” (Isaiah), but that is by way of explaining G-d’s own thoughts. Which means, to me, that we are supposed to be able to relate to them.  Or at least give it a good shot.

    • #29
  30. Douglas Inactive
    Douglas
    @Douglas

    Ross C:I am inclined to think that the terrorists will win on this one. I think that the press will be cowed with respect showing or discussing things that Muslims deem blasphemous, at least in the medium to long term. The French government was unable to protect these journalists and the Muslims were able to enforce their laws in a country that does not observe sharia.

    Many of the images that have been produced aim at a narrative that the pen is mightier than the sword, but I think we have far to go before we can say that is true.

    “The lesson today is, unfortunately, terrorism works” – Jim Geraghty on his Twitter feed yesterday.

    • #30
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