Language!

[andrewducker]

I just saw some mad Christian's protesting about the BBC showing Jerry Springer the Musical. One of them was waving a placard saying "Christians against Blasphemy".

This seemed remarkably obvious to me - I mean how many christian's are _for_ blasphemy.

Now, the major sign (this evening) of my senility is my inability to remember things - I'm sure there's a phrase for when part 2 of a phrase follows on so implicitly from part 1 that stating it is completely unnecessary. But I can't remember what it is.

Anyone?

Comments

Re: Blasphemy good!

[andrewducker]

You might be in favour of others having the right to say what they wish and still not want them to be blasphemous (and thus sinful), surely?

Re: Blasphemy good!

[dougs.livejournal.com]

Blasphemy: A contemptuous or profane act, utterance, or writing concerning God or a sacred entity. The act of claiming for oneself the attributes and rights of God. An irreverent or impious act, attitude, or utterance in regard to something considered inviolable or sacrosanct.

Certainly some of these things are sinful. But more sinful than failing to love the LORD your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind, and with all your strength (a sin which we assume they're already committing)? More sinful than avarice, lust, sloth, wrath, pride, gluttony or envy? Perhaps not. So it affords me the grace of giving them the gift of forgiveness, and a hook for introducing them to what they're missing.

Re: Blasphemy good!

[andrewducker]

Less sinful than many other things certainly - but still something you'd want to be against, surely? (While obviously being forgiving and tolerant of).

I'm against people being racist, but forgiving/tolerant of it - on the grounds that I think Free Speech is more important. But I'm still against it.

Re: Blasphemy good!

[dougs.livejournal.com]

There are missionaries who do their best work amongst people who are in thrall to a particular sin. Who work in drug rehab, for example. For whom the sin symptom points to an underlying problem that can be addressed, can be fixed.

Blasphemy is like that. It's a sin, yes -- but it's a symptom of something underlying, something that can be improved. Something broken in the blasphemer's relationship with God, if that's an admissable diagnosis, but also something broken in their relationship with other people. Without the blasphemy, the broken relationships would be harder to spot, harder to fix.

If I have a ministry amongst the Godless crowds amongst whom I move, it's a ministry which exercises itself by being tolerant of (amongst other things) blasphemy, being prepared to listen without judging, and being available to help people repair what's broken behind the scenes.

Blasphemy's a gift, a precious stone, a pearl that makes that irritating bit of grit easier to spot, easier to handle, easier to clear away.

</sermon>

Bed now. Further discussion in the morning.