You’ll either thank me for this, or be deeply concerned that I’ve lept off the cliff of cynicism. I’ve got more than a few friends with a playful sense of humor. A couple of those just uploaded a new website,The Church You Know. It is anchored by some creatively crazy videos that poke fun at ‘church’ as we’ve come to know it in the 21st Century and makes some potent points in doing so. I think many of you will enjoy these immensely. There’s also a forum if you wish to discuss them. Please be warned, however. If you don’t find sarcasm funny, or your just not in a place yet to laugh at some of the absurdities of religious institutional conformity, you might not want to click on that link.
But I know that will be hard to resist, like the fruit on a tree God warned the first two humans not too touch. But I promise, the consequences here are humorous and not too destructive.
Okay, Wayne…from me you get MORE than a “thank you”. You get fried chicken and chocolate chip cookies. And diet Coke, right?
Laughed so hard I had to close the door so I wouldn’t wake the grandkids. LOVED IT.
Kris
Okay, Wayne…from me you get MORE than a “thank you”. You get fried chicken and chocolate chip cookies. And diet Coke, right?
Laughed so hard I had to close the door so I wouldn’t wake the grandkids. LOVED IT.
Kris
Wayne, Julie and I had a good chuckle with this.
Wayne, Julie and I had a good chuckle with this.
Wayne,
As our brother says in the one clip-‘I know a clown when I see one’. You gotta love it!!
Richard
I picked a good day to check the internet. I just about peed …. oh, can I say that here? LOL
Between this and the “Jesus Movies” over on the god journey forum, I am just a mess right now.
Wayne,
As our brother says in the one clip-‘I know a clown when I see one’. You gotta love it!!
Richard
Don’t find sarcasm funny? WHO doesn’t find sarcasm funny? Sheesh, I would be DEAD if I wasn’t able to dispel some of my ANGST through sarcasm.
I know sarcasm is considered a lower form of wit; however, I’m a rectum, so that figures (those t-shirts are so good, I just gotta get me one!!!)
I picked a good day to check the internet. I just about peed …. oh, can I say that here? LOL
Between this and the “Jesus Movies” over on the god journey forum, I am just a mess right now.
Don’t find sarcasm funny? WHO doesn’t find sarcasm funny? Sheesh, I would be DEAD if I wasn’t able to dispel some of my ANGST through sarcasm.
I know sarcasm is considered a lower form of wit; however, I’m a rectum, so that figures (those t-shirts are so good, I just gotta get me one!!!)
Very Funny! Oh my, my husband and I were laughing so hard while watching those videos! Thanks so much for sharing. I also enjoyed reading the explanations of each video. It shows a true heart to know Christ.
Very Funny! Oh my, my husband and I were laughing so hard while watching those videos! Thanks so much for sharing. I also enjoyed reading the explanations of each video. It shows a true heart to know Christ.
Nice!
Sarcasm is on one of the lists of spiritual gifts isn’t it?
After watching the Attendance video, I know now why I have chronic constipation; I didn’t show up to church on time, so Jesus had to deal with all that crap. 🙂
Nice!
Sarcasm is on one of the lists of spiritual gifts isn’t it?
After watching the Attendance video, I know now why I have chronic constipation; I didn’t show up to church on time, so Jesus had to deal with all that crap. 🙂
Thanks so much for posting that link! That was great! As a former employee of an NBC affiliate I really got a kick out of it!
I wasn’t angry; I agree with the points offered about the what “church” can become. When I read the credo, I was confused about the purpose. I just don’t think this type of thing, entertaining as it may be to people particularly those wounded by institutional chuch, is going to love the the religious and the pharisees into the arms of Jesus. I don’t think it a fair argument to put off my concerns by calling me humorless. We English teachers called such bogus arguments “setting up a straw man.” I’ve studied satire and sarcasm with my twelfth grade English students. Historically it hasn’t been known capture the hearts of those it satirizes. Boy, I urge caution with this type of humor. It is naive to believe that this website won’t deeply hurt, not just offend, many people. God love extends to the humorless and the pharisees. Sarcasm is also a great cover for bitterness. I’m sorry I don’t see much “love” they profess to have in it.
Thanks so much for posting that link! That was great! As a former employee of an NBC affiliate I really got a kick out of it!
I wasn’t angry; I agree with the points offered about the what “church” can become. When I read the credo, I was confused about the purpose. I just don’t think this type of thing, entertaining as it may be to people particularly those wounded by institutional chuch, is going to love the the religious and the pharisees into the arms of Jesus. I don’t think it a fair argument to put off my concerns by calling me humorless. We English teachers called such bogus arguments “setting up a straw man.” I’ve studied satire and sarcasm with my twelfth grade English students. Historically it hasn’t been known capture the hearts of those it satirizes. Boy, I urge caution with this type of humor. It is naive to believe that this website won’t deeply hurt, not just offend, many people. God love extends to the humorless and the pharisees. Sarcasm is also a great cover for bitterness. I’m sorry I don’t see much “love” they profess to have in it.
Hi Pam, I understand what you are saying, but what words and actions are going to love the religious and the pharisees into the arms of Jesus? Christians sometime find it difficult to laugh at themselves. Why is it that the world can see through us, but the we don’t? It’s good to laugh at ourselves. The only alternative is crying. And that would not work for a pharisee. A pharisee would probably say: “Don’t cry, rather, be like me…………………..:-) I leave you with the loving words of Jesus.
Out of the Message:
Mat 23:23 “You’re hopeless, you religion scholars and Pharisees! Frauds! You keep meticulous account books, tithing on every nickel and dime you get, but on the meat of God’s Law, things like fairness and compassion and commitment–the absolute basics!–you carelessly take it or leave it. Careful bookkeeping is commendable, but the basics are required.
Mat 23:24 Do you have any idea how silly you look, writing a life story that’s wrong from start to finish, nitpicking over commas and semicolons?
Mat 23:25 “You’re hopeless, you religion scholars and Pharisees! Frauds! You burnish the surface of your cups and bowls so they sparkle in the sun, while the insides are maggoty with your greed and gluttony.
Mat 23:26 Stupid Pharisee! Scour the insides, and then the gleaming surface will mean something.
Mat 23:27 “You’re hopeless, you religion scholars and Pharisees! Frauds! You’re like manicured grave plots, grass clipped and the flowers bright, but six feet down it’s all rotting bones and worm-eaten flesh.
Mat 23:28 People look at you and think you’re saints, but beneath the skin you’re total frauds.
Luckily He wasn’t sarcastic when He said that………………:-)
love you Pam
Hi Pam, I understand what you are saying, but what words and actions are going to love the religious and the pharisees into the arms of Jesus? Christians sometime find it difficult to laugh at themselves. Why is it that the world can see through us, but the we don’t? It’s good to laugh at ourselves. The only alternative is crying. And that would not work for a pharisee. A pharisee would probably say: “Don’t cry, rather, be like me…………………..:-) I leave you with the loving words of Jesus.
Out of the Message:
Mat 23:23 “You’re hopeless, you religion scholars and Pharisees! Frauds! You keep meticulous account books, tithing on every nickel and dime you get, but on the meat of God’s Law, things like fairness and compassion and commitment–the absolute basics!–you carelessly take it or leave it. Careful bookkeeping is commendable, but the basics are required.
Mat 23:24 Do you have any idea how silly you look, writing a life story that’s wrong from start to finish, nitpicking over commas and semicolons?
Mat 23:25 “You’re hopeless, you religion scholars and Pharisees! Frauds! You burnish the surface of your cups and bowls so they sparkle in the sun, while the insides are maggoty with your greed and gluttony.
Mat 23:26 Stupid Pharisee! Scour the insides, and then the gleaming surface will mean something.
Mat 23:27 “You’re hopeless, you religion scholars and Pharisees! Frauds! You’re like manicured grave plots, grass clipped and the flowers bright, but six feet down it’s all rotting bones and worm-eaten flesh.
Mat 23:28 People look at you and think you’re saints, but beneath the skin you’re total frauds.
Luckily He wasn’t sarcastic when He said that………………:-)
love you Pam
At first I was cracking up about this… Then after about 4 videos, I nearly choked up. It made me sad… What a sad state of affairs when you are able to see where we really are…
At first I was cracking up about this… Then after about 4 videos, I nearly choked up. It made me sad… What a sad state of affairs when you are able to see where we really are…
Fantastic….because it said some of the things I have been thinking for a while and have not been able to say. I hope each clip helps us to examine where we are and visualize what the body of Christ should and could be…thanks for sharing.
Fantastic….because it said some of the things I have been thinking for a while and have not been able to say. I hope each clip helps us to examine where we are and visualize what the body of Christ should and could be…thanks for sharing.
I appreciate Pam’s sentiments, but personally — I was cringing and laughing at MYSELF. I believed and lived all of those things at one time (and some of it is still dying within me). Having lived it so heartily myself, I can’t laugh at anyone else or despise them (although sometimes I get pretty angry at the level of often self-imposed deception), but I can enjoy seeing, in a humorous presentation, just how ridiculous my way of life was, especially given how anxious I was to impose it upon others! And as for the “humorless, stupid” remark, it was so tongue in cheek that I doubt they thought anyone would take it seriously enough to be offended by it. Given the tenor of the rest of the website, it was just a silly attempt to poke fun at ourselves and the things we inflict upon people in the name of God.
I appreciate Pam’s sentiments, but personally — I was cringing and laughing at MYSELF. I believed and lived all of those things at one time (and some of it is still dying within me). Having lived it so heartily myself, I can’t laugh at anyone else or despise them (although sometimes I get pretty angry at the level of often self-imposed deception), but I can enjoy seeing, in a humorous presentation, just how ridiculous my way of life was, especially given how anxious I was to impose it upon others! And as for the “humorless, stupid” remark, it was so tongue in cheek that I doubt they thought anyone would take it seriously enough to be offended by it. Given the tenor of the rest of the website, it was just a silly attempt to poke fun at ourselves and the things we inflict upon people in the name of God.