Unsatisfied Persecuted Church Member To Try Out Other Church Just Across Minefield

I propose Sharper Iron create a forum category for satire and leave it out of the regular forums.

Mr. LaVern G. Carpenter

Proverbs 3:1-12

Good satire is “almost” believable and sometimes exposes our own foibles.

I have seen people drive great distances from their homes, passing good churches they once attended, to attend their “new” church.

Add to that the “we’re the only good church in ______” mentality.

"Some things are of that nature as to make one's fancy chuckle, while his heart doth ache." John Bunyan

For everything there is an appointed time, and an appropriate time for every activity on earth … a time to laugh,” (Ecc 3:1,4).

Why is thine countenance fallen, brother? Dost thou not see the irony in yonder article?

Tyler is a pastor in Olympia, WA and works in State government.

….which so irritates us is the one that is restoring an edge to our lives that might have remained dull otherwise. What was the name of this site again?

Which is a circumlocuitous way of saying that part of the point of being “Sharper” Iron is to be confronted with things we don’t want to hear. Putting it in a side area works against that.

Aspiring to be a stick in the mud.

Perhaps we could preface the title “SATIRE: …” so that it is not necessary to open up the article and look for the bablylon bee tag. Some titles, like this one, are apparent, but that is not always the case. I don’t believe satire is necessary for us to confront things we “don’t want to hear”. We can have a serious discussion about the issues without wasting time on fiction.

Mr. LaVern G. Carpenter

Proverbs 3:1-12

Every filing for “Babylon Bee” reads: Babylon Bee (satire) before the excerpt. Please look at the filing above.

Tyler is a pastor in Olympia, WA and works in State government.

True, but I’d rather see it on the article listing rather than having to open up the article. Granted, it isn’t that big of a deal; I’m just airing my irritation. Thanks.

Mr. LaVern G. Carpenter

Proverbs 3:1-12

LG, it says “satire” before the excerpt, and are we to seriously argue that most people wouldn’t say “what’s up with that?” with the notion of a man crossing a minefield because he’s not totally satisfied with his former church?

If it’s not true, we need to lighten up, IMO, and if it is true that the satire bit slips by a lot of people, I’d suggest we need to have more of it so we can start to understand the world around us. It’s not just Adam Ford who does satire, after all, but it’s rather an important part of how we understand written and spoken language. For a parallel, ask a pastor conversant in the ancient languages about the puns that permeate large parts of Scripture, and the passages where the writer (e.g. Galatians 5:12) uses rather biting humor to convey a point. I’ve heard it argued that the Parable of the Prodigal Son would read like a “Bee” satire to people back in the day, too.

Aspiring to be a stick in the mud.

I understand your point, but the funny papers are in their own section, not dispersed throughout the paper masquerading as normal articles.

Mr. LaVern G. Carpenter

Proverbs 3:1-12

[LGCarpenter]

I understand your point, but the funny papers are in their own section, not dispersed throughout the paper masquerading as normal articles.

My own preference is:

  • No more than once a week
  • Always on same day (Friday)
  • Labeled “Satire”