Mocking Jesus: Blasphemy Reveals Condition of Darkened Hearts

For two days, I struggled with writing this column. My spirit has grieved over it immensely.

I have prayed in earnest about what God would have me say about a subject that I have become so passionate about. I have asked Him for wisdom and guidance so that I would not be offensive in my words. I have even told myself that I cannot write it in fear that some would take umbrage.

But fear, as I know from reading the Word, comes from Satan. And I know that from 2 Timothy 1:7 that “God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and love and of a sound mind.”

With that in mind, I would like to address the recent intense trend in American society that has seen the public mocking of Jesus Christ. By now, you have probably seen the video of Jamie Foxx declaring President Barack Obama as “our lord and savior.” And, the story that Charisma posted Wednesday about the painting depicting President Obama as Jesus, with a crown of thorns on his head and his outstretched arms.

Let me be the first to say that I am not a supporter of President Obama. It is not a Democrat-Republican thing. We have had Republican presidents, including George Bush, who I realize have done many, many things wrong while in office and need to answer for them.

However, four years ago when he was first elected president, my main objection was that Obama didn’t have enough experience as a politician to be president of the United States. Over a period of four years, it has become a much deeper issue as he has subverted the Word of God with his support of same-sex marriage and abortion, among other things.

I’m not a racist by any stretch of the imagination, and it’s not because I don’t want a black person to be president. Because of her ideals, I would be the first in line to vote for Condoleeza Rice for president, if only she would run.

Now that Obama has been elected again, however, he has been chosen to help run the country for four more years. He is our president, and he deserves our respect as such. I will continue to pray for him that God turns his heart around to input biblical principles into his position as one of the most powerful men in the world.   

One of my concerns is the perception that some have of Mr. Obama. Obviously, Jamie Foxx thinks enough of him to say what he said. Jamie is an actor/comedian and he may have tried to be funny, but what he said was no laughing matter. Things like that should not even be said in jest.

The first of the Ten Commandments states, “I am the Lord your God … you shall have no other Gods before Me.” It goes on to say in Exodus 20:4, “… For I, the Lord your God, am a jealous God … “

With that said in His Word, it would be inconceivable to think that God would be in heaven laughing at Jamie Fox’s “joke.” Or that he would simply dismiss it as coming from a secular comedian.

And then there is the afore-mentioned painting by a man named Michael D’Antuono, which is now displayed in an exhibit at Bunker Hill Community College in Boston. Mr. D’Anutono told Fox News that the painting was done in response to critics and conservative media who tried “to promote the ideals that liberals believe the president literally to be our savior.” He said he meant the painting to be metaphoric.

Again, as God is a jealous God, I can’t bring myself to believe He is amused by the artist’s metaphor.

These days, mocking Jesus apparently has become great fodder for comedians and the entertainment industry. News has been widespread about a new film in the works called Jesus of Nazareth, based on a book by Dutch director Paul Verhoeven, in which the story has Jesus as the child of a Roman soldier who raped Mary.

So, we’re to believe that Mary was not a virgin and that Jesus was not conceived of the Holy Spirit? The film also discounts the biblical teachings of Jesus performing miracles and his resurrection. Hmmm.  

The danger in all of this is that many dismiss all of these things as harmless. Just because it’s from Hollywood and it’s entertainment, we shouldn’t take them seriously.

We even have had a reader write on our message boards, and let me quote this directly so I can get it right, “Charisma has become a GOSSIP column!! This has been blown way out of portion by a NOT SO GOOD comedian who does jokes in POOR TASTE with serious consequences!! Perpetuating more propaganda and division!!”

Blown out of proportion? Do you think God would think it was blown out of proportion just because Jamie Foxx is “a NOT SO GOOD” comedian? Ephesians 5:4 instructs us that, “Nor should there be obscenity, foolish talk or coarse joking, which are out of place, but rather thanksgiving.” Saying in jest that President Obama is “our lord and savior,” I believe, constitutes coarse joking, doesn’t it?

Apparently, mocking Jesus has become the order of the day in our society. Lady Gaga is one of the biggest offenders, yet people still purchase her music. She recorded a song call “Judas” in which she says she’s in love with the betrayer of Jesus. Is it worth compromising your soul to listen to that?

Gay groups in San Francisco held a “Hunky Jesus” contest recently, complete with crosses, men with beards and crowns of thorns. And, of course, we shouldn’t call them out on that because if we do, we’re not “loving them” as Jesus would.

While Jesus would continue to love them and pray for them, as we all should as Christians, there is going to come a time when God is going to get fed up with all of this, and Christians’ indifference to these incidents.

I shouldn’t have to remind everyone that Jesus did get angry, especially in the temple when he drove out the moneychangers and said, “It is written, ‘My house shall be called a house of prayer, but you have made it a den of thieves.’” (Matthew 21:12).

I realize that many of you may quote Matthew 7:5 back to me: “You hypocrite, first take the plank out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye.”

I am a sinner, and I am fully aware of it. I pray in repentance daily that God cleanses me from all unrighteousness so that I may be more like Him. I want to be held accountable for my unrighteous actions, and have several Christian brothers who do so.

But, I also do not want to stand still while the world around me, especially our beloved United States of America, falls completely apart morally. Others may be willing to do that or may live in fear of repercussions for doing so. I don’t want to do that.

We have an obligation to God to deal with our brothers (Matthew 18:15-17) who are caught up in sin. That includes mocking God. Take heed of Galatians 6:7: “Do not be deceived: God is not mocked; for whatever one sows, that will he also reap.”

When we stand before the Lord some day, we can all count on that.