Shane, a listener to the podcast, writes us to ask this.

Pastor John, with the growing popularity of Christian satire, for example, websites

like the Babylon B, what are your thoughts on the use of satire to communicate Christian

thought?

The dictionary defines satire like this, the use of irony, sarcasm, ridicule, or the like,

an exposing, denouncing, or deriding, vice, folly, etc.

And then if you look for a definition of irony, which it used to define satire, the definition

it gives is this.

The use of words to convey a meaning that is the opposite of its literal meaning.

So satire then is a way of exposing folly, foolishness, or error, or evil by saying the

opposite of what the author really thinks in such a way that while claiming to support

something, it makes it look ludicrous and therefore undermines the attitude or the

activity.

Now, in deciding on whether it is wise to use satire or irony, we should ask, does the

Bible use it in a way that commends it?

And if so, when might it be appropriate and when not?

And are there other biblical exhortations that would put the breaks on it or guide it,

minimize it, maximize it?

So the answer to that first question is Job, the prophets, Jesus, Paul, they all use satire,

they all used irony to expose the folly of the people they were dealing with.

For example, Job 12 too, truly then you are the people and with you wisdom will die.

That's exactly the opposite of what he thought.

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