Liar Liar Pants on Fire: How to avoid breaking the 8th Commandment
The Apostle Paul, who had his finger on the pulse of pagan society, wrote to the church at Galatia, Do not be deceived, God is not mocked. Whatever a man sows, he will reap. Because the sowing to the flesh will reap corruption… And to the church at Corinth, whose populace had a serious reputation for debauchery, he wrote concerning the sanctity of the body, Do you not know that the wicked shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived, neither the sexually immoral, nor idolators, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor homosexuals, nor thieves, nor coveters, nor drunkards, nor verbal abusers, nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God.
There were many tenderhearted Christians who were upset by the queer spectacle at the Olympic opening ceremony. What appeared to mock both Leonardo DaVinci and Jesus Christ was utterly distasteful - if not lamentably childish – but it did not upset my spiritual applecart. If there is one thing this thick head of mine has learned it is not to “give to dogs what is holy, or toss pearls before swine.” Our faith is precious, brothers and sisters, but it is only precious to us, and it is our duty to remember that our fight is with the unseen; not what is on television.
The Drag Queens whom the world watched last Friday were little more than fools on a fool’s errand. These “Gender Pretenders” as I call them, wasted time in an effort to be included in a world that, ironically, already accepted them long ago. Queer conduct is nothing new to human history, if not superfluous. For thousands of years under the temporary rulership of Satan, all manner of queer culture has been embraced in this world (ref. Genesis 6:5-7, and 18:20-22). Overt “Queerdom” may rise and fall with societal times, but it remains at the top of the Devil’s “you-go-girl!” awards list of how to displease God. For those of you who have little insight into Drag Queen culture, allow me to enlighten you; from the perspective of a real woman.
When I was growing up in Southern California, Drag Queens sightings were not uncommon. For the longest time I thought they were little more than gaudy, burlesque-style entertainers who made people laugh. After a few encounters, however, I found little joie de vivre in their countenance. They appeared to me to be pretenders who were spiteful of women. It is hard to put into words, but when I saw a man dressed with exaggerated femininity (e.g. blonde bouffant hair, three-inch eyelashes and sequin gown), he appeared as one portraying a woman in caricature. Now caricatures are typically illustrated forms of ridicule, like political cartoons. The artist frequently draws the subject with exaggerated or distorted features. It’s a form of visual mockery or ridicule. One could even consider it bullying. Children learn to mock verbally early on, and by the time they reach adulthood many wield it (under the literary term of “satire”) with precision. But make no mistake; it serves no good purpose. For me, whether it is a white man in black face or a black man dressed like a woman; if smells like denigration.
Not only does mockery serve no good purpose, but there are times when it goes too far. Reason says words and pictures should not invoke real violence, but it does. Take, for example, the violence incited against the staff of Charlie Hebdo. This French magazine has built itself upon the foundation of vitriolic satire and for some, it went too far. Now the French have elevated satire to the level of a sacred cow, (which is no surprise, given their history) but should the right to mock everything and anything be enshrined as untouchable? What if the sacred cow yields poisonous milk – should it still be served? It makes no sense to me, but there is one thing that I am certain of and that is that neither drag queens, nor god-haters, nor professional satirists will ever understand the meaning of Saint Paul who said, When I was a child I acted like a child, but when I became a man, I put away childish things.
There are many times I cannot help rolling my eyes at this world filled with fools and sages. Yet for those who felt the pangs of despair last Friday night, please be of good cheer! Jesus did not weep, neither were his feelings “hurt” by the sight. For who in this world can hurt the King of Kings and Lord of Lords? And, if it is any further consolation; God took down names. Those who mock the sacred will stand before him one day, and as Sacred Scripture says, it is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God. So take heart. While we are not to avenge ourselves or our faith (quite the opposite), make no mistake; God will. For vengeance belongs to him (Deut. 32:35) and he will repay (I Thess. 1:7-9). Everyone will stand in front of the Judge.
So then, people do hurtful things on purpose. They ridicule, they bully, and they mock ever so viciously, but the next time you see some drunk whizzing on a statue of the Virgin Mary or a Drag Queen dressed like some grotesque nun, just remember the following:
1. Jesus warned his followers of the cost of discipleship (Matthew 10:24-42).
2. The world hates God, and by association us (John 15:18).
3. We are not of this world (John 17:16), nor its friend (James 4:4).
4. Run the Race…just like an Olympian (Hebrews 12:1).
5. God has provided us with tools for protection against evil. (Ephesians 6:10-18).
Don’t let this world upset your spiritual equilibrium. We are already champions because Christ has overcome!