When Men Mocked God

Scripture Reading: Luke 16:14-15

Ridicule is a powerful weapon. It is a bludgeon against those with whom we disagree. The one who uses it leaves the softer velvet glove of reason and logic on the bench and grabs the steel hammer of disdain to demolish ideas he opposes. Ridicule is mocking. It makes the person or idea it attacks seem ridiculous and unworthy of being taken seriously.

Now, given that…consider what Dr. Luke tells us about the Pharisees’ reaction to Jesus saying, “you can’t serve God and money.” They ridiculed him. They mocked God. They treated Him as if He was ridiculous and unworthy of being taken seriously. Oh my.

Ridicule is not off the table as a means of dealing with people or ideas. Elijah ridiculed the prophets of Baal. Isaiah and Jeremiah ridiculed idolatry. Ridicule can be a godly response to ungodliness and idolatry. But tread carefully. Don’t wind up in a position of having ridiculed God.

Luke also points out the underlying reason for the Pharisees’ response. They loved money. Jesus had hit a nerve. So, rather than respond with reasons why it was possible to serve God and money, they chose the path of ridicule instead. Often, when people use ridicule as their defense, it is because they can’t logically defend their position. When they haven’t got a reason they use ridicule. They’ll even ridicule God.