The Sin of Scoffing at Religion 6
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By way of IMPROVEMENT,
1. "Let no man think the worse of religion, or any of its doctrines, because some are so bold as to despise them; for it is no disparagement to any person or thing to be laughed at; but only to deserve to be so. The most grave and serious matters in the world are liable to be abused." "A sharp wit may find something in the wisest or holiest man, whereby to expose him to the contempt of injudicious people. The gravest book that ever was written may be made ridiculous by applying the sayings of it to a foolish purpose.
A jest may be obtruded upon anything; and therefore, no man ought to have the less reverence for the principles of religion, because profane wits can cast jokes upon them. Nothing is more easy than to take particular phrases and expressions out of the best book in the world, and to abuse them by forcing an odd and ridiculous sense upon them. But no wise man will think a good book foolish for this reason—but the man that abuses it; nor will he esteem that to which everything is liable, to be a just exception against anything. At this rate we must despise all things; but surely the better and the shorter way is to despise those who would bring anything worthy into contempt." (Tillotson's sermon on Scoffing at Religion.)
2. I shall lay down some means of securing ourselves and our religion against the attacks of the scorner. The first that I would recommend is, an enlightened and enlarged acquaintance with the evidences of the truth of revealed religion, and of those particular doctrines, duties, and practices which we believe that it contains. No man is more likely to be attacked and vanquished by scorn, than he who has derived all his religion from 'imitation'—and holds nothing by 'personal conviction'. Our hope can then only be an anchor to the soul when it is held fast by the cable of conviction—this only can keep us safe amidst the winds of false doctrine, the gusts of ridicule, and the raging tempests of infidelity. Let us feel the force of the evidence by which religious truth is commended to our judgment, and experience a deep impression of it upon the heart, and we shall then be defended against the craft of sophistry and the sting of laughter. The scorner attacks in vain the man who inwardly knows and loves the truth—and is able to give a reason with meekness for the hope that is in him.
Let us seek that courage and decision which will enable us unblushingly to avow our attachment to religion, or to any of its opinions or practices, in the face either of ridicule or rage. There is a disposition, and it is both an enviable and a useful one, which the apostle calls "boldness in the faith." My brethren, adopt no sentiment until you have examined it. Try everything by Scripture, "examine all things, and then hold fast that which is good." Be sure that the shield of faith is on your left arm, and the sword of the spirit in your right hand, and then without a blush or a fear, avow the name of your great Captain; raise the battle cry of your cause, stand by your colors, and bid defiance to your enemies. Say, like Nehemiah in reply to the threats of his enemies, "Should such a man as I flee." Neither crouch in abject submission to any human authority, nor creep in silent fear of any human rage or scorn. Say in the language of our eloquent essayist, "This is my conviction and determination.
As for the phantoms of fear, let me look them in the face; they will find I am not made of trembling materials; I shall firmly confront everything that threatens me in the prosecution of my purpose, and I am prepared to meet the consequences of it when it is accomplished. I am above 'custom' and 'opinion'. I am not to be intimidated by reproaches, nor would your favor and applause be any reward for the sacrifice of my object. As you can do without my approbation, I can certainly do without yours; it is enough that I can approve myself; it is enough that I can appeal to the best authority in creation. I have something else to do than to trouble myself about your mirth. I care not if the whole neighborhood laughs in a chorus; I would be sorry indeed to see or hear such a number of fools—but pleased enough to find that they did not consider me one of their number. Amuse themselves as they may by continuing to censure or to rail, I must continue to act." My brethren, thus act under the terrors of that fearful passage, "Whoever therefore shall be ashamed of me and of my words in this adulterous and sinful generation; of him also shall the Son of man be ashamed, when he comes in the glory of his Father with the holy angels."
Cultivate all the dispositions, and practice all the duties of a holy life. It is an invention and trick of infidelity, too shallow however to impose upon the mind of a thinking man, to make religion answerable for the vices which have been committed by its false professors, and to reproach whole systems of opinions, and whole bodies of believers, with the misconduct of a few individuals. Aware how little can be said against the evidences of Christianity, the spirit of error has tried to raise an argument from the vices of its professors; and in this it must be at once confessed and lamented, that it has been but too successful. The materials of the argument have been too readily found, and over those who wished to be convinced that religion was all a trick, the sophism has been too easily victorious. Let us then deprive the scorner of this his only weapon, and drive him from this his last resource.
Let us exhibit Christianity in its constituent parts, as made up of love to God and love to man; in all its symmetry and beauty and force, as comprising "whatever things are true, whatever things are honest, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report." Let us leave no ground of objection, no matter of reproach—but what shall be found in us touching the law of our God. Like an unclouded sun, shining forth in a clear atmosphere, let our religion be seen, neither veiled by a cloud of suspicion, nor dimmed by a mist of imperfections. To the scoffs of the scorner let us present a blameless character, a holy life, and it shall be like a man's opposing a shield of brass to a serpent, at which the reptile may hiss—but in which he can find no entrance, either for his venom or his tooth.
"Let not ridicule intrude itself into matters of controversy between Christians themselves, as it seems to carry in it a spirit directly contrary to the religion they profess; as it lays both parties open to the scoffs of their common enemies; and as it can only show at last, not which has the most righteous cause—but which has the keenest pen. Experience may teach us some of the mischiefs of this practice, for instances may be given wherein men have set out in a dispute on matters of importance, and have seemed to promise much success therein from their debates, while they were confined to argument and directed by moderation; until raillery and ridicule having supplanted reasoning, the point in question was no longer in view; what was before a friendly contest for truth—became a spiteful trial for wit; and from a difference of opinion—grew an irreconcilable hatred in the heart. So much more likely is ridicule to perpetuate quarrels, than to decide a dispute."
Let us beware of indulging the most distant approach to this impious and injurious practice in our social fellowship, our habitual conversation, and our remarks upon each other. Let us cherish to the uttermost "that awe which warns us how we touch a holy thing." The name of God should never be uttered, but with reverence. Religion should never be introduced, but with respect. A light and a frivolous manner of speaking on sacred subjects is very criminal; how much more that profane practice of adapting the inspired language of Scripture to the ordinary occurrences of life. A Mohammedan never picks up by chance a fragment of the Koran without marks of reverent respect; and yet some professing Christians employ the words of the Holy Spirit to season a jest or give smartness to retort. If there is any truth in religion, it is the most solemn thing in the world; and as such let it he treated, especially by those who profess to know its nature and submit to its claims.
3. If we ever find it impossible to ward off the attacks of scorn, and to avert the scoffs of the profane, then let us bear them with unruffled meekness. Consider that no new temptation has happened to you. It has been the lot of the righteous in every age to be the butt of ridicule to the wicked. "I am become the song of the drunkard," said Job. "You make us," complained the Psalmist, "a bye word to the heathen. We have become a reproach and a derision to those who are around us." The apostle tells us of some that "endured trials of cruel mockings." Tertullian informs us that in his time the heathens painted the God of the Christians with the most grotesque emblems, to signify that though they pretended to learning, they were illiterate and silly people. But why speak I of the servants, when the Master himself could affirm, "Reproach has broken my heart."
He "who was in the form of God and thought it not robbery to be equal with God," was treated in the days of his incarnation, with every species and every degree of impious derision. They spit in his face, they clothed him with badges of mock royalty, they put into his hands a reed for a mock scepter, and placed a crown of thorns upon his head, in mockery of his claims to a diadem—and surely one sight of the Man of Sorrows, as he appeared in the hall of Pilate, or on the hill of Calvary, is enough to make a Christian willing to become, in a good cause, the laughing stock of the world. If then, for the sake of religion you are exposed to this honorable trial, bear it patiently; return not railing for railing. Impatience, petulance, and vexation, only encourage the scoffer to continue his attacks. Nothing will cause him so soon to cease his raillery, as to perceive that you are insensible to it.
"It is an admirable thing, when by heroic fortitude, a man is able to sustain the looks of scorn or an unrestrained shower of taunts and jeers with perfect composure, who shall immediately after, or at the very time, proceed on the business which provokes all the ridicule. This invincibility of temper will often make even the scoffers themselves tired of the sport; they begin to feel that against such a man, it is a poor kind of hostility to laugh—for there is nothing people are more mortified to spend in vain than their scorn."
Consider it, as you well may, your honor to be thus persecuted for righteousness sake—next to the admiration of the wise and the godly, the richest laurel that can adorn your brow is the scorn of fools. The praise of the wicked is censure—and their satire praise. Every feeble mind can scoff—but only the wise man can bear it well. It was a saying of Chrysostom's, that the scorner is below a man—but the man who bears scorn patiently is equal to an angel. Instead of indulging in revenge, exercise forgiveness! You have reason rather to be grateful to the scoffer, than to be angry with him—his foul breath, though it seems to tarnish your reputation for awhile, yet being gently rubbed off by the hand of love, shall only prepare it for a brighter luster.
He has brought you already under the influence of the beatitude, "Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness' sake—for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are you, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, and for my sake." And it shall be proved hereafter that he was the occasion of adding one more gem to the crown of glory which shall adorn your brows with unfading honor! Pity him, for he is indeed more an object of your pity than of your contempt. Pray for him, for none more needs your prayers. Tell him that if he needs bread—you will feed him; if he is naked—you will clothe him; if he is sick—you will minister to him; if in prison—you will visit him; and that if there should be a moment when his conscience shall awake from its slumbers, and the pang of remorse shall be felt in his bosom, you will hasten to the scene of his contrition, with the consolations of the Gospel; that you will be the first to thank God for his conversion, and to hail him as a brother.
Thus prove to the scoffer that the religion which is the object of his contempt has at least the excellence, that it subdues the turbulent and irascible passions, teaches its possessor not only to pity sorrows—but to forgive iniquities practiced against himself, and implants the godlike disposition of returning good for evil.
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