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Answering Challenges to Truth

 New August 4

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Question: Have you reviewed the book being used in many churches called "The Gospel According to the Simpsons"? I'm not sure if this is the same material used at the university level (your site mentioned this).

I would appreciate any feedback you might have. My church is considering using this for the junior high students.

 

Partial answer (We welcome input those who have read the study): I haven’t read it yet – but I looked it up on Amazon and downloaded five introductory pages. It certainly trivializes both God and His truth. These examples from page 15 in chapter 1 (“Divine Imagery”), apparently help illustrate our arrogant human foolishness. But by turning capricious human nature into a string of jokes, they could also prompt students to view sin – even God’s nature – as a joke. When everything is humorous, it is hard to view God’s holiness and almighty power with the seriousness and reverence He deserves. For example:

“Predestination makes an appearance form time to time, where God’s plan is used sometimes as an excuse, sometimes as an explanation. “Until this moment,” says Bart, poised to buy a rare issue of Radioactive Man, “I never knew why God put me on this earth. But now I know... to buy that comic book.”

“and when he causes a traffic accident, he shouts, “Act of God, not my fault!”

“Criticized for using bad language, he says, “Maybe I curse a little, but that’s the way God made me and I’m too old to stop now.”

The following verses from Ephesians 5:4-11 may help explain one of the reasons why this language, with reference to God, seems inappropriate:

“...neither filthiness, nor foolish talking, nor coarse jesting, which are not fitting, but rather giving of thanks. For this you know, that no fornicator, unclean person, nor covetous man, who is an idolater, has any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and God. Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of these things the wrath of God comes upon the sons of disobedience. Therefore do not be partakers with them.
       "For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light (for the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness, righteousness, and truth),  finding out what is acceptable to the Lord. And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather expose them.”

“The tongue of the wise uses knowledge rightly, but the mouth of fools pours forth foolishness.” Proverbs 15:2

“Let no corrupt word proceed out of your mouth, but what is good for necessary edification, that it may impart grace to the hearers. And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption.”

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