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A Serrated Edge: A Brief Defense of Biblical Satire and Trinitarian Skylarking
by
Douglas Wilson (Goodreads Author)
Satire is a kind of preaching. Satire pervades Scripture. Satire treats the foibles of sinners with a less than perfect tenderness.But, if a Christian employs satire today, he is almost immediately called to account for his "unbiblical" behavior. Yet Scripture shows that the central point of some religious controversies is to give offense. When Christ was confronted with e...more
Paperback, 128 pages
Published
June 1st 2003
by Canon Press
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Very few books are written on the humor of Jesus, and interestingly, this book seems to point out why in the process of defending satire as a biblical discipline. I read this on the Kindle and it was very difficult to read because there are some formatting issues. It was also difficult to read because the author, Douglas Wilson, quotes biblical texts from the KJV only (Mardel share holders, can I get a what what?) This book is priceless, though! Wilson spends a considerable amount of ink using S...more
Satire is something that has been completely lost in our Christian culture. Yet, it is something that completely pervades Scripture. Without it, much of Jesus's interaction with the Pharisees doesn't make sense; with it, many are offended and shocked out of their religious ways—or at least we have a good laugh in the process.
Douglas Wilson does a wonderful job writing a short polemic on satire pervading all of the Bible. He goes through the Old Testament, and through the words of Jesus and Paul...more
Douglas Wilson does a wonderful job writing a short polemic on satire pervading all of the Bible. He goes through the Old Testament, and through the words of Jesus and Paul...more
This is a good work on the biblical use of satire. As always, the author Doug Wilson delivers with wit, wisdom and humor along the way. As it is indicated throughout the book, this work was prompted as a defense against some who charge Doug Wilson and the contributors of Credenda/Agenda with sinning in their use of satire. The book begins by first defining satire, notably it's four necessarily components (object of attack, vehicle, tone and norm) and making the distinction between Horatian and J...more
The brevity of this book is one of its chiefest strengths, along with its solid and honest Biblicism. Goody-two-shoes Christians and Nanny-nanny-boo-boo liberals beware.
Fun little book on why satire is biblical and not used enough by us sentimental American Christians.
Don't get shrill. Get satire.
Read this in September '07 and again in March '12.
Read this in September '07 and again in March '12.
When is it okay for a Christian to purposely be sarcastic, critical, and offensive?
Jesus said some pretty harsh things to the Pharisees, in a tone of deliberate offensiveness and sarcasm. If a Christian used the same tactics as Jesus did in today's world, when attacking enemies, there would be a lot of finger waving and "Now now, you're not acting very Christ like" and "We don't want your critical spirit".
This is a humorous yet serious book addressing Biblical sarcasm, and when to be Biblically...more
Jesus said some pretty harsh things to the Pharisees, in a tone of deliberate offensiveness and sarcasm. If a Christian used the same tactics as Jesus did in today's world, when attacking enemies, there would be a lot of finger waving and "Now now, you're not acting very Christ like" and "We don't want your critical spirit".
This is a humorous yet serious book addressing Biblical sarcasm, and when to be Biblically...more
Nov 07, 2008
John
rated it
5 of 5 stars
Recommends it for:
people who grew up in the church during the 20th and 21st centuries, and particularly pastors
I loved this book because it was an excellent defense of using satire against certain enemies of the church (including and mostly consisting of those WITHIN the church) while also doing it for those same enemies - with love for them.
To use Wilson's own comparison, many in the church today model their view of Christian charity after these ridiculous pictures of Hallmark-card sentiments that have no place in Scripture, ignoring Scripture's clear teaching that love often includes using hard words (...more
To use Wilson's own comparison, many in the church today model their view of Christian charity after these ridiculous pictures of Hallmark-card sentiments that have no place in Scripture, ignoring Scripture's clear teaching that love often includes using hard words (...more
As a whole, a wonderful book.
I feel like people could take isolated passages and run wild, but the book itself is a firm exhortation to always go back to the Scriptures and to earnestly seek to honor God. I think this is an area that takes a lot of wisdom and prayer and should only be motivated by love (the real kind).
Lots of food for thought and discussion. Really enjoyed the book. Was truly convicted. And laughed...a lot. :-)
I feel like people could take isolated passages and run wild, but the book itself is a firm exhortation to always go back to the Scriptures and to earnestly seek to honor God. I think this is an area that takes a lot of wisdom and prayer and should only be motivated by love (the real kind).
Lots of food for thought and discussion. Really enjoyed the book. Was truly convicted. And laughed...a lot. :-)
I feel like this book would work best as a MANUAL for defense of Biblical satire and Trinitatian skylarking. I would never personally hand this off to somebody who struggles with the idea of satire in the Bible. It might defeat the purpose and freak them out. Rather, this book is useful for self-education and a great base for future conversations on the subject of Biblical satire.
This is a great defense of biblical satire. Wilson shows how the Bible is full of satire--from Amos, to Isaiah, Jesus, and Paul. He argues that it is not only biblical--but a model for us. He does state clearly that it ought to be reserved for seasoned prophets. The book is full of food for thought and is a great help in understanding scripture. I highly recommend this one!
Humor and satire is an essential element in Christian preaching that has often been neglected and needs to be taken up again. Wilson clearly demonstrates and defends the use of appropriate ridicule in this book, dealing with objections along the way. A quick read with a word that deserves to be heeded.
Good book about how sarcasm and strong language was used throughout the Bible in polemics, from Elijah to our Lord. Wilson argues that the use of sarcasm and even strong language is Biblical. I think I should reread this in light of the walking controversy named Mark Driscoll.
If Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger was writing this review and he was speaking at the Evangelical Party National Convention, he'd probably say the satirical theological ideas advanced in the book are not the stuff of "evangelical girly-men."
And he'd be right on target.
And he'd be right on target.
This is simply a fantastic book. Wilson is a man of integrity and as a man of integrity he speak about what the bible says with integrity.
What I love about this book is it is willing to call a spade a spade. When Jesus is sarcastic or talks back to those he engages with Wilson is willing to tell it as it is.
When the prophets poke fun at those who have earned it, Wilson is willing to point it out for those who think Jer. 29:11 is written to confort us.
What Wilson is trumpeting here is a gospel...more
What I love about this book is it is willing to call a spade a spade. When Jesus is sarcastic or talks back to those he engages with Wilson is willing to tell it as it is.
When the prophets poke fun at those who have earned it, Wilson is willing to point it out for those who think Jer. 29:11 is written to confort us.
What Wilson is trumpeting here is a gospel...more
Fully convinced upon my first reading, less so upon further life experience and thinking on the matter. There's no arguing against how well the whole thing is written. Perhaps I'll give it another go someday and see what comes of it.
I like most all of the book - but I'm not so much of a fan of how it come to be a biblical justification for any and every kind of sinful sarcasm and cynicism by Christians. An unfortunate consequence of an otherwise to book.
Delightfully Chestertonian in wit, humor and depth. It challenges me to think through some things, including my own sense of humor.
It is available to read for free on Google Books.
Apparently a response to criticism over several years, this book defends the use of satire (both Horatian and Juvinalian) by Christians towards others (including other Christians). I was completely convinced. John Frame was not, though he has high regard for Doug Wilson: http://www.frame-poythress.org/review.... Wilson defends himself here: http://www.frame-poythress.org/doug-w.... Again, I was completely convinced. As a side note: I put smiley faces next to parts in the book that I think are fu...more
Yes you are allowed to use that cutting wit of yours. Wilson explains from the Bible just how we can use our sense of humor on the things that really deserve it.
Pastor Wilson gives a great defense of satire. He explains why proper satire is a cultural good, and how it is a true venue for God's grace.
Great book. Not only is it a great and spirited defense of biblical satire, but also a salient critique of modern mainstream evangelicalism.
Wilson gives evangelical kitsch, sentimentalism, and irrationality the merciless beating it deserves. This book was… refreshing.
well worth the read, especially for young writers who feel the temptation to write satirically about their surroundings.
This is a really fun book that illustrates very helpful Biblical examples of how we should use satire.
Jun 30, 2010
Aaron Carlberg
added it
Wonderful book full of wisdom and humor. This is a book that was fun to read.
Excellent defense of the use of satire by the Christian.
I liked it at the time. I have since come to feel that most of what it represents is unhelpful.
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The book to read on Christian satire.
Defense of sarcasm, from Scripture
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I write in order to make the little voices in my head go away. Thus far it hasn't worked.
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