There's a blog I've been wanting to write for a while dealing with church, moral and society. I, as a lot of people, feel some kind of need to comment on the on going pastors-leaving-their-families-or-battling-addiction dilemma. But something else just came up worth a comment too.
We have a comedian in Sweden named Magnus Betnér. He is quite funny from time to time but he is one of those who has made his fame from being untouchable. He makes fun of jews, christians, muslims... He makes jokes about incest and rape and his language is vulgar and full of sexual references. Nothing new there. But you know, since one of his goals seems to be to cause a stir, he has reached that goal when he does. Which makes criticizing him the same as complementing him really. So, when people are happy and think he is really funny - he has reached his goal. And when people are mad or disappointed - he has reached his goal. All in all - making him untouchable.
Now he has this new TV-show called "In your face" where he goes to the places he makes fun of to heckle them in their own environment. Pretty fun concept. This Monday he visited a church and made a lot of fun of Christianity. He talked about Jesus as a homosexual surrounding himself with men in skirts, of the Bible as common dirt and other stuff. Did he go too far? Oh yes. Is a worth being upset about. Not really.
Of course, just hours after the show, a Swedish pastor feels the need to raise his voice and tell the Swedes how very, very disgraceful this is. The big Christian newspaper gladly gave him the space to do that and the big tabloid quickly blow it out of proportions. He also made clear that it was ok to make fun of Christians but not of what is holy in our faith. I wonder if Mr Betnér has yet called him and thanked him for the attention he needed and were expecting for the show?
To me, this just raises a couple of questions:
Mr Nice Pastor, even if I don't agree with Betnér or his methods, is it really that smart to give him and his production team exactly what they want here? More attention and a lot of free PR?
Wouldn't it be way more constructive to ask ourselfes why a comedian feel the need to make fun of Christianity like this? What have WE done to make people feel offended by our faith and what we stand for? Shouldn't we have that conversation instead of the "we feel so offended"-one? Maybe, just maybe, there are things here for us to listen to?
What is holy, really? I hold my faith more dear than anything, but I'm not sure about if anything is too holy for me to have fun with. I'm thinking out loud here, cause I'm really not sure. I know there are things I believe are inappropriate and I will always believe in choosing what wars you pick in life, but is it really offending to me when someone makes fun of my faith? I don't think so. I do believe my faith is stronger than that.
And... If it is ok to make fun of Christians but not of our faith, does that mean that our faith is not up for discussion and criticism? Cause that sounds pretty scary and fundamental to me...
Hey, I get the point. I wasn't enjoying the jokes, I think they are immature and hurtful in ways that are not even close to necessary. I also believe that in Sweden it is way easier to make fun of Christians than other religions or minorities. But to cause a stir about it? Really... I think that channel Five had been disappointed if no pastor did and that they are thanking this guy. And I think that this pastor is making it even harder for the rest of us trying to be Christians in our lunch rooms at work. He is building on a very negative stereotype and... I just don't believe in that.
And also. I believe in freedom of speech. We can't go around pressing charges against everyone offending us. I also, however, believe in respecting other people and their opinions. I might think that Mr Betnér got a thing or two to learn there, everything can't be said in the name of entertainment or will to provoke. But, after reading his own blog I think that he actually seems to be willing to talk about why he does what he does and the real reasons behind it. And... I don't know, all the suing people scares me way more than someone's opinions on specific matters.
One more little thing in this already too long post... As a church, why do we turn to society when we need help cause we feel offended or persuaded? Why do we want people who doesn't even believe that God exist to follow his laws? Isn't it a little upside down? Shouldn't we instead turn to society to talk about our saviour and talk about Jesus love for his people more than what rules this stranger they have never met wants us to live by? Just wondering.
I will never compromise my Jesus. But to fight everytime someone offends my faith? No. Let's choose the path of conversations here instead, friends? How about that? Cause, this time, our Mr Nice Pastor just walked right into the trap.... And the only ones who are happier are the people in need of good ratings....
We are a cathedral full of people
in a kingdom that the eye can't see
- Downhere
