Is there anything sacred anymore?

[imperfectchristian]

Our Father, who art in Fayetteville. Football be thy name. The Mighty Tide Fall. Thy Hogs be called. On Earth as they are in Heaven. Give Richardson cramps. And have Greg Childs catch touchdown passes. As Julio Jones drops passes against us. And Let Mallet not throw interceptions. ...But deliver us from Saban. For ours... is the day. The win and the glory. For ever and ever....Amen GO HOGS.....



One of my friends on FB posted the above statement on their facebook page. These were my comments as follows...

Some things shouldn't be made a silly joke out of.

It's distasteful.

The Lord's prayer is very special to me and is something I would never make a mockery out of even in jest. It would be like my wife making fun of a love letter I sent her to her friends. Some things are special, some things are sacred.

I wasn't implying your motive was malicious or that you meant to be offensive. People (including myself) do and say things all the time that they mean in a light hearted way. It doesn't change the fact that it is in poor taste.

Referring back to my analogy above. I might do something that is very special for my wife and her turn around and innocently make a joke about it to her friends. She might not mean anything by making it into a joke, but I can guarantee you if she did I wouldn't make expressions I meant from the heart in a completely serious way that I thought she might turn around and make into a joke in the future.

Some things are just flat out in poor taste and that little spill (if you are a Christian) is more than just in poor taste...it is a mockery.

The Lord's prayer starts out by saying..."Our Father, which art in heaven "hallowed" be thy name.

The above parody turns around and calls God's name "football"...a complete mockery of how Jesus was saying we should treat God's name as holy, sacred, respected (AKA hallowed)

Again...I didn't think you meant it in a derogatory way. Had I thought you meant it that way, then I would not have said anything. As a friend I am pointing out to you that even though your intent was innocent, by posting that you are promoting a mockery of something you say means very much to you.

I'm not trying to tell you what to do. I'm just letting you know what I think and how I feel about it as something I hope you will take appropriate consideration of.

I hope you are feeling better and I hope you and your daughter can come visit when you guys get the chance.

Blessings,


To this someone else responded...


WOOOOOOOOOOOOOO PIG SOOIE!!!! RAZORBACKS!!!!
We shall recite this just before kick off. Thank you, I know about 20 others who attend church regularly that will not be offended as they are listening and saying it as well. Thank you for sharing.


Do you think I overreacted? It troubles me that other Christians would use the Lord's prayer and refer to God's name in such a flippant and insulting way.

I'm not a perfect Christian (as my username here clearly points out), but to me it is one thing to have moral failings and quite another to repeat a statement like this (that clearly makes a mockery of God's name) and see nothing wrong with it even after it has been pointed out.

It troubles me deeply.

 

[Child of JC]

I hate seeing Husbands speaking down to their wives. Or Wives disrespecting their husbands. It troubles me deeply, makes me feel sad for them. But I'm not sure that gives me authority to speak into their relationship.
I think you were speaking into her relationship with Jesus. Seems to me you were trying to implement your standard on her, but she obviously does not feel the same as you. If this hurt Jesus then He should talk to her about it. (Unless she has a pattern and you felt God has asked you to speak on His behalf).
You can pray for her though. And you can speak to God about your feelings too, let Him reassure you.

 

[imperfectchristian]

I hate seeing Husbands speaking down to their wives. Or Wives disrespecting their husbands. It troubles me deeply, makes me feel sad for them. But I'm not sure that gives me authority to speak into their relationship.
I think you were speaking into her relationship with Jesus. Seems to me you were trying to implement your standard on her, but she obviously does not feel the same as you. If this hurt Jesus then He should talk to her about it. (Unless she has a pattern and you felt God has asked you to speak on His behalf).
You can pray for her though. And you can speak to God about your feelings too, let Him reassure you.

So I guess if she goes and has sexual relations with animals, becomes a heroin addict and starts gambling all her money away if I say something I am "speaking into her relationship"???...that it is all about if she feels convicted???

Sigh...

 

[JustAsIam77]

I'm a football fan as my kids and grandkids know, they make allowances for my ferver for the game, I don't think these youngsters intend any slight to the Lords prayer, they're just caught up in the spirit of a great rivalry between Bama and the Razorbacks, try giving them a little slack, I'm sure they're great kids we could all be proud of.

 

[imperfectchristian]

I'm a football fan as my kids and grandkids know, they make allowances for my ferver for the game, I don't think these youngsters intend any slight to the Lords prayer, they're just caught up in the spirit of a great rivalry between Bama and the Razorbacks, try giving them a little slack, I'm sure they're great kids we could all be proud of.

I give up. Heaven forbid we should suggest exercising reservation when getting caught up in a college football rivalry.

 

[JustAsIam77]

I give up. Heaven forbid we should suggest exercising reservation when getting caught up in a college football rivalry.

It's a guy thing, go Razorbacks.

 

[LinkH]

On another forum, I had a discussion with someone who told a joke about God giving someone a wish. In the joke, the man asks for a bridge to Hawaii, and the joke has God telling him to ask for something else, and He asks to understand women. Anyway, the joke presents God as not omnipotent and reluctant to honor his promises. It also puts words in the Lord's mouth that He did not say.

I find this kind of humor offensive and I am surprised that believers take part in it, including the butchering of the Lord's prayer in the OP. The Bible says we are to serve God with reverence and godly fear.

Sometimes, I hear people making jokes about God that they wouldn't tell about their own mothers, and wouldn't want other people telling about their mothers. If you don't want me to tell jokes about your mother or your wife, I'd appreciate it if you don't tell jokes about my God.

 

[Big Drew]

I'm a football fan as my kids and grandkids know, they make allowances for my ferver for the game, I don't think these youngsters intend any slight to the Lords prayer, they're just caught up in the spirit of a great rivalry between Bama and the Razorbacks, try giving them a little slack, I'm sure they're great kids we could all be proud of.

I agree with this.

With the prayer, not so much.

Roll Tide!

 

[Faulty]

Our Father, who art in Fayetteville. Football be thy name. The Mighty Tide Fall. Thy Hogs be called. On Earth as they are in Heaven. Give Richardson cramps. And have Greg Childs catch touchdown passes. As Julio Jones drops passes against us. And Let Mallet not throw interceptions. ...But deliver us from Saban. For ours... is the day. The win and the glory. For ever and ever....Amen GO HOGS.....



One of my friends on FB posted the above statement on their facebook page. These were my comments as follows...

Is this person a believer?

 

[imperfectchristian]

I don't know...when I hear Jesus say "hallowed be thy name," my being resonates with that. The truth is many people don't take God seriously anymore. I am all for grace, love, peace and mercy, but the second you start turning God into this big marshmallow cupcake in the sky that doesn't take anything seriously you have departed any resemblance of the Christian God.

The God of Christianity is kind, but He is also hard.

 

[imperfectchristian]

Is this person a believer?

She says she is and has asked me for prayer several times in the past 6 months or so which I have happily responded to.

 

[Faulty]

I was just asking because if not, we really shouldn't be surprised that the scriptures are being taken so lightly.

But I suppose I would probably expect the same thing from a "believer" who does not take their relationship with God seriously, what some would probably call a "carnal christian" of sorts.

 

[Child of JC]

It's fantastic that you've grown into such a reverent believer. You're judging others, by expecting them to have the same heart as you have. Not everyone walks in the same place. Cut her some slack; I'm sure Jesus has her on the road that He intended.

You've asked for opinions are you've rejected what others have said. If you're not willing to consider what other people say, then don't ask to know.

 

[_Sonnie]

All of us have certain things we find especially offensive. The Lord gives us a personal revelation about something, and it becomes very sacred.

Unfortunately, we don't all find the same things offensive. Also unfortunately, we all say and do things that other people find as offensive as these things offend us. Hopefully we can find it within us to extend mercy to those people who say offensive things not understanding why they're offensive because we unknowingly also offend others all the time - they just don't preach at us for it, and when they do, it probably doesn't exactly foster an attitude of repentence but rather one of disgust at another's piousness. Few of us have real control over our mouths. I haven't personally met anyone who does.

I say this as one who has had to eat these words, and for what it's worth, I find that our society's lack of decorum is very disturbing. Don't get me wrong, I like laughing and think for the most part a lot of Christians need to lighten up a bit and not take everything so seriously but at the same time realize there is a real moral deficit in our world.

 

[BereanTodd]

I don't know...when I hear Jesus say "hallowed be thy name," my being resonates with that. The truth is many people don't take God seriously anymore. I am all for grace, love, peace and mercy, but the second you start turning God into this big marshmallow cupcake in the sky that doesn't take anything seriously you have departed any resemblance of the Christian God.

The God of Christianity is kind, but He is also hard.

I couldn't agree more. I am in no way legalistic. I have had very bad experiences with Christians and churches who were in the past. However, I believe that we in the modern American church have done a good job of creating what I call the "fluffy, bunny, buddy Jesus". Yes Jesus is our "friend" and His grace, love and peace are great truths to be taught. But the begining of wisdom is the FEAR of the Lord. We have lost reverence and fear for a holy, righteous and just God in today's church.

Yes I find that we make light of too many sacred things, and that 'poem' or 'prayer', whatever you want to call it was in very, very poor taste imho.

 

[Tobias]

If there be any other gods in our society, then football and other sports are definitely in the running. Zeus and the other Olympian gods, along with pretty much any pagan gods, are all considered ridiculous; beings that nobody in their right mind would worship.

If however, someone started the verse with: "Our Father who art on Olympus, Zeus be thy name..." the Christian outcry would be intense. There would be no question of the blasphemy and intention to worship a foreign god.


When the people of the Bible were cautioned against worshiping foreign gods, we have to remember that these gods were familiar to them. The worship of them was not something icky or weird, but came natural as a part of life that was acceptable to the societies around them. It was the not worshiping of them that was weird in many cases.

Having other gods before Him is an easy and natural thing to do. All the time we are faced with other "Lords" trying to take our attentions off of Him and get us to follow their ways instead.

 

[imperfectchristian]

It's fantastic that you've grown into such a reverent believer. You're judging others, by expecting them to have the same heart as you have. Not everyone walks in the same place. Cut her some slack; I'm sure Jesus has her on the road that He intended.

You've asked for opinions are you've rejected what others have said. If you're not willing to consider what other people say, then don't ask to know.

That is horse malarkey. I was not looking my nose down at her and judging her. I was judging what she repeated. A good friend will tell you when you are wrong and that is what I was doing. I expect my friends to tell me when I am wrong as well. It is not a question of expectation, it is a matter of fact. God's name is holy and should not be made a mockery out of even in fun.

I was not asking if I was right, I was asking if I over reacted.

 

[BereanTodd]

I was not asking if I was right, I was asking if I over reacted.

I wouldn't say that you overreatcted in reference to being offended at it. I would say that perhaps you could have handled it better. Remember, we have some Biblical guidelines in issues like this. One of them from Jesus in Matthew 18 I believe it was is that you should first approach this person one-on-one. If you responded back openly on facebook I think that may not have been best. It airs it to the public, and puts the other person automatically on the defensive.

Also, I know and agree with your heart in the matter but some of your wording was a little bit harsh for a first communication on the matter imho. Remember the words of Gal 6:

Brothers, if anyone is caught in any transgression, you who are spiritual should restore him in a spirit of gentleness

We are to be known by our love and gentleness. I think your words could have possibly been slightly better chosen.

That is just my personal opinion. But as I said you were absolutely right to be offended by it, I commend you in fact, to have such sensitivity to the holiness, righteousness and fear of the Lord that we so often lose in today's church.

 

[Aibrean]

I don't think you were out of line at all. I would have done the same thing (and actually...I have). At any rate, even though they might have not intended anything harmful - you have let them know it is to people and they should be more careful.

 

[imperfectchristian]

@ Btodd: great post and thank you for the advice. I will write her and apologize for my harshness and try to remember this counsel in the future and not respond quite so emotionally next time.