I’ve been away from the computer - family time - and came back to a couple of people who are not happy with:
1) something I wrote
2) something I believe

That’s blogging.
I addressed person #1.
Person #2, Patrick gets thanks for the link and that’s all I’ve got to give him.

Now I’ll address me.
I was accused of lying.
I honestly don’t know if the perceived lie(s) are omission or commission, and I found it difficult to sort through assumptions by my accuser as to why I would intend to lie.
Since I really can’t read minds and there is no straight answer being offered, I have to let it go.

It’s been eating at me though.
There are times when it doesn’t matter what intent is, someone is going to believe what they believe and all the listening and words in the world are not going to clear up some misunderstandings.
If you ask someone to be specific in a charge and they aren’t able or willing to lay it out, the wisest move I can think of is to let it go.
I think all of us of us can attest to how difficult that bit of wisdom can be to put into practise.

Bill Kinnon has a post up that inadvertently addressed part of what I’ve been chewing on.
There is a theologian in the US who has been the subject of a parody site, and a fair number of bloggers are talking about it.
Satire is extremely difficult, sarcasm is not, they become interchangeable and part of the discussion is whether this parody has turned to satire.
The majority of the discussion goes to intent.

satire: (noun)
1. the use of irony, sarcasm, ridicule, or the like, in exposing, denouncing, or deriding vice, folly, etc.
2. a literary composition, in verse or prose, in which human folly and vice are held up to scorn, derision, or ridicule.

sarcasm: (noun)
1. harsh or bitter derision or irony.
2. a sharply ironical taunt; sneering or cutting remark: a review full of sarcasms.

Satire works well when when it is directed at structures, not individuals.
Satire can be used well when it is an affectionate tribute to an individual.

Sarcasm is personal, we certainly direct it at public figures, but it is a human line of defense when we feel we stung, misunderstood or think we haven’t been heard. Sarcasm is used to lessen another and make ourselves feel good, better, vindicated, superior, right.
The consensus about the parody site is that it isn’t particularly helpful to the theologian or the person writing it.

From Jesus Creed:

A steady diet of satire is soul-destroying, especially when one remains anonymous and especially when it goes on indefinitely about the same person. Satire turns the human gaze against others, even if at first in fun, and learns to hold Eikons up for ridicule and insult. It has its own way of becoming a cancer of cynicism, eventually eating the soul.

Bob.blog:

To me, the first is lighthearted, and even though you are poking fun at their foibles, you make a point not to be a tool- yeah, points get made, there’s a bit of jabbing… but you don’t take the time to show up and roast someone unless you really like them.

The second… that’s another story. When you dislike people and what they stand for, and out of that produce satire that mocks them… in my opinion, it’s exceedingly easy to cross a line into just ridicule for the sake of ridicule, no matter what high-minded motivations you may try to attach to it.

Seeing myself called a liar brought the cancer of cynicism to the surface before I even thought about it, before I blinked, took a few deep breaths and even asked myself what I was feeling and why.
Garbage in - garbage out.
Satire? Forget that, I don’t have any wit,
I was going straight for the feast of sarcasm. Starving for it. Of course. It’s addictive stuff. Offense as defense.
The stench of self-vindication only becomes a stench as that garbage you’ve let out starts to rot.
Or when you finally see you have wounded another and yourself.

No one comes out of this smelling good.
This is where I do not apologize for faith, for being a Christian.
I am perceived to be a liar.
Snap! Instinct kicks in.
Chew on scorn. Savour mockery. Sip a grudge.
Even if the words never made it online, my inclination leaned that way.
It is not where I have to stay.
And I can’t hide those instincts from God.
I’m grateful I cannot hide from Him.
He knows attitudes that do not line up with His character diminish us.
He knows the real intent of the heart.
He sees where I cannot see.
He is present as a wounded healer.
He desires to not only forgive, but to change me.
He is fierce about molding me into the image and likeness of His Son.
And I don’t deserve that.

I don’t think I deserved to be labelled a liar, but I deserve forgiveness even less.
Being quiet before God and letting Him search my heart, know my ways, try me and see if there be any wicked way in me is not a process I dictate.
It takes as long as an eternal and Holy God desires it to take.

God won’t be mocked. I cannot pray ‘forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us’ if I do not actively seek forgiveness. Love is not glib.

So, no matter what I say, what I believe, and what I do, I’m bankrupt without love.

Love never gives up.
Love cares more for others than for self.
Love doesn’t want what it doesn’t have.
Love doesn’t strut,
Doesn’t have a swelled head,
Doesn’t force itself on others,
Isn’t always “me first,”
Doesn’t fly off the handle,
Doesn’t keep score of the sins of others,
Doesn’t revel when others grovel,
Takes pleasure in the flowering of truth,
Puts up with anything,
Trusts God always,
Always looks for the best,
Never looks back,
But keeps going to the end.
Love never dies. I Corinthians 13:4-10 The Message

Paul is describing God. That is God’s character.
He holds Himself to that standard as He calls us to join Him.

Waiting is intentional action.
Sometimes someone who has been hurt isn’t ready to clear the air.
Confrontation is about truth; behaviors and attitudes of blame, whining or demands have no place. The goal is always reconciliation.

I wonder how the theologian is doing.
Does he go online? Does he know he is being parodied?
I wonder how he thinks and feels and what he plans to do.
Perhaps he is waiting too.

Bill Kinnon wrestles with the meta pragmatism of scorn, mockery and sarcasm.