Dryden's Satire

Under what circumstances do you feel satire is appropriate for a Christian's use?

The use of satire should be only used to a certain extent, especially when it pertains to Christianity. Actually, I believe that when talking about or expressing the truth of God the use of exaggeration and humor shouldn’t intervene. God’s personal sacrifice, mercy, and love are too personal to “joke” around with. The people who do make comments or remarks about God’s creation or anything relating to Him are usually looked down as either disrespectful or inconsiderate. Satire, I believe, should only be used for poetry or used for enjoyment between close friends.

When is it inappropriate?

There are many cases in which satire can be inappropriately used when referring to Scripture and God. The devil can especially cause this act of temptation towards unbelievers and believers. In a Christian sense, whenever an individual insolently judges or insults the name of the Lord, he or she will be judged before Him one day just as anyone person. However, they will have to explain from their wrong doings and feelings. Nevertheless, forgiveness is always open for those who repent.

For what purpose does the writer in I Kings 18:27 employ this form of writing?

I Kings 18:27~New Living Translation

About noontime Elijah began mocking them. “You’ll have to shout louder,” he scoffed, “for surely he is a god! Perhaps he is daydreaming, or is relieving himself.[a] Or maybe he is away on a trip, or is asleep and needs to be wakened!”

In I Kings 18, it illustrates a story of Elijah and the people of Israel. Elijah, the prophet of the Lord, wanted the people to understand the truth of the living God. However, he did not only want to preach to them, but show them the true miracles of God. So he set a deal with the people, and asked them to set a bull on the altar with wood, and he will do the same. Expect whichever God or “god” sets the wood on fire first will receive the title of the true God. Elijah, knowing that God will perform his miracle, expresses his feelings and humor towards the Israelites. In verse twenty-seven, he shows the people that it doesn’t matter how loud they speak because their god isn’t real and he portrays this through the use of his satire.

NLT Holy Bible. N.p.: Tyndale House Foundation, 2007. Print.