Power of Parody
Parody only has power because what it’s parodying already exists
- Its an Imitation
- A false REPRESENTATION
I tell you this because…
The Devil can only parody the GOOD THINGS that God has already CREATED
2 Corinthians 11:14
For Satan disguises himself as an angel of light.
We’ll get back to the idea of parody a little later…
Starting a new series called:
BE FREE
One of Satan’s biggest lies is around the idea of FREEDOM
Freedom is a big deal to us in this country
- 1776: freedom from Foreign rule
- Land of the Brave and Home of the FREE
- At the center of our culture
Freedom is a GREAT THING in its PROPER CONTEXT
- what is the context of freedom?
Culture’s view of freedom:
Do what I want, when I want, How I want, with who I want, and have no consequences
- This is NOT freedom but ANARCHY
The Christian view of Freedom:
Freedom in Christ is not the right to do what we want but the ability to do what we ought.
This Christian view comes from Jesus’ conversation with some of his followers…
John 8
31 Then Jesus said to the Jews who had believed him, “If you continue in my word, you really are my disciples. 32 You will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”
33 “We are descendants of Abraham,” they answered him, “and we have never been enslaved to anyone. How can you say, ‘You will become free’?”
34 Jesus responded, “Truly I tell you, everyone who commits sin is a slave of sin. 35 A slave does not remain in the household forever, but a son does remain forever. 36 So if the Son sets you free, you really will be free.
Jesus takes OWNERSHIP of FREEDOM
- This is OUTRAGEOUS
- Only God can do that
If Jesus OWNS freedom…
- Only found in Him
Then Satan will try and PARODY (MIMIC, STEAL) FREEDOM
- What Satan tries to pass off as freedom is NOT freedom
Over the next few weeks, we will be going through the Letter to Galatians
Paul writes to several Churches in the area of Galatian
- Paul planted churches there in His missionary journeys
- Recorded in Acts 13–16
Galatians is a unique letter because it contains and says the word FREEDOM more than any of his other letters
Key Passage for this series:
Galatians 5:1
For freedom, Christ set us free. Stand firm, then, and don’t submit again to a yoke of slavery.
Let’s look at something Paul says at the start of his letter…
Galatians 1
6 I am amazed that you are so quickly turning away from him who called you by the grace of Christ and are turning to a different gospel— 7 not that there is another gospel, but there are some who are troubling you and want to distort the gospel of Christ. 8 But even if we or an angel from heaven should preach to you a gospel contrary to what we have preached to you, a curse be on him! 9 As we have said before, I now say again: If anyone is preaching to you a gospel contrary to what you received, a curse be on him!
Let’s talk about the term “GOSPEL”
εὐαγγέλιον (euangelion)
- Good message
- Good News
Gospel means: Good News
The Biblical Authors did not make up this word
- It was used all the time in Ancient Roman and Greek Societies
Emperor Augustus (From the birth of Jesus)
- The good news of Prosperity and power from the God’s
- Savior of Rome
Paul is referencing the fact that the GOSPEL of Jesus is the FINAL and TRUE GOSPEL for the world
- Others are PARODIES
What are some of the PARODY GOSPELS?
Parody Gospel of Self-Fulfillment
- The main goal for your life is to be HAPPY!
- Happiness can only come from what you think will make you happy
- Shame is subjective to you
- Guilt is what happens when you don’t accept youRself
- Anything that doesn’t make you happy does belong in your life
What is the Logical Conclusion of this Gospel?
- Anyone who disagrees with what makes you happy is your ENEMY
- You MUST pursue new levels of euphoria, otherwise, you will have to grapple with the crushing reality of the misery of life
- Any correction from anywhere MUST be seen as a THREAT
Where do we see this Gospel?
- In the Sexual revolution
- In our extreme individualism
- In how we spend our money
- In our relationships at large
This Gospel ONLY works if you have the MONEY and PERSONAL FREEDOM to do what you want all the time
- Only those in wealthy countries
Parody Gospel of Prosperity
- Health and wealth
- If you follow God, he will bless you
- If he’s not blessing you, you are doing something wrong
Logical Conclusion:
- God is only there to serve YOU
- You Don’t want a God, you want a Santa or sugar daddy
Where do we see it?
- In many churches
- Mostly in wealthy countries
- But sometimes, in poor countries
- Make the pastor rich
Parody Gospel of Self Righteousness
- Confidence in one’s OWN righteousness
- Legalistic
- Rule follower
- Ability to judge others based on your own understanding of the rules
Logical Conclusion:
- Not saved by grace alone, but your own righteous deeds
- Works are at the center of your life, not faith and forgiveness
- It always leads to a harsh heart with NO COMPASSION
Where do we see it?
- In our churches (this is what Paul was battling against in Galatians)
- Lack of compassion
- In our culture
- If you don’t like me, then you are a bigot!
Parody Gospel of Only Mercy and Love
- God is ONLY love
- God ONLY forgives and forgets
- God prefers mercy over justice
Logical Conclusion:
- The sacrifice of Jesus was unnecessary because God does not truly care about justice for sin
- It is ok to continue on in your ways because God will always forgive you
- This God is a cheerleader for whatever you value but is not a God to be worshiped as Supreme Lord
- God is not feared but leveraged to do what you want with no guilt
Where do we see this Parody?
- In much of our “SECULAR CHRISTIAN” world
- Jesus is all love, not bite
Gospel of Freedom In Jesus
Luke 4:14-21
17 The scroll of the prophet Isaiah was given to him, and unrolling the scroll, he found the place where it was written:
18 The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because he has anointed me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim release to the captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to set free the oppressed, 19 to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.
What is the Gospel of Freedom In Jesus:
- God came in the flesh in the person of Jesus
- He Lived the life that we can not live
- He Died the death that we should have died
- He rose to lie after three days
- He now sits at the right hand of the Father and is the ruler of both heaven and earth
- We are adopted into the family of God as HEIRS to the promise of renewal and resurrection through Jesus
- One day, all things will be made right
Do you want to have TRUE FREEDOM in your life?
- Don’t follow the Parodies
- Follow the True Gospel of Freedom in Jesus