TEXT: James 1:26

SUBJECT: Baxter on the Tongue #9

With the Lord's blessing, we'll complete our study of Richard Baxter on the Tongue. Or, Puritan advice for controlling your speech.

Over the last few weeks, we've looked at some problem areas--lying, profanity, sinful joking, idle talk, and obscene or suggestive language. Tonight, we take up the chapter on "profane deriding, scorning, or opposing godliness". In other words, mocking or laughing at people who try to live for Christ.

This is very common with young people. To many of them, reading the Bible, praying, or going to church is embarrassing or uncool. Some of them have to do these things, but they don't want to! And they exclude or laugh at those who are serious about God. I know what I'm talking about. When I was a teenager, I went to a pretty big church, with a lot of kids my age. And almost all of them thought godliness was a big joke! Scoffing at holiness is a problem with young people--including kids who go to church, attend Christian School, and profess faith in Christ--to their parents!

But the sin isn't limited to young people. Believing men and women are guilty of it also. How do they do this? They don't mock at holiness itself, but at "overdoing it". Lukewarmness is fine with them, but if one becomes zealous for the Lord (or, conscientious) they label him a fanatic and scoff at his extremism.

This is the sin we'll study tonight: Making fun of godliness. Whether you're laughing out loud or smirking to yourself doesn't matter. You're still mocking godliness. And that is a frightful sin. What do you do about it? Three things. The first one is long; the others are very short.

1. THINK OF HOW BAD IT IS TO MOCK GODLINESS

All sins are bad, but all sins are not equally bad. According to Richard Baxter, mocking godliness is one of the worst. He proves it with an twenty points. Here's a sampling.

Baxter is not mincing words. Whatever you say about mocking the godly, this is what you're really doing! Which of them are you proud of? Laughing at someone for imitating Christ? Mocking him because he won't forsake God? Making fun of him because he won't consign his soul to eternal flames? No! The joke is not on the godly man, but on the one who mocks him.

Think long and hard about what you're doing. And you'll stop doing it.

Baxter has said this before. But it bears repeating. There is nothing Satan loves more than to see God's people ridiculed and shamed into silence. He has plenty of people to do this! He doesn't need your help. Don't do the devil's work for him.

If you want to get punched in the mouth, laugh in someone's face. It makes you mad. And not just you; it makes God mad too. My anger is not that threatening. But God's is. Nahum 1:6:

This may not be the highest motive to honor God, but it is a good one.

This is an interesting comment. It says that laughing at the godly says more about you than them. It says you know nothing of holiness, for if you did, you would encourage it--and not make a mockery of it.

Well, did they? Did our Lord ever criticize men for being too serious about godliness? Quite the opposite! See John 2:17!

If not, then why mock the children of God for obeying their Father's wishes?

This is the first point: Just remember how bad it is to laugh at godliness and to discourage people who are striving for it.

2. STAY AWAY FROM PEOPLE WHO MOCK AT GODLINESS.

He says this in nearly every chapter, but it's worth repeating, I Corinthians 15:33. To help us stay away from these people, Baxter tells us what they are:

That is a strong rebuke. But fully justified. Not content with their own ungodliness, they've got to drag everyone else down with them.

If you want to avoid their character and end, stay away from them! Psalm 1:1.

3. PUT CHRIST FIRST.

The wording is awkward, but the content is great. It says we must put Christ before secondary issues. If we don't, we end of thinking:

There is an example of this is the Bible, Mark 9:38-40,

John thought nobody in the world was serving God but the people who went to his church. Even casting out devils in Christ's name was hypocrisy if done outside his group! But wasn't that foolish in him?

Sure it was. And in us too.

God loves His children, all of them--including those who differ with us on secondary issues. We may debate the issues and say they're wrong. But we may not speak evil of them! And we may not think God is on our side when we do!

RECAP

Mocking God is a great sin. If you want to avoid it, stay away from those who do and put Christ first in your evaluation of others.

Baxter closes the chapter with a two words for people who are mocked for Christ's sake.

When Christians sin, scoffers don't laugh at us, but at God. This is unfair, but it is still true. When David committed adultery, he "Gave great occasion for the enemies of the Lord to blaspheme". We do the same thing. At our best, we give wicked!

The laughter and mockery you have suffered can't compare to the ridicule Jesus Christ suffered in your place. Your mockery is partly justified; but He was "Hated without a cause". His was a life-long mocking that climaxed on Mount Calvary. This means "He is touched with the feelings of your infirmities". And, being tempted Himself, He can "Help you in your temptations".

As for justice? It will be done. God will have the last laugh. Mockers will one day be mocked. So, don't worry about it for now. "Vengeance is mine, says the Lord, I will repay".

If you mock at godliness, God forgive you your sin and give you a new heart for Christ's sake.

If you're mocked at, bear it patiently and in hope that "God will soon wipe away every tear". God hasten the day. For Christ's sake. Amen.