The Simpsons TV show has countless religious references. Their main objective, of course, is to garner laughs, but some are insightful (whether the writers meant them to be or not). Here’s one of my favorites:
Lisa [standing in the pulpit]: I know most of you have already judged my brother guilty without any proof. But doesn’t the Bible teach us, “Judge not, lest ye be judged?”
Reverend Lovejoy: I think it may be somewhere towards the back.
Many Christians (and non-Christians) pick and choose what they like in the Bible (see Dalmatian Theology for more on that). Reverend Lovejoy doesn’t like the verse he’s hearing so he downplays it by implying that implying that it is towards the back of the Bible (it is actually in Matthew 7).
A group calling themselves “Red-letter Christians” claim to focus on the specific quotes of Jesus (typed in red letters in some Bibles). But there is a big problem with this approach: Jesus is God, and all of the Bible is God’s Word. The black letters don’t trump the red letters and don’t carry more weight. They may be special for some reasons, but they are no more authoritative. (The aforementioned group is twisting the scriptures anyway to suit a political agenda).
Of course, Lisa is interpeting the verse incorrectly as well by making common mistakes – taking the Bible too literally and not in context. If she would keep reading she would see that Jesus meant not to judge hypocritically. There are plenty of verses teaching that we need to make sound judgments, such as John 7:24 (“Stop judging on mere appearances and make a right judgment.”)
See how many Bible lessons you can glean from The Simpsons?
Filed under: Bible
Yes, and many sermon illustrations as well. Now, if I can just get my wife to let me do more research and watch the Simpsons more often.
Once in a Sunday School class someone made a comment about one of Paul’s letters that it was just Paul who said something, not Jesus. I quickly pointed out that ALL Scripture is inspired, it’s just that the red letters are more inspired. (The last part was 1/2 toungue in cheek – the first part was emphasized)
Amen! It is amazing how many people try to wiggle around the obvious: God is perfect, so if He said it then it will be without error. I understand why atheists don’t hold that view. What puzzles me is why 100% of Christians don’t.
I once had a math teacher who said that there are an infinite number of integers, but there is a larger infinity of numbers (integers, fractions, irrational numbers, transcendatal numbers).
Same concept.
“What puzzles me is why 100% of Christians don’t.”
Cultural conservatives, when they view authority, tend to think of a more authoritarian, disciplinarian father figure, whereas liberals tend to think of authority as a more nurturing, provisional figure, and they are more anti-establishment. Christian liberals love Jesus, because they seem to view him as anti-establishment (which he was to some degree) and more about love than judgment (which he was to some degree).
I don’t want to accuse anyone of using their feelings, rather than reason to determine what, if any, parts of the Bible are more true than others, but certain aspects of Jesus resonate more with what liberals already believe, as opposed to the rest of the Bible.
But even a complete picture of Jesus would probably go against what many RLC believe, as Jesus strongly affirmed the exclusive two options of one man-one woman or being celibate. And I think liberals totally miss the point that Jesus didn’t immerse himself in politics whatsoever.
That being said, there is a nuanced position we have to take. Jesus, in a way, fulfilled the Law, and there are certain things we aren’t accountable to today, in relation to the Old Testament, such as avoiding pork, women hiding during their period, etc… So, in some senses, the NT overrides the OT in a few ways, but that is the entire NT, not just the Gospels.
Chance, you have some good points, but I think Liberals often think they have a monopoly on the grace message. I think it is all about the balance of grace and truth (a la Jesus in John 1:14 – The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the One and Only, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.)