Third Commandment / Comedies about the Lord

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Scott

Puritan Board Graduate
Would it violate the third commandment (or any other moral principle) to have a comedy about the Lord? For example, using [ame="http://www.amazon.com/Instant-Christmas-Pageant-Operation-King/dp/0764422308/sr=8-1/qid=1161695837/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1/102-2050647-1569766?ie=UTF8&s=books"]http://www.amazon.com/Instant-Christmas-Pageant-Operation-King/dp/0764422308/sr=8-1/qid=1161695837/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1/102-2050647-1569766?ie=UTF8&s=books[/ame] as a drama (not for or during worship). Or the Veggie Tales that portray biblical characters as vegetables in a comedic fashion.

Thanks
 
Would it violate the third commandment (or any other moral principle) to have a comedy about the Lord? For example, using http://www.amazon.com/Instant-Christmas-Pageant-Operation-King/dp/0764422308/sr=8-1/qid=1161695837/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1/102-2050647-1569766?ie=UTF8&s=books as a drama (not for or during worship). Or the Veggie Tales that portray biblical characters as vegetables in a comedic fashion.

Thanks

yes, since that is treating spiritual things without due reference. There is many Scriptural references that show the proper attitude to God and His worship. Woe is me, because I am a man of unclean lips. Our God is a consuming fire. We do not take spiritual things in jest. I, for one, find Veggie Tales offensive.
 
:agree: I feel sorry particularly for George Burns - I don't even like to say the title of that irreverent movie series. It also used to shock me how many church people thought these movies were cute.
 
I think so. Here is what the Westminster Larger Catechism says to this (from the draft of my critical work on the text).

Q112.What is required in the third commandment?
The third commandment requires, that the name of God, his titles, attributes, (k) ordinances, (l) the Word, (m) sacraments, (n) prayer, (o) oaths, (p) vows, (q) lots, (r) his works, (s) and whatsoever else there is whereby he makes himself known, be holily and reverently used in thought, (t) meditation, (u) word, (w) writing, (x) by an holy profession, (y) and answerable conversation, (z) to the glory of God, (a) and the good of ourselves (b) and others. (c)

k MAT 6:9; DEU 28:58; PSA 29:2; PSA 68:4; REV 15:3-4
l MAL 1:14; ECC 5:1
m PSA 138:2
n 1CO 11:24-25, 28-29
o 1TI 2:8
p JER 4:2
q ECC 5:2, 4-6
r ACT 1:24, 26
s JOB 36:24
t MAL 3:16
u PSA 8: throughout. RPc drops “throughout”.
w COL 3:17; PSA 105:2, 5
x PSA 102:18
y 1PE 3:15; MIC 4:5
z PHI 1:27
a 1CO 10:31 [vs 35 but text of 31: Maxey; RothB; THIRD; FOURTH; COX.]
b JER 32:39
c 1PE 2:12

Variants:
1)“attributes; ordinances”: L&Rb. The comma is in L&Rc.
2)“sacraments prayer”: MSa, a clear scribal error.
3)“prayers oaths”: THIRD. Another missing punc. in THIRD.
4)“lots; his”: Dunlop; L&Rb. L&Rc; E.Rob have the comma.
5)“works; and”: Dunlop; L&Rb. L&Rc; E.Rob have the comma.
6)“used, in thought”: MSb; RP; E.Rob.
7)(1) “word and writing”: Dunlop; L&R. (2) “word, and writing”: E.Rob.
8)“writing; by”: Dunlop; L&R. The comma is in E.Rob.
9)“ourselves, and others”: FOURTH; COX; RPa; L&R; E.Rob.

Q113.What are the sins forbidden in the third commandment?
The sins forbidden in the third commandment, are, the not using of God's name as is required; (d) and the abuse of it, in an ignorant, (e) vain, (f) irreverent, profane, (g) superstitious, (h) or wicked mentioning or otherwise using his titles, attributes, (i) ordinances, (k) or works; (l) by blasphemy, (m) perjury; (n) all sinful cursings, (o) oaths, (p) vows, (q) and lots, (r) violating of our oaths, and vows, if lawful; (s) and fulfilling them, if of things unlawful, (t) murmuring and quarrelling at, (u) curious prying into, (w) and misapplying of God's decrees, (x) and providences, (y) misinterpreting, (z) misapplying, (a) or any way perverting the Word, or any part of it, (b) to profane jests, (c) curious or unprofitable questions, vain janglings, or the maintaining of false doctrines; (d) abusing it, the creatures, or anything contained under the name of God, to charms, (e) or sinful lusts and practices, (f) the maligning, (g) scorning, (h) reviling, (i) or anyways opposing of God's truth, grace, and ways, (k) making profession of religion in hypocrisy, or for sinister ends; (l) being ashamed of it, (m) or a shame to it, by unconformable, (n) unwise, (o) unfruitful, (p) and offensive walking, (q) or backsliding from it. (r)

d MAL 2:2
e ACT 17:23
f PRO 30:9
g MAL 1:6-7, 12; MAL 3:14
h 1SA 4:3-5; JER 7:4, 9-10, 14, 31; COL 2:20-22
i 2KI 18:30, 35; EXO 5:2; PSA 139:20
k PSA 50:16-17
l ISA 5:12
m 2KI 19:22; LEV 24:11
n ZEC 5:4; ZEC 8:17
o 1SA 17:43; 2SA 16:5
p JER 5:7; JER 23:10
q DEU 23:18; ACT 23:12, 14 [14 dropped in Maxey; RothB; THIRD; FOURTH; COX.]
r EST 3:7; EST 9:24; PSA 22:18 [Cox changes ref to MAT 27:35 but text still PSA 22:18]
s PSA 24:4; EZK 17:16, 18-19 [Typo v. 9 for v.19 but text correct: L&Rc.]
t MAR 6:26; 1SA 25:22, 32-34
u ROM 9:14, 19-20
w DEU 29:29
x ROM 3:5, 7; ROM 6:1 [6:1-2 variant? Maxey; RothB; THIRD; COX. have 1-2. MAX added “God forbid” in text requiring 2. FOURTH; Dunlop and L&R have “God forbid” in the text but do not list verse 2 in the reference.]
y ECC 8:11; ECC 9:3; PSA 39 throughout. [RPc drops “throughout” as usual.]
z MAT 5:21 to the end. [21-22?]
a EZK 13:22
b 2PE 3:16; MAT 22:24-31 [30?]
c ISA 22:13; JER 23:34, 36, 38 [Typo: JER 43 but text is correct: DNLP; L&R. The RP is correct.].
d 1TI 1:4, 6-7; 1TI 6:4-5, 20; 2TI 2:14; TIT 3:9
e DEU 18:10-14; ACT 19:13
f 2TI 4:3-4; ROM 13:13-14; 1KI 21:9-10; JUD 4
g ACT 13:16; 1JO 3:12 [13:45 from Rothwell forward. 13:16 is not pertinent so Rothwell changed to 13:45. [Not star’d by Rothwell or Dunlop.]
h PSA 1:1; 2PE 3:3
i 1PE 4:4
k ACT 13:45-46, 50; ACT 4:18; ACT 19:9; 1TH 2:16; HEB 10:29
l 2TI 3:5; MAT 23:14; MAT 6:1-2, 5, 16 [MAT 13:14 but text correct: L&R; correct in E.Rob.]
m MAR 8:38
n PSA 73:14-15
o 1CO 6:5-6; EPH 5:15-17
p ISA 5:4; 2PE 1:8-9
q ROM 2:23-24 [Rom vi. 23, 24: RPc]
r GAL 3:1, 3; HEB 6:6

Variants:
10)“commandment are”: Dunlop; L&R; E.Rob.
11)“required, and”: Maxey; RothB; THIRD; FOURTH; COX.
12)“and, the abuse”: MSa.
13)“it in”: Dunlop; RP; L&R; E.Rob.
14)“mentioning, or”: MSS; W1438; RP.
15)“using, his titles”: MSb.
16)“works by”: Dunlop; RP; L&Rb. The comma is in L&Rc. E.Rob has the semi-colon.
17)“perjury all”: RPc.
18)“oaths vows”: Tyler2.
19)“cursing”: FOURTH.
20)“lots; violating”: MSS; THIRD; COX; Dunlop; RP; L&R; E.Rob. [FOURTH has the comma]
21)(1) “oaths and vows”: MSS; FOURTH; Dunlop; L&Rbc; E.Rob. (2) “vows if”: Dunlop.
22)(1) “lawful, and”: MSb; RothB; THIRD; FOURTH; COX. (2) “lawful: and”: Maxey. (2) “them if”: Dunlop. (3) “lawful,—”: RPc.
23)“and, fulfilling”: MSa.
24)“unlawful; murmuring”: MSS; AM; Tyler; W1438; Dunlop; RP; L&R; E.Rob.
25)“murmuring, and”: MSS; AM.
26)“into and”: Tyler.
27)“decrees and”: MSb; Tyler; Dunlop; L&R. The comma is in E.Rob.
28)“providences; misinterpreting”: MSS; AM; Tyler; Dunlop; RP; L&R; E.Rob.
29)“Word or”: Dunlop.
30)“doctrines, abusing”: RothB; THIRD; FOURTH?; COX. The text of FOURTH ran into the gutter obscuring the punctuation.
31)“practices; the”: MSS; AM; Tyler; Dunlop; RP; L&R; E.Rob.
32)“anywise”: DNLP; L&R; E.Rob. RP retained “anyways”.
33)“grace and”: MSa; AM; RPa.
34)“ways; making”: MSS; AM; Tyler; Dunlop; RP; L&R; E.Rob.
35)“ends, being”: Dunlop; L&R.
36)“unfruitful and”: L&Rc. E.Rob has the comma.
37)“offensive walkings”: Maxey; RothB; THIRD; COX. [Check pre Rothwell to see if they introduced plural walkings. Early and MSS singular.​
 
I agree guys. How would you respond to someone who says a good-intentioned comedy about Jesus can be respectful and reverential? For example, a roast is an attempt to honor someone.

Peopl who took this view would suggest that the third commandment was intended to prohibit bad-intentioned profane mockers. Let's look at the confessional excerpts.

Q113.What are the sins forbidden in the third commandment?
The sins forbidden in the third commandment, are, the not using of God's name as is required; and the abuse of it, in an ignorant . . . (f) irreverent, profane, (g) . . . to profane jests . . .

A proof text for (f) is Mal. 3:14: "You have said, 'It is futile to serve God. What did we gain by carrying out his requirements and going about like mourners before the LORD Almighty? 15 But now we call the arrogant blessed. Certainly the evildoers prosper, and even those who challenge God escape.'"

This is someone who opposes God, not just someone who is seeking to honor him in a comedic way. The same could be said to be the case for Malachi 1:6-7 and 12, the other proof texts.
 
Any comments on the idea that the standards are talking about bad-intentioned jokes, rather than good-intentioned ones?
 
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