Skeptics: The Mocking Kind

Then he went up from there to Bethel; and as he was going up the road, some youths came from the city and mocked him, and said to him, “Go up, you baldhead! Go up, you baldhead!”

So he turned around and looked at them, and pronounced a curse on them in the name of the Lord. And two female bears came out of the woods and mauled forty-two of the youths.

2 Kings 2:23-24 (NKJV)

When they had twisted a crown of thorns, they put it on His head, and a reed in His right hand. And they bowed the knee before Him and mocked Him, saying, “Hail, King of the Jews!”

Matthew 27:29 (NKJV)

When young men mocked the prophet, Elisha, for what seemed to be “silly” mockery, their verdict from God was no less than death.*

Why?

Elisha was on a mission for God, and God took his insults PERSONALLY!

Note what Christ said to Saul (a.k.a. Paul) on the life-changing road to Damascus:

‘As he neared Damascus on his journey, suddenly a light from heaven flashed around him. He fell to the ground and heard a Voice say to him, “Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me?”

“Who are you, Lord?” Saul asked.

“I am Jesus, Whom you are persecuting,” He replied’ (Acts 9:3-5).

Some take-home lessons we’re wise embrace?

  • The Lord IDENTIFIES with His children!

  • All ages, sizes, colors, and cultures;

  • Most especially with ‘The least of these’ (Matthew 25:45),

  • And He’s specific about who they are:

  • “I was hungry and you gave Me food; I was thirsty and you gave Me drink; I was a stranger and you took Me in; I was naked and you clothed Me; I was sick and you visited Me; I was in prison and you came to Me” (Matthew 25:35-36).

  • Note to self: “Strangers” include immigrants!

Actors, models, and talent for Christ:

Some politicians (who call themselves Christians) make “skeptical mockery” seem normal. They’ve white-washed the practice of name-calling, but this deadly bleach doesn’t come from God. Sadly, these mockers get laughs and applause.

Sensible question:

Is a Christian who mocks fellow Christians, (or anybody else for that matter) actually representing Jesus? I think not.

Be warned!

Never join a mocking hit parade, because as it is written (quite clearly),

‘Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, that he will also reap’ (Galatians 6:7).

Skeptics: The Mocking Kind (Part 12)

NOTE: God is my Ghostwriter. If what I write is good, it’s from God. You may see notes to 'Actors, Models & Talent for Christ.' If you think you're not in show business, think again. Shakespeare said, 'All the world's a stage and all its men and women merely players. Mostly true. But you're not merely players. You are messengers and ambassadors for the King of kings. This series is a rewrite of a prior 2014 series.  

* Short article on this Bible account: https://www.gotquestions.org/Elisha-baldhead.html

Carey Arban