One of the subjects we had to learn as undergraduates was Contract Law, of which the Sales of Goods Act was covered. We were taught the concept of "caveat emptor" or "let the buyer beware", which means to say that a consumer should be careful whenever he buys anything.
Caveat emptor applies to music CDs which songs contain swear words. It is not uncommon to see the label "Parental Advisory Explicit Content" on albums from the likes of Linkin' Park and Green Day, where the four-letter word is peppered throughout.
The Record Industry Association of America ("RIAA") came up with this compulsory requirement, so that parents are kept aware of the lyrical content of music out there, so that they can advise their teenage kids about whether to buy a CD or otherwise.
As I was looking at the label, I was wondering if something similar should be made obligatory for websites and weblogs. As most of you are probably already aware, my blog has been described as having "severely disturbing" content because it "over-emphasizes" the gospel of grace. Others may even say that it "cheapens grace" and gives Christians a "licence to sin".
In this spoofed version, the word "explicit" has been replaced with the words "severely disturbing" and "parental" with "pharisaical".
If such a label was available during biblical times, one can imagine the Pharisees sticking it on the teachings of Jesus. After all, He broke the Law in their eyes on numerous occasions -- by allowing His disciples to pluck corn on the Sabbath, by touching a leper, by eating with publicans and tax collectors, by allowing a prostitute to wipe His feet with her hair, etc etc.
Thanks, Pastor B for inspiring me to come up with this label :-)
Oh ya, besides my blog, this label should be also be conspicuously displayed on the following websites/weblogs:
DailyRhema: Joshua Lye's Blog
My Walk. His Glory. (knowing God, and making Him known): Angie's Blog
New Creation Church - The Church that Rocks at the Rock
Peter Youngren's WatchCelebrate.tv
2 comments:
Hi Malcolm,
I love your blog and been wanting to write you some time. So here it is :)
My first thoughts regarding your new "label" is that it's probably not helpful to call critics of NCC's gospel of grace "pharisees". This is a kind of label that we all like to use on others - because it implies we're right and the others wrong. So I don't think it actually helps to call others a pharisee. It's taking the moral high ground. In fact, it can be quite self-righteous to call others Pharisee - simply because again, we're saying that the other person is wrong and we're right. Also, I think if we're trying to reach out to people and get them to see God's wonderful grace, implying that they're pharisaical isn't going to help them think things through. It's just going to draw out a reaction from them!
I know the label is meant to be partly humourous, but the above are just some of my thoughts. What do you think?
Hi stillhaventfound
Thanks for your comments.
Thought I'd clarify 2 points.
Firstly, grace teachings are not the exclusive domain of NCC. Hence, it may not be appropriate to refer to it as "NCC's gospel of grace". Long before Ps Prince was expounding on them, the apostle Paul was already teaching them in his epistles.
Secondly, the word "pharisee" is used in the context of "embracer of the Law". It was considered an honourable pursuit for a Jew to be one. That's why Paul chose that route. You can read more about that here
Having said that, if you can think of a better word to use to spoof the word "parental", please let me know so that I can amend it accordingly...
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