Comedienne Openly Challenges Christ

In my last posting on September 12, I wrote about A Righteous Government, At Last. This was, of course, a reference to the Millennial reign of Christ. A couple of additional articles are planned on that subject, but an item in yesterday’s news has captured my thinking and I want to respond.

The news item came from the Creative Arts Emmy Award Ceremony where Comedienne Kathy Griffin addressed the audience upon receiving her award. The general drift of her remarks were to rebuke those who accept awards or score touchdowns and then promptly thank Jesus for helping them do so. She commented that she received no help whatsoever from Jesus, used a derogatory expletive to publicly challenge Jesus by name, and announced (holding her award trophy upward) this award is my god. Later in an interview she proudly said, I hope I have offended people.

My emotional responses run the gamut of possible reactions to Kathy Griffin’s words. I am offended at her reference to my Lord in such a manner. I am appalled (but not surprised) that the audience would openly applaud her words. I am angry at her, the audience, and the left-wing media who don’t even report the matter. I am saddened at her spiritual ignorance. And I am frightened for her future in this life and beyond.

I am frightened for her because, not only do I know the Lord she cursed and challenged, but I also have read his Word. Consider, for instance, II Kings 18 and 19. Rabshakeh, spokesman for the Assyrian king, publicly called out to the citizens of Jerusalem sitting on the wall and listening to him negotiate with King Hezekiah’s representatives. He badmouthed King Hezekiah, Israel’s leaders, Israel’s people, and especially Israel’s God. There is no hope for any of you, he charged, except with the King of Assyria. Assyria can guarantee you grain, wine, bread, vineyards, olive groves and honey. Now you are starving and eating your own waste. He and his King Sennacherib should realize that it is a frightening thing to directly challenge Almighty God. One might challenge an earthly king or general or leader, but never God. To directly challenge God is to require God to act. And act he always does. Rabshakeh and Sennacherib will not like what Jehovah is about to do.

To his credit and consistent with the statement that he walked in the ways of his father, David, Hezekiah flees to the Lord at this point. He knows that Assyria has the raw military strength to destroy him. He also knows that his strength is minimal and describes it using an unusual symbol: This day is a day of trouble, and rebuke, and blasphemy; for the children have come to birth, but there is no strength to bring them forth. As a woman in labor who does not have the physical strength to deliver the baby, so is Judah as she faces the Assyrian army. But the God of Israel is not so.

Like Hezekiah, we need in our lives and ministries to recognize the strength of the enemy. Satan and the hosts of evil are not an insignificant group to wink at. When situations in life and ministry arise that threaten us or our work, we should take a page from the life of King Hezekiah and flee to the Lord. Hezekiah tore his clothes, covered himself with sackcloth, when into the house of the Lord and sent messengers to the Prophet Isaiah. He was knocking on the right door to see the mighty hand of God work.

Jehovah’s answer to the challenge of Rabshakeh and his king, Sennacharib, come in short order. Issue a challenge to the person of God, the people of God, and the purpose of God and you will receive a just retribution. Jehovah announced through his prophet, Isaiah that the following would happen to Sennacharib: Surly I will send a spirit upon him, and he shall hear a rumor and return to his own land; and I will cause him to fall by the sword in his own land. The full account of II Kings 19 reveals that God sent an angel who killed 185,000 of Sennacharib’s army in one night. Subsequently, the king returned to Nineveh and was assassinated by his sons.

Not only is it a frightening thing to challenge the Lord openly, but one does not challenge the servants of God who willingly give public testimony to the ministry of Jesus Christ in their lives. Praise the Lord for the athletes and public figures who do so. God will not forget them. God will not fail to defend them. Listen to the words of Hannah in her song of praise after she had been ridiculed by her enemy.

My heart rejoices in the Lord: my horn is exalted in the Lord. I smile at my enemies, because I rejoice in your salvation. No one is holy like the Lord, for there is none besides you, nor is there any rock like our God. Talk no more so very proudly; let no arrogance come from your mouth, for the Lord is the God of knowledge; and by him actions are weighed. The bows of the mighty men are broken, and those who stumbled are girded with strength. Those who were full have hired themselves out for bread, and the hungry have ceased to hunger. Even the barren has borne seven, and she who has many has become feeble. The Lord kills and makes alive; he brings down to the grave and brings up. The Lord makes poor and makes rich; he brings low and lifts up. He raises the poor from the dust and lifts the beggar from the ash heap. To set them among princes and make them inherit the throne of glory. For the pillars of the earth are the Lord’s and he has set the world upon them. He will guard the feet of his saints, but the wicked shall be silent in darkness. For by strength no man shall prevail. The adversaries of the Lord shall be broken in pieces; from heaven he will thunder against them. The Lord will judge the ends of the earth. He will give strength to his king, and exalt the horn of his anointed. I Samuel 2:1a-10.

I pray for Kathy Griffin. She, as much as I, is a soul for whom Christ died. And I fear for her should she not repent.

Howard L. Wilburn