Is it OK to insult villains from the Bible?

[EphelDuath]

Such as Cain, Judas Iscariot, Jezebel, Satan, Caiaphas, Pontius Pilate and Simon Magus.

Or should we at least show them an ounce of respect for being a part of God’s scriptures?

 

[MH84]

Most joke about each other here on earth, and that can be wrong too, if not downright sinful. In regards to biblical characters, we dont know where they are. They could all be in Heaven (except Satan) praying for us!

It depends if you are “joking” or “insulting” if you know what I mean? Insulting anyone is not right, even though many others, including myself are guilty of it.

 

[juno24]

Such as Cain, Judas Iscariot, Jezebel, Satan, Caiaphas, Pontius Pilate and Simon Magus.

Or should we at least show them an ounce of respect for being a part of God’s scriptures?

What do you mean when you say insult? If you mean telling the truth about them, in that they were murderers, betrayers, thieves, or what have you, then I’d say it is ok to call them what they were.

Identifying these “characters” (for lack of a better word) by what they did and the parts they played in history is not necessarily insulting them.

However, if by insulting you mean to be rude, arrogant or contemptuous for the purpose of humiliating or degrading, then yes, I believe it would be wrong.
Except for Satan, they are all human beings, made in the very image of God, and as such deserve to be treated with the same basic dignity due to all human beings.

 

[Leopard]

Such as Cain, Judas Iscariot, Jezebel, Satan, Caiaphas, Pontius Pilate and Simon Magus.

Or should we at least show them an ounce of respect for being a part of God’s scriptures?

Pontius Pilate is honored as a saint in some of the Eastern Churches. While he is not traditionally so honored in the Latin Church, I would not care to defend my actions to Jesus at my judgement if I were to have insulted one of His saints, with reasonable knowledge that this person might possibly be a saint.

 

[debraran]

Except for Satan, I wouldn’t “assume” anything about any of them. I know I never believed Judas was in hell and there is a lot of talk in the vatican now about that. John Paul ll never believed he was definitely in hell (In his book Crossing the Threshold of Hope and homilies) and St. Therese prayed for him. As another poster mentioned Pontius Pilate is looked at differently now than before. It’s always better to pray for them than condemn.

 

[latinmasslover]

Such as Cain, Judas Iscariot, Jezebel, Satan, Caiaphas, Pontius Pilate and Simon Magus.

Or should we at least show them an ounce of respect for being a part of God’s scriptures?

Aside from Satan, they should have nothing but our pity, especially Judas Iscariot who’s salvation cannot be reasonably hoped for.

 

[AHapka]

In my opinion let’s not. Scripture seems to support this view.

Jude 8-10 states:

“Similarly, these dreamers nevertheless also defile the flesh, scorn lordship, and revile glorious beings. Yet the archangel Michael, when he argued with the devil in a dispute over the body of Moses, did not venture to pronounce a reviling judgment upon him but said, “May the Lord rebuke you!” But these people revile what they do not understand and are destroyed by what they know by nature like irrational animals.”

If the Archangel Michael wouldn’t even speak against Satan, but implored the Lord to do so perhaps that is an example for us. It also centers our attention on the Lord and asks Him to deal with the situation. That’s where our attention should be, on the Lord. We should not insult anything that he created…let’s let Him deal with it…

Andy

 

[Joe_Kelley]

Who are you to pass judgment on the servant of another? It is before his own master that he stands or falls. And he will be upheld, for the Master is able to make him stand

Romans 14:4

They are God’s servants and not ours to correct or judge.

 

[jfallaw]

I have always wondered about Pontius Pilate. It seems to me he really didn’t want to condemn Jesus. He did what he did for political reasons, honestly (and rightly) beleiving the Jews would revolt if he did not. He seemed to be caught in the whole ‘good of the many’ dilemma. And from what I read in the Gospels, it almost seems as though he respected and admired Jesus. We know his wife believed him to be a servant of God. What is the current thought on this?

 

[Leopard]

Is it OK to insult villains from the Bible?

Just wondering, why would you want to do this?

You’re not going to see their response, unless they are in hell and you also go to hell, in which case you may see their response but you won’t enjoy it. Or unless they are (or will be) in heaven and you also get to heaven, in which case you may see their response, but you will have insulted someone who turned out to be a saint so you won’t enjoy that either.

Either way it seems like a waste if a good insult.

 

[debraran]

My priest said something like that recently…you never know who you will meet in heaven and who you wont (if you are lucky enough to get there) How anyone can judge what God will do(who sees and knows things we can’t) is full of narcissim but very human. Jesus forgave from the cross evil doers and if Pontius Pilate was truely sorry, who am I to say, “no, he goes to hell.” Judas told someone where Jesus was but they were going to arrest him eventually anyway…that was written and he wasn’t going to hide or stop preaching. The guy throws away the money, is overwhelmed with grief for what he has done, but he can’t be forgiven the same way Jesus asked for forgivness in saying, “they know not what they do”. If our late great Pope said not to condemn them, I think it’s a good idea.
I have my own sins to worry about…can’t get too distracted with someone else’s!