IN LOVE
telling as “trash talk” before, but the gospel speaks to matters of life and death, and drowns them out. The gospel ridicules rulers, chastises powers—even angels and demons—and dismisses death itself as of passing impor- tance (Romans 8:38). None of these is of any real substance. They have been served, put in their place by love, spoken in truth.
When we talk trash, Bible-style Mixed martial artist Jon “Bones” Jones has Philippians 4:13 tattooed on the right side of his chest. Is this how we ought to face the world? I won’t speak to what Jones is think- ing (to trash talk him would be a mistake, I fear), but for the rest of us, the answer is probably no. So when do we take up the bibli-
cal language of trash talking for ourselves?
When tyrants of industry, neigh- borhoods or nations rage, we must speak to them with the contempt that such tyranny deserves. When gov- ernment fails, culture corrupts, and the church is more worried about its “churchliness” than with God’s kingdom, God’s people and God’s creation, then as God’s servants we must take up the biblical word and speak the truth for all to hear: Get behind me Satan: sic semper tyran- nis (thus always to tyrants). One final caveat and warning from Proverbs 26:9: “Like a thornbush brandished by the hand of a drunkard is a proverb in the mouth of a fool.” When we talk trash Bible-style, we run the risk of running afoul of those around us. The world may hear us and sneer. But with Paul, our trash
‘I wish those who unsettle you would castrate themselves!’
— Paul (Galatians 5:12)
talking is the answer to sin and death: “When this perishable body puts on imperish- ability, and this mortal body puts on immortality, then the saying that is written will be fulfilled: ‘Death has been swallowed up in victory. Where, O death, is your victory? Where, O death, is your sting?’ ... Thanks be to God, who gives us the vic- tory through our Lord Jesus Christ” (1 Cor- inthians 15:54-57).
ZVONIMIR ATLETIC, 2012/
SHUTTERSTOCK.COM A primer on trash talk, Bible¯style Elijah mocks the prophets of Baal. Isaiah 14:12
Habakkuk 2:6-17 A trash-talking taunt of the oppressors. Matthew 3:7,
“You brood of vipers!” 12:34 and 23:33 June 2012 15
Galatians 5:11-13 Paul (above) trash-wishes the circumcision crowd. 1 Kings 12:6-14 Rehoboam’s answer to the people of Israel. 1 Kings 18 Job 13:12
“ Your maxims are proverbs of ashes, your defenses are defenses of clay.”
Isaiah calls the ruler of Babylon the “Day Star,” which, far from a reference to Satan, is a shot at the king’s pride and pomp.
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