We recently found a very interesting article which shows, with some irreverence, a
methodology some use to defame Freemasonry on religious grounds. As you read the article,
you may be either enraged or get quite a chuckle. Read it again, though: slowly.... For
some people, the humor is absent and these words are absolute truth. They feel they do
have God's rubber-stamp approval!
Stomping
Satan with Style: How Christians Get Their Rhetorical Kicks
Jon Trott
Cornerstone, vol. 26, issue 113 (1997), p. 23-24
ISSN 0275-2743
"Theres been a lot of complaining lately about how born-again
believers get kicked around by the secular heavies. Fair enough. So how about our
treatment of the other side? I say dont let em breathe. Our approach to these
secular humanist scum should be just like their approach to us, with one big difference:
weve got Gods rubber-stamp approval on every word we write, broadcast, or
televise. AMEN.
Our purpose as rhetoric masters isnt to evangelize or to explain.
This is war! In verbal warfare theres only one golden rule, and thats this:
THE LOUDER YOU YELL, THE MORE CLEARLY YOULL BE HEARD.
So lets get down to basics. For the first time ever Im going
to release my patented methods for becoming an overnight evangelical sensation.
(Charismatics, this is for you as well.) But before we begin, you must ask yourself two
questions: Do I have the guts? and Do I have a big enough mouth?
METHOD #1: GUILTY BY ASSOCIATION. Sure, this is standard
fare. But lets really explore the subtleties here. Take some idea you dont
like (maybe because you dont understand it). No one wants to go spend hours at a
library just so they can argue a point. Besides, that might end up changing your mind
about something, or telling you facts you didnt already know. No, the quick, easy
way is to find some non-Christian with a well-publicized seedy lifestyle who supports the
idea in question. Then read a quote to your flock from his book or whatever, PROVING that
accursed secularists such as your example are behind the idea. Christians will abandon it
without even asking whether or not its true! (Of course, we know it isnt!)
METHOD #2: REPLACE A WORDS FULL MEANING WITH A DEFINITION
FITTED TO YOUR PURPOSE. This works best when your audience wants to think the
answer is a simple one. Here, Ill show you. Take the word feminist. What
comes into mind, a woman committed to biblical truth and concerned with excesses on both
sides of a real issue, or a lesbian battle-axe interested in legalized abortion and using
the mens room? See how easy it is?
METHOD #3: USE ACCEPTED CAUSES TO PUSH THE REST OF YOUR IDEOLOGY.
Take a lesson from the humanists on this one. They take popular causes like opposing
racism or feeding the hungry and connect them with the rest of the liberal agenda;
Christian homosexuality, a womans right to choose [to kill her
baby], and on and on and on. Its an easy way to guarantee yourself an
audience. Now someone might say we should avoid total acceptance of agenda from left or
right, that Scripture condemns much of both. Thats those wishy-washy theologians
again. Some liberal New Ager named C. S. Lewis warned Christians not to get entangled with
Christianity AND . . . because the and will end up taking over.
Well, in the case of Americanism and the right wing, would that really be so bad? They
even dress like Christians. Remember, as far as getting a big bunch of believers,
Its easier to seal a package deal.
METHOD #4: BEING RIGHT IS MORE IMPORTANT THAN DOING RIGHT.
This ones important. I heard one guy get so upset at the humanist menace he began
swearing up a storm right there in the pulpit! I thought hed get in trouble, but no,
his congregation understood that while his actions were wrong, his heart was
right. This not only works for mundane stuff like cursing, but for more important
things like moral purity or material wealth. When in Rome, do as the Romans do . . .
METHOD #5: TELL YOUR LISTENERS THAT IF THEY DONT DO WHAT YOU
SAY, THE ONLY ALTERNATIVE IS PASSIVE COMPROMISE WITH THE WORLD. You
must be convinced yourself that this is so, and if God has indeed called you, how can it
be otherwise? I dont give the poor dolts an option; this world can confuse them so
easily its much better for us who understand to guide those who dont.
Otherwise they will end up compromising, ignoring our wisdom in favor of their own. So
dont mince words. Tell them to toe the line, or else. Where this comes in real handy
is in you defining what meaningful action is. It might be the wholesale
rejection of other leaders, or it could be the donation of twenty-five dollars to your
God-ordained television ministry.
METHOD #6: THE INHERENT EVIL IN CERTAIN ART FORMS
AND/OR AREAS OF KNOWLEDGE. I am a firm believer in all sorts of hidden demonic
influences being part of modern culture. Never mind the obvious gross stuff; Im
talking about secret messages and satanic symbols. I have many dislikes in art and
science, and its amazing what I find in some of those things. Rock music weakens the
body and excites sexual urges, while the computer revolution is preparing the way for the
antichrist. (Sure, I use a word processor to write, but thats different.)
METHOD #7: GOD GAVE ME THIS MINISTRY or GOD GAVE ME THIS MESSAGE.
What a great way to silence all discussion! Armchair philosophers wont have a chance
when your followers short-circuit the conversation with GGMTM. No proofs are needed; just
radiate sincerity and charm from the pulpit, screen, or printed page. And be earnest! Who
can argue with, The LORD told me.
METHOD #8: BE ANGRY, ANGRY, ANGRY. Christians love the
money changers in the temple approach. Never mind that Jesus used the whip
once in a three-year ministry; this is an angry age. People are confused, and confusion
leads to frustration, which leads to anger. Tap into that rich source of unity and
youll have a huge following overnight. I cant overstress the importance of
this. No matter how wild your theories, how nonsensical your logic, no one cares if you
are prophetically angry. Speaking of which . . .
METHOD #9: THE MORE OUTLANDISH AND FORCEFUL YOUR CLAIMS, THE MORE
YOU WILL BE BELIEVED. Never underestimate the mental flabbiness of Christians.
They dont like to think; aerobic praise is more fun. My findings, for some reason,
have never been well received by the Bible student types. But for those who need me to
think for them, one rule applies: they will believe whatever I as Gods prophet tell
them to IF . . . Its loud enough, long enough, and large enough.
METHOD #10: GENERATE FEELINGS AND YOU WILL GENERATE FOLLOWERS.
Christians want to FEEL as though they are doing Gods will. By showing them how to
battle Satan in these ultra-important areas, we help them experience a warm glow of
satisfaction. These good feelings prove that what Im telling them is the truth, no
matter what some half-baked theological semetary graduate says. If you
feel right about it, go ahead and spout it.
HAZARDS OF HEARTY EXHALATION. For all Gods
mouthpieces, both veterans and Johnny-come-latelies, there are some dangers you just
cant avoid. Keep an eye out for the independent types who get teaching from other
folks. Theyll challenge your authority, as if you hadnt been anointed by God
Himself, by asking all sorts of theological questions. Who needs theology anyway? Just
ignore the obnoxious ones and theyll go away. After all, Independent thinking
equals dangerous thoughts.
Dont let your flock become prayer warriors unless they, like you,
talk without listening to the voices of doubt. Help them trust themselves and doubt voices
they may think are Gods. Unbelievably, even I have heard such a voice, but rebuked
as a temptation the idea that my ministry might be anything but Spirit-led.
Finally, watch out for the reconcilers. These namby-pambys look harmless
enough, but when they write or speak on a subject, the results are often large numbers of
new Christians. Thats not so terrible, but these new converts are often allowed to
maintain old cultural trappings, and at times attempt to build some nonsense called a
biblical worldview around modern issues. Weve got to get to these babes
in Christ when theyre still impressionable; some of my best followers came from such
stock.
Well, that about does it. If youd like further, more specific ideas,
here are some other publications of mine. Smearing Fellow Christians in Five Easy Steps
explains how Ive exposed supposed evangelical leaders as plants from the
opposition (or at best neo-Marxists in Christian guise). My best-selling How Rock and
Roll Caused Americas National Debt contains as a bonus an Evatone soundsheet
with excerpts from the years grossest rock LPs (the book comes in a plain brown
wrapper). Conspiracy Theories Made Easy is great fun for a rainy Saturday
afternoon, something the whole family will enjoy.
Remember, Be loud to draw a crowd. And dont worry about
the nagging feeling that all the screaming isnt accomplishing much; its not so
bad to be one more noise in a noisy world . . .
Is it?"
Original filename: CSM113GA.TXT
Stomping Satan with Style: How Christians Get Their Rhetorical Kicks
Release A, 14 November 1997
Copyright © 1984, 1997 by Jon Trott. This file may be reproduced on electronic media and
communications services without charge or permission from the author(s), so long as the
wording of the text remains unaltered. For additional information about our publications,
please contact <http://www.cornerstonemag.com/> or write to: Cornerstone, 939 W.
Wilson Ave., Chicago, IL 60640-5706, U.S.A.
[end-of-file]