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Growing up in a small town in rural northwestern Louisiana, activities were very limited.    But it didn't require a lot of ingenuity or creativity in those days for children to enjoy themselves in playful activities.  Some weird games were concocted for fun.   In fact, mocking was one of the idiotic games that I  enjoyed.  I vividly recall "mocking" (imitating) my grandmother and other older adults when they would say certain things.  However, the extent of my mocking was simple to repeat what was said.  And oh, the excruciating pain I suffered from the laughter before the chiding command, "Stop mocking me!"  My  motives were simply to have fun and at most, a good belly-aching laugh. There were no deceptive intentions. It was only childlike folly to pass the time in a small country town to keep from dying of boredom.  Nevertheless, my grandmother was not amused by my shenanigans.  As a matter of fact, it irritated her because I mocked her when she was in serious conversation or involved in activities that required concentration.  While no deception was intended the reality was, it was a form of pretense.  My actions were disdainful and disrespectful even though that was not my intention.  However, as I matured I put away childish things.  It was no longer amusing or entertaining.  The truth is, reality hit home when my son began mocking me.  Then I understood my grandmother's irritation.  Consequently, I found myself giving the same command, "Stop mocking me!"

From a spiritual perspective, God is making the same command, "Stop mocking Me!" Perhaps, you're asking how can we mock God?  Glad you ask.  Christians mock God by pretense, profession and setting aside His precepts. In essence, God is mocked when  Christians play "make believe."  It's also called living a lie.  Or, in other words, they talk the talk but don't walk the walk.  They pretend to love you when they really can't stand you.  They laugh and grin in your face and stab you in your back.

God is mocked when Christians work in areas of ministry and assume professions that are not sanctioned by God.  They profess a "calling" on their life and give themselves a title: bishop, apostle, prophet, pastor, evangelist and the like, when the truth is they're self-appointed, glory-seekers with hidden agendas.  

God is mocked when Christians set aside God's principles and make up their own standards to satisfy their own flesh and lustful desires.  And if that's not enough, they use God's Word to justify their disobedience.  They make excuses to continue practicing committing sin.   They profess with their lips to be Christian but their lifestyle speaks the truth. 

Mocking in the Church is much more than childlike behavior for mere fun.  It is outright disrespect, disobedience and irreverence for God!

One of the most common forms of mockery is relationships built on pretense.  Relationships built on pretense cannot stand the test of time.  The one thing we fail to comprehend is that God takes relationship seriously—our relationship with Him and our relationship with other Christians. 

Isn't it ironic that Paul places the above passage (Galatians 6:7-8)  in the middle of his instructions regarding responses and reactions to Christians who are struggling with sin issues and faults.  More than we realize, God is concerned about how we interact one another.   Believe it or not, the way we treat each other is a reflection of how we treat Him. (Ref. Matthew 25:31-40). 

Jesus Himself said that we must love one another!  This is how the world would know that we are Christians by our love for each other (John 13:34-35; 15:12, 17).  Because loving one another is so crucial to the building of the Kingdom, it is one of the greatest challenges believers face in the Christian faith. 

Moreover, I am convinced that if we don't love one another, the root of the problem is our relationship with God.  Something is missing!  More than likely, it is the indwelling power of the Holy Spirit, which empowers you to live a holy life, seeking to please God.  It's impossible to have an intimate relationship with Jesus the Christ, a consistent prayer life, and be baptized in the Holy Spirit with the evidence of speaking in tongues and not have a genuine love for your brothers and sisters in Christ.  I John 4:20, "If anyone says, I love God, and hates (detests, abominates) his brother [in Christ], he is a liar; for he who does not love his brother, whom he has seen, cannot love God, Whom he has not seen. And this command (charge, order, injunction) we have from Him; that he who loves God shall love his brother [believer] also.  This scripture leaves no room to the imagination!  It's plain and simple.  You are either a liar or a lover! 

The spirit of mockery has crept into the Church through people wearing spiritual masks of deception.  There is an all out attempt to deceive and delude the people of God, hinder true worship and the sharing of the gospel of Jesus Christ.   Notice I said an all out attempt...  But remember whatever schemes and tactics the Enemy brings are no match for God if we submit to Him and stand firm on the Word.

We must realize that we are sneering, mocking, and scorning God when we sneer, scorn and mock our brothers and sisters in Christ. The Apostle Paul admonishes that anyone who thinks that he will continue sneering (mocking) God is being deceived, deluded or misled. Rest assure God will not allow Himself to be mocked (sneered, disdained) by mere pretension, profession or His precepts being set aside.  Anyone who attempts to delude God inevitably deludes himself.  Moreover, he will suffer the consequences of mocking God.

We will discuss mocking by profession and setting aside His precepts in an upcoming issue.

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