A despicable fad arose in the
earlier part of this century, prompted by some prominent atheists. According to
an article published by ABC News in January 2007, a movement called the
“Rational Response Squad” issued the “Blasphemy Challenge,” based on a literal
reading of one of the verses for today, Mark 3:29. That verse says, “Whoever
blasphemes against the Holy Spirit can never have forgiveness, but is guilty of
an eternal sin.”
Believing they were saying something
that could not be taken back, people began making videos of themselves saying
that they denied the Holy Spirit or that the Holy Spirit and God did not exist.
These videos were then posted to YouTube or other sites and promoted by the
Rational Response Squad. Religious leaders were most distressed by the Squad’s
targeting of young people, advertising the Blasphemy Challenge in magazines
geared toward teens, like Tiger Beat.
A total misinterpretation
There are several things wrong with
the Blasphemy Challenge besides the fact that it might be, well, blasphemous. Why
would you even bother to dare a deity you don’t believe exists to this sort of
insane battle of wills? Doesn’t doing something that Jesus said not to do, in
some way, give credence to what you are trying to deny?
Perhaps most frustrating about this whole
thing is that it is a total misinterpretation of Jesus’ words. He was not
speaking to 21st-century teenagers when he spoke those words. This
verse is part of a longer account. It cannot be interpr
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