Pensees: The Importance of Being Earnest Thoughtful (Part 1)

The Importance of Being Earnest Thoughtful (Part 1)

The impetus for this muse is the fact that several Christian colleges have produced or will produce the well-known Oscar Wilde play, The Importance of Being Earnest. A group of people from my own congregation attended the production at Maranatha Baptist Bible College. I myself watched a movie rendition of it recently and then began to ponder more deeply on what I had at first blush found to be so enjoyable.

When discussion ensued at the site of the bumptious gadfly, the remonstrating dissident, whose persistent and sneering aspersions on conservative Christians (particularly fundamentalists) who seem to preen themselves as cultural sophisticates because they love old plays piqued the sensibilities of those who are lovers of drama, I ignored my good sense and proffered a reluctant agreement with the peevish misanthrope.

It hurts to agree because most of my friends and the people I love probably will not see it the way I perceive it. It vexes me to agree because Dissidens is haughty and unloving toward the Bride of Christ. It hurts to agree … but he is Shemei. And humble spirits let Shemeis throw dirt. They don’t behead them. Shemei’s motives, mood, words, and accuracy may be dubious, even obviously wicked, but a spiritual person hears the voice of God behind the rantings. Whatever God was saying to David’s heart through Shimei’s curses was probably very different from what Shimei was actually saying, but David would have never heard it had he dismissed him by taking off his head. “Let him alone, and let him curse; for the Lord hath bidden him” (2 Samuel 16:11).

The Lord bid me think. And he used a gadfly to do it.

I said

Frankly, I’m scratching my head on how the play can be sanitized enough to be played as harmless humor — especially in the context of a Bible College. If it is sanitized like it ought to be then it loses its substance.

I watched the play recently and chuckled all the way through. It wasn’t until after the whole thing was done that I started reflecting on what made me laugh. My own depravity was shocking, shocking in the sense that I was thoroughly enjoying the glamorization of things for which Jesus died.

This particular quote was picked up in discussion on Sharperiron.org and used several times either as support for one’s point of view or with an issued challenge that I produce the explanation for why I felt this play, rather the enjoyment of the play, revealed to me my own depravity.

In the next few posts, I shall attempt to unveil what are mostly abstract thoughts about my soul and entertainment in what I hope will be helpful for the reader who is as interested in the soul as I and daring enough to risk thinking thoughts that may sap some cherished pleasures of their pleasure.

But shouldn’t we be willing to do that anyway? Is it not the most serious part of discipleship that we are prepared to die? Does this not mean at the very least that some pleasures are killed? Are we who are supposed to die daily and to subject ourselves to the violent sacrifice of self-denial in order to be called disciples of Jesus Christ afraid to think thoroughly through our pleasures lest our pleasures be exposed as the lifeblood of our self-love? Wouldn’t a firm conviction of the fallenness of man be enough to make us pause to listen when the critic speaks of us because we know that even if there is no truth in his words, the pain of them reveals an unChristlike self-love?

If someone mocks us for the plays we choose to love, do we dismiss him? Or do we stop to think? Could it be that our defensiveness is indicative of a fatal error? Does it hurt us to ponder? To think?

I don’t think so. And, I sincerely hope that the following articles will promote thoughtfulness and humility. I don’t expect, nor do I necessarily desire agreement. I am merely attempting thoughtfulness, not preaching.

Thoughtfulness must be accompanied with the profoundest sense of our innate proclivity to error. We are inherently sinful. The song writer captured what should be our self-evaluation: “Prone to wander, Lord, I feel it; prone to leave the God I love.” That is why we cry out, “O that my ways were directed to keep your statutes.” This cry admits the possibility that increased knowledge will result in shame when we suddenly become more enlightened to our sin. “Then — if I were directed to keep your statutes — shall I not be ashamed when I shall have respect unto all thy commandments” (Psalm 119:5,6).

In the articles I will address some of the comments and questions of individuals that are recorded in the various blog discussions on this matter. I will not name anybody because I do not want this to be personal. In fact, I want to be very clear from the outset that I do not question the motives of anyone who defends the use of the play. I sense sincerity and genuine interest in being pleasing to God. I sense true love for God’s people.

This is more than I can say for the enshrouded censurer with whom I agree.

Therefore, I am appealing for patience. I will ponder on the issue of Wilde’s sexuality because it is unavoidable, but wade through my thoughts with me to see how I connect Wilde’s sexuality to the play’s possible objectionableness. I don’t think it will be in the clichéed fashion which, I think, makes a rather superficial link between Wilde’s sexual perversion and his play. Rather, I think the connection is there in a more subtle, philosophical way: the pervert’s philosophy in harmless humor.

However, the superficial connection will be/must be considered as well if there is, in fact, any such connection. No thoughtful Christian can ignore it. Nor should he. But if you are inclined to reject any discussion of Wilde’s morality as relevant to the merit or non-merit of “Earnest,” please grant me the assurance of your commitment to distinguish the nuance between the superficial and philosophical connections before you post your comments.

I think it is helpful to know that I am not against drama per se. In fact, I quite appreciate it. Recently, a good number of our church people saw a production by Overshadowed and I plan to enjoy more productions from this good company in the very near future. So, I would like to think that I am balanced. (But doesn’t everybody think they’re balanced?)

Finally, at the conclusion of these entries I hope to suggest hints for the thoughtful critic of “our way of life.” I sincerely hope that my views be regarded as shared thoughts and not judgments. Unlike some critics, I do not prophesy the demise of the institutions that choose to use these plays. If my daughter were college-age, I would enthusiasitically support her decision to go to some of these institutions. I wish to contribute to what I think could be a very helpful discussion if we are willing to consider these things patiently and with grace.

And, once again, I don’t preach. I’m thinking.