Rejecting Affectation

“But in the same way, simple reaction back is not reformation either. Some die-hard traditionalist defenders of orthodusty have no more understanding of what they are doing than do the contemporary worship dervishes. And this is why we need the simple honesty of satire. Pietism is an inadequate protector of piety, which is why pietism invariably leads to impiety. A biblical and satiric eye will see and reject all affectation, regardless of what age contained it. The Scriptures teach us that an honest answer is like a kiss on the lips. So whenever we are putting on pious airs, standing on a faux dignity, sitting with an air of pseudo-approachability, puffing ourselves up in the name of contemporary relevance or venerable traditions, we are doing nothing more than pumping balloon juice into overextended latex. And satire is the needle for just such occasions, the gift of a merciful God” (A Serrated Edge, p. 72).