Unless you’ve been living under a rock, which might be preferable given the current climate of our culture, you’ve probably seen many memes floating across the internet, littered on social media outlets either garnering lighthearted approval or pointed rebuff. Memes are those “virally transmitted image embellished with text, usually sharing pointed commentary on cultural symbols, social ideas, or current events.” (1) At the cost of being drastically oversimplified, memes usually highlight some sort of truth, lopsided as it may be. The word “meme” comes from the Greek word μίμημα (mīmēma), meaning something counterfeited or copied or “anything imitated.” Thus, a meme is a “unit of cultural information spread by imitation.” (2) Like all viral malignancies today, memes have infiltrated every aspect of life and culture. For better or worse, Christian theology has not been excluded. It’s our aim to dissect some of these memes and see what we can learn from them.
Welcome to Christian Memes!
This meme is a photograph of a man apparently lost in the woods. As he peers around a tree in the hope of finding someone who might be able to save him, he sees a hiker with his head down, mumbling to himself the Calvinistic watchword taken from Psalm 53 and quoted in Romans 3: “None are good.” With this backdrop the meme reads:
Survival Tip: If you ever get lost in the woods start talking about theology and a random Calvinist will show up to argue with you.
This is probably one of my favorite memes as I know all too well what it means. I might have even laughed out loud upon first seeing it, something I admit, to my displeasure, is rare for me.
If I continue to be honest, I would have to divulge that even though I grew up hunting and often go on hunting trips today, I have a real phobia of getting lost (mazeophobia) in the wilderness. It probably had to do with when I got separated from my father as a child on a hunting trip in one of Tucson’s many deserts. All this is to say that I know both the despair of what it feels like to be lost in the wild and the relief experienced when you find someone to guide you back to safety.
Because of my fear of getting lost again I’ve since read many survival guides and other similar literature just in case I need to seriously put them to use one day. But, in addition to being fairly well read in survival and bushcraft first aid, I am also well versed in Calvinistic theology. Having written a book critiquing Calvinism, A Cultish Side of Calvinism, I am well aware of Calvinists, their theology, and their proclivity to argue.
Before I get harassed, let me clarify: This meme is a funny generalization! I hold many Calvinists as close friends, pastors, mentors, and teachers whom I admire and respect greatly. But in general, especially ten years ago when Calvinism was a bit more trendy, there was no shortage of younger Calvinists who seemed to want to argue over every theological detail.
Basically, their contention was that as a Calvinist, they were intrinsically right in all things pertaining to “true” biblical theology and that as a non-Calvinist, you were inherently wrong.
In addition, because they really, really believed in the gospel proclamation that “none are good,” all naturally deserving separation from God, you, on the hand must not.
I could go on. But what this meme shows is twofold. The first is that a Calvinist eager to argue is always closer than you might expect. Secondly, even though that Calvinist repeating his mantra that “none are good,” could be the means to rescue you from being lost in the wilderness, chancing the harsh elements alone might just be preferable than hearing how wrong you are in your biblical understanding of salvation.
But what are your thoughts?
Micah Coate, President and Host of Salvation and Stuff
Accessed April 16, 2022 from: https://www.lifewire.com/what-is-a-meme-2483702
Accessed April 16, 2022 from: https://lsj.gr/wiki/μίμημα
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