hate the sin, love the sinner

[Pat Mustard]

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This is an easy one..


first we start with a defination.
In Mark 3 the word is:
βλασφημέω blasphēméō, blas-fay-meh'-o; from G989; to vilify; specially, to speak impiously:—(speak) blaspheme(-er, -mously, -my), defame, rail on, revile, speak evil.

In the beginning of Mark 3:20 forward, The pharisees witnessed a miracle of the Holy Spirit They knew it to be a work of God, but rather than admit God was working in a way not familiar to them they attributed this witnessed miracle to satan.


Now, even in the context of the passage Christ who warns of this sin does not say the Pharisees actually committed this sin. But the assumption is that they did commit this sin as per the definition of the word blasphemeo. If this exegetical assumption is what one is working from, then to blaspheme the Spirit, is to write off, or to cast aside his work and ascribe it to satan.

So then how does this translate to us in modern times and disciples of Christ are long gone and we no longer see demons being cast out?

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We look to the final lasting legacy of the Holy Spirit still active today. In that the Holy Spirit calls us to salvation, the Holy Spirit calls us to repentance. And, since we have been offered this oppertunity to repent as long as we live, to blaspheme the Spirit is to live a life that defies this call to repentance, this call to God. Because ultimatly the Spirit is the intercessor/ambassador of the Father. The Spirit's words are the words of the Father, to defame the Spirit is to defame the personal words the Father uses to reach out to you.

So, it would seem that belief is a prerequisite for this blasphemy, by virtue of one acknowledging that it IS the Holy Spirit 'calling', correct? Possibly something along the lines of: 

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*metaphorical phone rings* 

Hey! Is this Holy Spirit?

Yes, this is Holy Spirit. We need to talk.

Yeah...I figured it was you. Well, I don't feel like talking. 
Do me a favor. Lose this number...got it?

*hangs up*

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It doesn't seem as though an atheist (by definition, at least) would be capable of committing this offense. A God-denier, certainly, but not a non-believer. I asked, because I happened to be wondering about atheists who participate in so-called blasphemy challenges. I'm not sure what would compel an atheist to blaspheme a God he/she doesn't believe in, other than a misunderstanding/misinterpretation of what the word means (in the Biblical context).

And/or a general penchant for cage-rattling, perhaps. 

'Cause let's face it; That's always a blast. 
Am I right? 

The christian "out" for this tactic is to assume that everybody knows god exists and anybody not proclaiming their brand of snake oil as the one true religion is just willfully denying the truth because...reasons.