Kathy Griffin’s Booby Prize

While blasphemy against the Holy Spirit will not be forgiven, it’s a good thing for comedienne Kathy Griffin that blasphemy against the Son of Man may be (Matthew 12:32). You see, Miss Griffin won an Emmy for her reality program on the Bravo channel, and Reuters reported on her acceptance speech:

“A lot of people come up here and thank Jesus for this award. I want you to know that no one had less to do with this award than Jesus,” an exultant Griffin said, holding up her statuette. “Suck it, Jesus. This award is my god now.”

Classy, for sure. I haven’t seen Miss Griffin’s television program, but I imagine that she is correct about one thing: Jesus is likely the last person who would give her an award.

At the same time, she does highlight how silly it is for gangsta rappers, promiscuous rockers, and depraved Hollywood types to thank God for their awards. If you want to see the things of Galatians 5:19–21 on parade, take in almost any modern movie or primetime television program. Listen to today’s popular music. To thank God for that rubbish can only be an insult to God! But I digress.

Griffin dismissed her comments as a joke:

Griffin’s reaction to the imbroglio, according to a statement issued by her publicist: “Am I the only Catholic left with a sense of humor?”

A sense of humor? If you think, “Suck it, Jesus,” is funny, you’ve proven to me that you don’t have a sense of humor.

Even if you could somehow make the case that there is some humor here, there are some things you just don’t joke about. “At the name of Jesus every knee should bow” (Philippians 2:10). If the very name commands homage, how can it be right to direct such a scornful insult—kidding or not—at the very Son of God? God the Father, Jesus Christ, and the Holy Spirit must, without exception, be the objects of utmost reverence.