Seth Dillon, owner and CEO of Christian satire site The Babylon Bee spoke at Convocation in the Vines Center Oct. 21.
He encouraged students to represent Christianity well in public discourse.
Dillon began by explaining The Babylon Bee’s philosophy for advancing Christian content into the largely secular field of news and satire.
“Christians need to engage the culture,” Dillon said. “If you want to have broad cultural reach and impact, then you have to do something that’s going to engage the culture — meet them where they are, and your message can be latent. Your values can be embedded in it.”
Senior Isabella Gunter expressed how Christians should be bold in expressing their beliefs.
“I think there’s a lot of lukewarm Christians around right now, who kind of step back and don’t say what they believe, and it’s hard looking at that as a Christian, because when you’re hearing things that are just wrong, it’s hard to just accept that,” Gunter said.
Dillon told the story of how The Babylon Bee was suspended and demonetized on Twitter for publishing a satirical headline. He explained the conviction behind the Bee’s decision to let the headline stand, even in the face of censorship.
“The truth is not hate speech,” Dillon said. “If everybody refuses to say what really needs to be said in this moment, then nothing is ever going to change, and we’re all going to continue to feel that pressure, and the truth will never be spoken. … Reality is a hill worth dying on.”
Dillon emphasized the importance of freely exchanging ideas in society.
“Debate has to be at work in this country,” Dillon said. “We have to be able to talk about these things and go back and forth, and may the best ideas win.”
Dillon also said free speech cannot be an end in itself, as free speech does not guarantee the furtherance of truth and goodness.
“This freedom to engage in discourse hasn’t advanced us in terms of our search for the truth, or what’s good,” Dillon said. “It’s just put everybody on a level playing field, and that means we have to think very long and hard about how we’re going to use that freedom and how we’re going to respond to the people who abuse theirs.”
Dillon warned students against harmful and hate-filled narratives.
“You are the target of grifters and bad actors and radical conspiracists who want to feed you things that may entertain you, or exploit and fuel any resentment and grievance that you may have,” Dillon said.
In response to such ideas, Dillon encouraged students to treat everyone with Christlike love.
“As Christians, we have to exercise discernment and see these things for what they are,” Dillon said. “The Christian attitude toward anyone who doesn’t believe in Jesus Christ as Savior is an attitude of love and compassion and a desire to see them come to know Jesus as their Lord and Savior. That is why we preach the gospel to all men everywhere.”
Gunter said Christians should engage with others in a way that demonstrates the love of Christ.
“I’ve met a lot of people who just listen to you for the sole purpose to tell you where you’re wrong,” Gunter said. “But actually, understanding people — I think that’s the best way to express Jesus’ love and compassion.”
Dillon closed Convocation by reminding students to exercise wisdom and discernment in the ideas they consume.
“Listen to Paul, and your pastor, before listening to podcasters,” Dillon said. “Love everyone, and share the gospel with everyone, and don’t feed the grifters who are just out for clicks and engagement at the expense of your soul.”
Rath is a copy editor for The Liberty Champion.