Shayla: Why do you use sarcasm – especially in dealing with false religions or philosophies?

Meforshim:

I am by nature a sarcastic person. I enjoy irony and wit. In our family reunions we enjoy “zinging” each other and admire the best use of double entendre. In spite of the title “Reverend” I acknowledge that I am often anything but reverent. I’ll be the first to admit that I sometimes stray over the line. The Lord is still working on me and I think sometimes even He despairs.

Sarcasm is used in Scripture. Look at the prophet, standing on Mt. Carmel, watching the priests of a false religion dancing around an altar, cutting themselves, tearing their clothes.

• 1 Kings 18:27 HCSB At noon Elijah mocked them. He said, "Shout loudly, for he's a god! Maybe he's thinking it over; maybe he has wandered away; or maybe he's on the road. Perhaps he's sleeping and will wake up!"

How about Jesus talking to the religious leader Nicodemus?

• John 3:10 HCSB "Are you a teacher of Israel and don't know these things?" Jesus replied.

Another example is when Jesus remarked in a droll manner that some prefer the old ways and would not accept the good news of the gospel.

• Luke 5:37-39 HCSB And no one puts new wine into old wineskins. Otherwise, the new wine will burst the skins, it will spill, and the skins will be ruined. (38) But new wine should be put into fresh wineskins. (39) And no one, after drinking old wine, wants new, because he says, 'The old is better.'"

The idea that even God laughs is mentioned several times in Psalms.

• Psalms 2:4 HCSB The One enthroned in heaven laughs; the Lord ridicules them.
• Psalms 37:13 HCSB The Lord laughs at him because He sees that his day is coming.
• Psalms 59:9 HCSB I will keep watch for You, my strength, because God is my stronghold.

Note: These verses all indicate that one day the Lord will laugh at evildoers. Of course, the type of laughter described here is not a happy, fun-loving laugh, but a sarcastic, derisive one. The Psalmist is describing a contemptuous, sardonic laugh aimed at the wicked who do not realize the futility of their plots if God does not approve.

God used sarcasm to illustrate His frustration with his people.

• Judges 10:14 HCSB Go and cry out to the gods you have chosen. Let them deliver you in the time of your oppression."

He further used sarcasm with Job.

• Job 38:2-4 HCSB Who is this who obscures My counsel with ignorant words? (3) Get ready to answer Me like a man; when I question you, you will inform Me. (4) Where were you when I established the earth? Tell Me, if you have understanding.
• Job 38:21 HCSB Don't you know? You were already born; you have lived so long!

The psalmist used sarcasm to denounce those who put their faith in dead idols.

• Psalms 115:4-8 HCSB Their idols are silver and gold, made by human hands. (5) They have mouths, but cannot speak, eyes, but cannot see. (6) They have ears, but cannot hear, noses, but cannot smell. (7) They have hands, but cannot feel, feet, but cannot walk. They cannot make a sound with their throats. (8) Those who make them are just like them, as are all who trust in them.

Sometimes sarcasm is a nervous response.

• Exodus 14:10-11 HCSB As Pharaoh approached, the Israelites looked up and saw the Egyptians coming after them. Then the Israelites were terrified and cried out to the LORD for help. (11) They said to Moses: "Is it because there are no graves in Egypt that you took us to die in the wilderness? What have you done to us by bringing us out of Egypt?

Note: In times of war, the enemy is often caricaturized. When humans are afraid, they will often laugh nervously. In times of stress, relief can be found in humor. Having lived in a country that was dominated by Muslims, I have a healthy fear of the religion. Try living as a Christian in Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Chad, Sudan, Afghanistan, Pakistan, Indonesia etc. In all these countries and many more that I won’t recite, we wouldn’t have the right to practice Christianity at all. My parents and I were held hostage in Chad because of our faith. Many of my friends died terrible deaths because of their faith. The Muslims that we have in the United States are aberrations. The majority of Muslims in the world would just as soon see us dead. Knowing this and knowing that this is the fastest growing religion in the world is a very scary thought so I respond with a little nervous laughter and caricaturizing.

Naomi sarcastically described her emotional state upon returning to Israel.

• Ruth 1:20 HCSB "Don't call me Naomi. Call me Mara," she answered, "for the Almighty has made me very bitter.

Note: Naomi means “the pleasant one”. Marah means “the bitter one.”

Foreigners are also depicted in the Bible as using sarcasm.

• 1 Samuel 21:14-15 HCSB "Look! You can see the man is crazy," Achish said to his servants. "Why did you bring him to me? (15) Do I have such a shortage of crazy people that you brought this one to act crazy around me? Is this one going to come into my house?"
• 2 Kings 18:23-24 HCSB "So now make a bargain with my master the king of Assyria. I'll give you 2,000 horses if you're able to supply riders for them! (24) How then can you drive back a single officer among the least of my master's servants and trust in Egypt for chariots and for horsemen?

Paul shows us that the use of sarcasm and irony or even direct rebuke of a religious belief are valid tools in the apologetic arsenal.

• Acts 17:22-23 HCSB Then Paul stood in the middle of the Areopagus and said: "Men of Athens! I see that you are extremely religious in every respect. (23) For as I was passing through and observing the objects of your worship, I even found an altar on which was inscribed: TO AN UNKNOWN GOD Therefore, what you worship in ignorance, this I proclaim to you.

Thus, sarcasm is a valid tool in the arsenal of the witnessing believer if it is used judiciously and with a purpose in mind.

• Job 12:1-2 HCSB Then Job answered: (2) No doubt you are the people, and wisdom will die with you!
• 1 Kings 18:27 HCSB At noon Elijah mocked them. He said, "Shout loudly, for he's a god! Maybe he's thinking it over; maybe he has wandered away; or maybe he's on the road. Perhaps he's sleeping and will wake up!"

Note: Elijah mocked the priests of Baal. However, Elijah sought not his own glory, but that of God, for the good of the people.

Proverbs confidently states that an appropriate rebuke is a sign of love.

• Proverbs 27:5-6 HCSB Better an open reprimand than concealed love. (6) The wounds of a friend are trustworthy, but the kisses of an enemy are excessive.

The Lord does the same.

• Hebrews 12:5-11 HCSB And you have forgotten the exhortation that addresses you as sons: My son, do not take the Lord's discipline lightly, or faint when you are reproved by Him; (6) for the Lord disciplines the one He loves, and punishes every son whom He receives. (7) Endure it as discipline: God is dealing with you as sons. For what son is there whom a father does not discipline? (8) But if you are without discipline--which all receive--then you are illegitimate children and not sons. (9) Furthermore, we had natural fathers discipline us, and we respected them. Shouldn't we submit even more to the Father of spirits and live? (10) For they disciplined us for a short time based on what seemed good to them, but He does it for our benefit, so that we can share His holiness. (11) No discipline seems enjoyable at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it yields the fruit of peace and righteousness to those who have been trained by it.

Note: So, when we are rebuked, we should take it seriously, but not to lose heart. For with repentance there is restoration. As we minister the gospel, we should strive to behave as God behaves, not being apathetic towards the sinfulness of Christians around us, nor towards our own sinfulness, but dealing with it.

As a pastor, I am confronted with the mandate to rebuke people for their sins yet to do it compassionately. So, like Erma Bombeck or Bill Cosby, I try to let people see how silly, how foolish those sins are. I try to inject a note of humor. Let’s see, a rebuked couched in humor – that would be either irony or sarcasm. They’re both good tools but they are powerful. Sometimes they bite back at the one wielding them. I try to find the balance but I’m not always successful. Yet, I’m unwilling to set aside what are clearly powerful and biblical tools.