No Joke

For Wednesday, October 24, 2007
Proverbs 26:18-19


Like a madman who throws firebrands, arrows, and death
is the man who deceives his neighbor
and says, "I am only joking!"


"It was just a joke." And so we excuse all manner of mean-spirited behavior and speech. We ridicule a person, and then when it is found out and he takes offense, we reply, "I was only joking." We play a prank that humiliates its victim, and when his feelings are hurt, we reply, "It was just a joke. Through the "joke" we say all manner of denigrating words and play demeaning tricks, but because it was a joke, then we are excused.


There may be a place for practical jokes and facetious humor, but we should be careful of using denigrating humor. And what we need to be careful of is not so much that the person receiving it can handle it, but our real motive in using it. Many a "joking" remark is made from deep-seated resentment or from arrogance. Many a practical joke has the very real intent of humiliating the victim, or at least shows a lack of regard for him.


We use the joke to hide behind real intent, oftentimes hiding from ourselves our intent. And so we need to ask before we quickly play the joke, what is our purpose. Is it to produce merriment for everyone, including the recipient, or is it to merely get a laugh for ourselves at someone's expense? We too easily claim the former, not admitting even to ourselves the latter. But the result typically reveals the motive. When the result is that of a firebrand being hurled, our motive needs to be examined. For either we did want to hurt or shame, or we are guilty of lacking regard for the victim.