Let us consider our use of sarcasm as individuals. Does your sarcastic remarks promote was is spoken of in these passages or do they work counter to the objective of these passages?
Eph. 4:1-3
"I therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you that ye walk worthy of your vocation wherewith ye are called, with lowliness and meekness, with longsuffering, forbearing one another in love; endeavoring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.
Does one's sarcasm promote unity or divide, peace or disturbance in relationship?
Is the sarcasm proceed from lowliness and meekness or does it proceed from pridefulness and self-elevation over another?
Does the sarcasm come forth from longsuffering or is it reactive, a "come back at ya", response? Is it winsome in its intent and effect entreating the other to holy fellowship? Does it show forbearance with another in love or is it" touchy" and self-serving?
Eph. 4:29
"Let no corrupt (unholy) communication proceed from your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearers."
Is one's sarcasm holy or unholy speech? Does it honor God and respect the person spoken to? Does it build up or tear down the hearer? Does it hurt or heal the hearer? Does it promote equalness in the relationship or does it inflate the speaker to the detriment of the hearer? Does it seek to be cooperative rather than competitive (getting to "one-up" another or win in a discussion)?
Eph. 5:4
"..Neither filthiness, nor foolish talking, nor jesting, which are not convenient, but rather of giving of thanks."
Is one's sarcasm sober and mindful or foolish talking? Does it make fun of another or "jest" in a way that the other person doesn't like? Are you really "just Kidding, joking, or being humorous" in a mutually humorous and receptive conversation or does the sarcasm come from irritation, anger, or wanting to get at the hearer to put them down or shut them up?
I'm still studying on our other discussion but I did want to say my sarcasm was meant to make a point. I still haven't heard from Chris that I offended him, as far as I know. I agree with most of what you said. If sarcasm is done in a way that is displeasing to God it shouldn't be done. The sarcasm should be apologized for and the believer should ask God for forgiveness for hurting the other person and to help him to overcome using sarcasm in a hurtful way. God Bless :)
I went back and re-read the discussion between you and Chris, and Adam, and Myself. We all were serious minded in our responses to you and courteous. You were not so. Your sarcasm with Chris was deeply snarky and not helpful in the discussion. The one in the discussion that was being a poor example to others on this site was you, not Chris, or Adam, or me.
Do as David did, ask God to search your heart on this matter. I am pretty sure that He would determine your sarcasm and combative reply to Chris sinful. But I trust the working of the Holy Spirit in you and all believers, so I leave you with this response. We can speak on another topic after the weekend.
Hello GiGi: When I made that one small sarcastic remark to Chris, it was to make a point, not to offend anyone but you jumped on it like it was a terrible sin and seemed to be glad to finally have "proof" that I was a "sinner." That's the way I took it. If you had simply asked me not to do it anymore, because it offended you, I would have been fine with that. Now you've blown it all out of proportion and seemed to be including Chris and Adam in the turmoil. I have apologized for offending you and Chris, whom according to you, was also offended. I will say to Adam, IF I have offended you also I apologize for your misunderstanding of my use of sarcasm like GiGi and, I guess, Chris have and were also offended. I don't know how you even got involved in this so, sorry. GiGi, your dissing on me and calling me snarky seems worse to me then a little sarcasm. You even seem a little angry. So, I will finish my commitment to the Lord about the other matter we were discussing but you won't hear back about it from me because I don't intend on having any more discussions with you and Chris and Adam of any kind. I think we should part ways. I'll see you all in Heaven some day. God Bless:)
In your post to Chris you did make more than one small sarcastic remark. You even disparaged God in it.
I was not lying in wait for you to error so I could point out your sin. But your remarks prompted me to enter the conversation. I was not angry with you, just sad that you said what you did in a conversation that was centered on whether one can come to the point of being sinless in this lie, as you asserted about yourself. In speaking sarcastically as you did, you were not merely making a point to support your position or to show the error of Chris' view, in my opinion.
I am sorry that you have made the choice to eliminate conversation with some of us here. That is sad to me. I thought you considered me a friend, and I value that. But friends should be able to be honest in gentle ways for the purpose of helping one another, even if it involves showing where we sin against one another.
I hope that you will change your mind and also remember that if you post on this forum, anyone can reply to what you say, so even if you do not wish to speak to me or Adam or Chris, we are free to speak to what you post here. I pray that
God will bring healing and restoration between us as well as help us all to be open when someone identifies sin in what we say here, as I did in your case. The best thing you can do is examine yourself before God and confess yourself a sinner before Him as I and most on here do when we realize that we have sinned, even though our "new man" does not want to sin, as Paul says so well in Romans 7.
Thanks GiGi for that detailed & timely reminder of what our Christian attitudes ought to be & how they are then expressed to others; and this examination by each one of us has to be first addressed when the seeds within our hearts & minds begin to germinate. Unless the feelings that arise within are not arrested early enough, we may well have to regret our words or behavior.
But then the matter of 'what then is sin'? I think most would agree that it is much more than violating the Ten Commandments, even as our Lord pointed His hearers to their own hearts to correctly understand this subject. But when it comes down to those regrettable things that arise within us which are not specifically addressed in the Word, we may find license to overlook them & treat them as not sinful, merely aberrations arising from the flesh. So, it may boil down to, 'what is sinful to some, may not be to others' (at least, until all are truly led of the Spirit to recognize sin for what sin is, or to those particularly sensitive to any deviation from the holy, to re-examine their beliefs by the Spirit's Guidance). And I too, have had to re-read my comments here, not only for clearly conveying my thoughts, but also to see whether my words could be hurtful or misunderstood, words arising from a mind overly passionate about the subject. I guess that I have failed in this as well at times. Blessings.
We do need to guard that our passion for a topic or doctrine not override our release of loving words seated in truth and grace.
I can tell by your writings that you do approach your responses with consideration for the one who will read them and to whom you are replying to. You are a good example on this forum and I do appreciate your demeanor and the gentle way you address conflicting views.
"For, brethren, ye have been called to liberty; only use not liberty for an occasion to the flesh, but by live serve one another."
Does one's sarcasm serve the other person lovingly promoting their well being or is it self-serving? Does it look out for the best interest of the other ( Phil. 2:4, 21) and not to your own?
Does it reflect that you are thinking highly of the person hearing the sarcasm or does it show you think more highly of yourself than you ought? ( Rom. 12:3)
Gal. 5:22
"But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance, against such there is no law."
Does one's sarcasm reflect these fruits in your character and your speech?
1 Cor. 13:4-8
"Charity suffereth long (patient), and is kind; charity envieth not; Charity vaunted not itself, is not puffed up, Doth not behave itself unseemly, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil; rejoiceth not in iniquity, but rejoiceth in the truth; Beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things; Charity never faileth..."
Does one's sarcasm align with how love is described in this chapter?
I will stop for now.
This forum is one of speaking to one another. I know that at times I need to re-examine some of my words to see if I am speaking wrongly to another person here. I know I am not perfect in my speech, it is not all what I would call "holy speech" that God would approve of. And if He would not approve of it, it is sinful.
This post is not particularly addressed to Momsage, although her post brought up this topic and I thought it may be good to speak about sarcasm here as well as other ways we speak to each other here. let's speak the truth in love, see these conversations in a sober manner, taking what others post seriously and respond seriously with grace and love. We should recognize that we are talking about God and His Word and others who deserve loving responses.
Let us consider our use of sarcasm as individuals. Does your sarcastic remarks promote was is spoken of in these passages or do they work counter to the objective of these passages?
Eph. 4:1-3
"I therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you that ye walk worthy of your vocation wherewith ye are called, with lowliness and meekness, with longsuffering, forbearing one another in love; endeavoring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.
Does one's sarcasm promote unity or divide, peace or disturbance in relationship?
Is the sarcasm proceed from lowliness and meekness or does it proceed from pridefulness and self-elevation over another?
Does the sarcasm come forth from longsuffering or is it reactive, a "come back at ya", response? Is it winsome in its intent and effect entreating the other to holy fellowship? Does it show forbearance with another in love or is it" touchy" and self-serving?
Eph. 4:29
"Let no corrupt (unholy) communication proceed from your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearers."
Is one's sarcasm holy or unholy speech? Does it honor God and respect the person spoken to? Does it build up or tear down the hearer? Does it hurt or heal the hearer? Does it promote equalness in the relationship or does it inflate the speaker to the detriment of the hearer? Does it seek to be cooperative rather than competitive (getting to "one-up" another or win in a discussion)?
Eph. 5:4
"..Neither filthiness, nor foolish talking, nor jesting, which are not convenient, but rather of giving of thanks."
Is one's sarcasm sober and mindful or foolish talking? Does it make fun of another or "jest" in a way that the other person doesn't like? Are you really "just Kidding, joking, or being humorous" in a mutually humorous and receptive conversation or does the sarcasm come from irritation, anger, or wanting to get at the hearer to put them down or shut them up?
cont.
I'm still studying on our other discussion but I did want to say my sarcasm was meant to make a point. I still haven't heard from Chris that I offended him, as far as I know. I agree with most of what you said. If sarcasm is done in a way that is displeasing to God it shouldn't be done. The sarcasm should be apologized for and the believer should ask God for forgiveness for hurting the other person and to help him to overcome using sarcasm in a hurtful way. God Bless :)
I went back and re-read the discussion between you and Chris, and Adam, and Myself. We all were serious minded in our responses to you and courteous. You were not so. Your sarcasm with Chris was deeply snarky and not helpful in the discussion. The one in the discussion that was being a poor example to others on this site was you, not Chris, or Adam, or me.
Do as David did, ask God to search your heart on this matter. I am pretty sure that He would determine your sarcasm and combative reply to Chris sinful. But I trust the working of the Holy Spirit in you and all believers, so I leave you with this response. We can speak on another topic after the weekend.
In your post to Chris you did make more than one small sarcastic remark. You even disparaged God in it.
I was not lying in wait for you to error so I could point out your sin. But your remarks prompted me to enter the conversation. I was not angry with you, just sad that you said what you did in a conversation that was centered on whether one can come to the point of being sinless in this lie, as you asserted about yourself. In speaking sarcastically as you did, you were not merely making a point to support your position or to show the error of Chris' view, in my opinion.
I am sorry that you have made the choice to eliminate conversation with some of us here. That is sad to me. I thought you considered me a friend, and I value that. But friends should be able to be honest in gentle ways for the purpose of helping one another, even if it involves showing where we sin against one another.
I hope that you will change your mind and also remember that if you post on this forum, anyone can reply to what you say, so even if you do not wish to speak to me or Adam or Chris, we are free to speak to what you post here. I pray that
God will bring healing and restoration between us as well as help us all to be open when someone identifies sin in what we say here, as I did in your case. The best thing you can do is examine yourself before God and confess yourself a sinner before Him as I and most on here do when we realize that we have sinned, even though our "new man" does not want to sin, as Paul says so well in Romans 7.
Your sarcasm in that discussion offended me.
But then the matter of 'what then is sin'? I think most would agree that it is much more than violating the Ten Commandments, even as our Lord pointed His hearers to their own hearts to correctly understand this subject. But when it comes down to those regrettable things that arise within us which are not specifically addressed in the Word, we may find license to overlook them & treat them as not sinful, merely aberrations arising from the flesh. So, it may boil down to, 'what is sinful to some, may not be to others' (at least, until all are truly led of the Spirit to recognize sin for what sin is, or to those particularly sensitive to any deviation from the holy, to re-examine their beliefs by the Spirit's Guidance). And I too, have had to re-read my comments here, not only for clearly conveying my thoughts, but also to see whether my words could be hurtful or misunderstood, words arising from a mind overly passionate about the subject. I guess that I have failed in this as well at times. Blessings.
We do need to guard that our passion for a topic or doctrine not override our release of loving words seated in truth and grace.
I can tell by your writings that you do approach your responses with consideration for the one who will read them and to whom you are replying to. You are a good example on this forum and I do appreciate your demeanor and the gentle way you address conflicting views.
Gal. 5:13
"For, brethren, ye have been called to liberty; only use not liberty for an occasion to the flesh, but by live serve one another."
Does one's sarcasm serve the other person lovingly promoting their well being or is it self-serving? Does it look out for the best interest of the other ( Phil. 2:4, 21) and not to your own?
Does it reflect that you are thinking highly of the person hearing the sarcasm or does it show you think more highly of yourself than you ought? ( Rom. 12:3)
Gal. 5:22
"But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance, against such there is no law."
Does one's sarcasm reflect these fruits in your character and your speech?
1 Cor. 13:4-8
"Charity suffereth long (patient), and is kind; charity envieth not; Charity vaunted not itself, is not puffed up, Doth not behave itself unseemly, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil; rejoiceth not in iniquity, but rejoiceth in the truth; Beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things; Charity never faileth..."
Does one's sarcasm align with how love is described in this chapter?
I will stop for now.
This forum is one of speaking to one another. I know that at times I need to re-examine some of my words to see if I am speaking wrongly to another person here. I know I am not perfect in my speech, it is not all what I would call "holy speech" that God would approve of. And if He would not approve of it, it is sinful.
This post is not particularly addressed to Momsage, although her post brought up this topic and I thought it may be good to speak about sarcasm here as well as other ways we speak to each other here. let's speak the truth in love, see these conversations in a sober manner, taking what others post seriously and respond seriously with grace and love. We should recognize that we are talking about God and His Word and others who deserve loving responses.
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