Cutting Out Sarcasm

Wednesday, October 10

Sarcasm is a strange habit.

Sarcasm originally comes from the combination of two Greek words: to cut and flesh. When someone is sarcastic, they cut others with their words. Sometimes it’s done humorously. Sometimes it’s done caustically. However it’s done, the ultimate result is we’ve sliced someone with our tongue.

One thing we learn about God in the Bible is that He’s pretty big on healthy relationships--initiating them, maintaining them, and healing them.

That’s why it’s not surprising then that God addresses this problem of sarcasm head on. In Ephesians 4:29, God warns us, "Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen."

That’s pretty clear. Use words that build people up. Keep tabs on your tongue. Do whatever it takes. Enter Sarcasm Anonymous. Go into verbal recovery. Your relationships are at stake.

In the 3rd & 4th century, a strange thing happened. Many Christians became dissatisfied with the church of their day and did something bold—they moved to the desert. They thought if they could get away from people, especially people of questionable character, they could live more dedicated lives to God. These people became the forerunners of our monks and nuns today.

To be honest, some of these characters were pretty nutty, like people you would see in the movie Deliverance. But many of these guys and gals were normal, and learned a great deal about how to live an authentic spiritual life. These people later became known as The Desert Fathers, and their stories and their wise sayings were recorded for posterity.

Listen to one wise person named Macarius as he begs people to enter Sarcasm Anonymous,

"Abba Macarius the Great said to the brothers in Scete after service in church: ‘Flee, my brothers.’ And one of the brothers said to him: ‘Father, where have we to flee beyond this desert?’ And he put his finger upon his lips and said: ‘I tell you, this you must flee.’(Western Asceticism, Chap. I, Sec. IV, Saying 27)

Not bad advice.

Today you are going to speak anywhere from 20,000 to 50,000 words, depending on your personality.

Keep track of how many of those words build people up, and how many of those words tear people down.

The health of your relationships is depending upon it.