Setting: Early February in downtown Mesa, AZ. At our favorite ice cream shop with our two Arizona grandchildren. A beautiful, sunny day.
The question came from my oldest granddaughter. I don’t even remember it. As is so often the case, I didn’t hear the first time, so I defaulted to a standard response like, “Huh?” or “What?” or “Excuse me?” I’ve done it millions of times before; such is the reality of the life of the hearing-impaired.
What my granddaughter said next was delivered with the precision and skill and sass of someone who’s in their teens or 20s. She’s only seven years old. Her reply cut through the air with the expertise of a surgeon’s knife, cutting to the core of my vulnerability: “Do you even have your ear things in, Grandpa?”
Boom! The silence was loud – even with my “ear things” in! Her response was so quick and sharp I didn’t know what to say or how to respond. Finally, I laughed. I couldn’t help it. Pity the fools who try to spar with this young Jiu-Jitsu practitioner as she gets older. She’s got skills: physical, mental, and verbal!
Sarcasm, irony, and hyperbole are all found in the Bible. Elijah mocked the prophets of Baal on Mount Carmel, suggesting that their god might be sleeping or traveling (1 Kings 18:27). Isaiah mocked the woodcutter who uses wood from a tree to both light a fire to warm his food and to carve out an idol for himself, and then bowing down in worship (Isaiah 44:14-17). John the Baptist called the Pharisees and Sadducees a “brood of vipers” (Matthew 3:7). Jesus blistered the Pharisees by calling them blind guides and whitewashed tombs (Matthew 23:24, 27).
Sarcasm and teasing have their place in loving relationships, but overall, God encourages us to use our words wisely and lovingly. We want to reflect the grace and truth of Christ is all we say and in how we say it. At the heart of all communication? The expression of love and forgiveness. May such words thrive in our midst!
“Do not let any unwholesome talk come from your mouths. Say only what is beneficial when there is a need to build up others, so that it will be a blessing to those who hear...Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving one another, just as God in Christ has forgiven us.” (Ephesians 4:29,32)
Grateful with you for Christ’s loving words and deed,
Pastor Stephen Luchterhand
The question came from my oldest granddaughter. I don’t even remember it. As is so often the case, I didn’t hear the first time, so I defaulted to a standard response like, “Huh?” or “What?” or “Excuse me?” I’ve done it millions of times before; such is the reality of the life of the hearing-impaired.
What my granddaughter said next was delivered with the precision and skill and sass of someone who’s in their teens or 20s. She’s only seven years old. Her reply cut through the air with the expertise of a surgeon’s knife, cutting to the core of my vulnerability: “Do you even have your ear things in, Grandpa?”
Boom! The silence was loud – even with my “ear things” in! Her response was so quick and sharp I didn’t know what to say or how to respond. Finally, I laughed. I couldn’t help it. Pity the fools who try to spar with this young Jiu-Jitsu practitioner as she gets older. She’s got skills: physical, mental, and verbal!
Sarcasm, irony, and hyperbole are all found in the Bible. Elijah mocked the prophets of Baal on Mount Carmel, suggesting that their god might be sleeping or traveling (1 Kings 18:27). Isaiah mocked the woodcutter who uses wood from a tree to both light a fire to warm his food and to carve out an idol for himself, and then bowing down in worship (Isaiah 44:14-17). John the Baptist called the Pharisees and Sadducees a “brood of vipers” (Matthew 3:7). Jesus blistered the Pharisees by calling them blind guides and whitewashed tombs (Matthew 23:24, 27).
Sarcasm and teasing have their place in loving relationships, but overall, God encourages us to use our words wisely and lovingly. We want to reflect the grace and truth of Christ is all we say and in how we say it. At the heart of all communication? The expression of love and forgiveness. May such words thrive in our midst!
“Do not let any unwholesome talk come from your mouths. Say only what is beneficial when there is a need to build up others, so that it will be a blessing to those who hear...Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving one another, just as God in Christ has forgiven us.” (Ephesians 4:29,32)
Grateful with you for Christ’s loving words and deed,
Pastor Stephen Luchterhand
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