Sarcasm and Power

I was raised on jokes. I was usually the butt of them within our family. I didn’t play sports until later, never rocked name brand shoes and actually excelled in school, so to them I was different. I remember being called things such as “nerd” or “unathletic” and even “prude.” This shaped my worldview negatively, and I got to a point in my youth where I began to fight back. I was hurt, so I decided to hurt others.

I thought about all the ways I could seek revenge. I thought deeply about things that were sensitive to them, then attacked their weaknesses whenever I had a chance. One of my cousins had weight issues, and I made a joke in front of the rest of the family about how much food we could expect him to eat at Thanksgiving. From then on, I became a jokester prone push people’s buttons. Nowadays, my cynicism comes out by way of sarcasm.

---

Dictionaries define sarcasm as the use of irony to mock or convey contempt. That’s convicting and deep as is. It gets even deeper when you realize the meaning of contempt is “the feeling that a person or a thing is beneath consideration, worthless, or deserving scorn.”

So when I’m able to poke fun at something, I go for it, inconsiderate of another’s feelings and life experiences. Victims of mean, sarcastic remarks are a minority that’s overlooked by those of us who say, to “stop being sensitive.” We’re all sensitive. We who throw sarcasm around habitually are just not caring.

Don’t get me wrong, I love a good laugh. I think God loves laughter. But at the expense of someone made in God’s image? I think not. And because of the gospel, I can no longer use the excuse of being hurt by others as permission to swing the sarcasm bat around carelessly. I can’t keep going on saying “it’s natural.” We who put down image-bearers struggle with the idol of power.

For the Love of Power

Sarcasm, humor, and sass are praised in our culture. Our favorite shows, speakers, and movies are full of wit. Can you think of an easier way to gain fans? Our longing for praise may be the reason why we don’t stop and consider if we are hurting others in our quest to attain it.

The human yearning for praise and power is most certainly present in the Bible. Adam and Eve ate fruit for it and King David killed a man to keep it. We go far lengths to entertain others to the point where we aren’t even true to ourselves. In our quest for power, we slowly become different. Jesus was tempted by Satan with the same idol that man has submitted to since day one:

Again, the devil took him to a very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their glory. And he said to him, “All these I will give you, if you will fall down and worship me.” Matthew 4:8-9

However, Jesus shows us where real power comes from.

Then Jesus said to him, “Be gone, Satan! For it is written, “‘You shall worship the Lord your God and him only shall you serve.’” Matthew 4:10

Jesus responds with Deuteronomy 6:13, understanding that the Father deserves all praise because He has all power! We crave power and influence because we want to be God.

Okay, maybe I’m a little too serious about this. There is certainly humor that isn’t harmful, and sarcasm isn’t sinful 100% of the time. However, the intent can be. To say it’s not a big deal is to say people don’t matter. Sarcasm can sometimes be defensive, cynical (habitually negative), mean, and a waste of words.

Sarcasm Can Also Be Cowardly

Sinful sarcasm is typically used to poke at something we are too cowardly to confront. Instead, we hide behind the laughter and praises of people. To get into the amount of cowardice inside of social media alone would require an essay on the subject. A good rule of thumb: If what you’re getting at in sarcasm cannot be said directly to someone else because of a fear of losing approval or backlash, there’s a personal problem on your hands.

In our cynicism, we can be sarcastic even with ourselves. “That’s just what I needed, great! Terrific!” Knowing the last thing you wanted in life is for your plans to go south. In these moments, sarcasm replaces beautiful human emotions and expressions with one-liners. Hiding behind our humor, we may never come face to face with our depravity. In turn, we may never experience the fullness of grace the Father has for messes like us.

God is gracious to even the cynic. He can redeem our hurtful experiences and replace our hurtful quips with words of encouragement. I don’t have to defend myself nor find my worth by demeaning people. My friends have been monumental in this process because true love isn’t afraid to call out sinful motives. My community makes me more like Jesus.

Faithful are the wounds of a friend; profuse are the kisses of an enemy.

Proverbs 27:6

Are you like me? Looking for satisfaction in all the wrong places? Using sarcasm out of insecurity or bitterness? What are the motives of your humor?