Sanctified Sarcasm

I just wish that those troublemakers who want to mutilate you by circumcision would mutilate themselves. (Galatians 5:12 NLT).

I’m asking God to give me a gift, but I’m embarrassed to tell you what it is. However, after I describe it, I’m hoping that you will ask God for this gift as well. I’m talking about the gift of sarcasm – sanctified sarcasm! I know that may sound like oxymoronic nonsense, but please bear with me. Although it is not specifically mentioned in the New Testament, it is a powerful gift of God that is sorely needed in the church today. Let me explain.

We see one illustration of sanctified sarcasm in the verse quoted above (Gal. 5:12). In addressing the problem of heresy in the churches of Galatia, Paul discovers that his gifts of teaching, prophesying, and pastoral care are not enough. So, inspired by the Holy Spirit, he looks in his ministry toolkit and decides to use his gift of sarcasm. Referring to those false teachers who are promoting circumcision as being necessary for salvation, Paul sarcastically suggests that they should castrate themselves! So there; take that!

You’ll be pleased to know that I’ve never quite had the courage to imitate Paul’s example by using this particular illustration of sarcasm. And yet, I know that just as Paul’s caustic words were needed to shock the Galatians into reality, this gift is needed in the church today. It is going to take more than good teaching and sensitive pastoral care to address all that is wrong in the modern church. We desperately need those who have the gift of sanctified sarcasm to rise up and use their gift!  

Sarcasm is a rhetorical device where one says the opposite of what one means. It is used to mock, poke fun, and expose the absurdity of a certain action or belief. The words are not meant to be taken literally, and yet the speaker has a definite message he is seeking to convey, relying on context, tone of voice, and facial expression to help get the truth across.  Sarcasm always involves humor, which typically makes everyone laugh except those who refuse to submit to the truth. 

Unsanctified sarcasm, as it is typically expressed today, being rooted in hatred and pride, is nearly always sinful. Whether found in the mouth of politicians, lawyers, academicians, or friends, worldly sarcasm aims to insult, demean, show contempt, and inflict pain. Scripture is emphatic that this sort of speech is unacceptable and will be condemned at the judgment bar of God (see Eph. 4:29; 5:4; Col. 3:8; etc.). Such language is never befitting a child of God and should be avoided at all costs. So, it comes as a surprise to many that the Bible is full of examples of, what I like to call, sanctified sarcasm. Yes, the Scriptures give us many illustrations of God’s saints using sarcasm to help them respond to a challenging situation.  

For example, Job listened patiently to his friends as they offered him “comfort” and advice in his time of trial. But after eleven chapters of vacuous verbosity, he turned to them and said: “You people really know everything, don’t you? And when you die, wisdom will die with you!” (Job 12:2 NLT). What a great zinger! You have to love sanctified sarcasm! 

And then there is the prophet Elijah in his showdown on Mount Carmel with the prophets of Baal. They agreed to build two altars, one to Baal and one to Elijah’s God. They would each pray to their God, and “the God who answers by fire, he is God” (I Kings 18:24). As the false prophets prayed, danced, and cut themselves, begging Baal to answer them, Elijah chose to use his special talent for sarcasm. He began to mock them saying, “Cry aloud, for he is a god. Either he is musing, or he is relieving himself, or he is on a journey, or perhaps he is asleep and must be awakened.” (I Kings 18:27). Maybe Baal is not answering your prayers because he is on a potty break. I just love this stuff!

Surprisingly, Jesus was a master of sanctified sarcasm. He used it often and used it well. For example, he pointed out the idiocy of trying to remove a splinter from someone else’s eye while being  unaware of the log that is in one’s own (see Matt. 7:3). Now that is funny! And he commended the Pharisees for how they meticulously tithed their spices in obedience to the Torah but then noted that they had failed to pay attention to the weightier matters of the law, notably justice, mercy, and faithfulness (see Matt. 23:23).  Oops!  

We could say that Jesus learned the power of sarcasm by watching his heavenly Father. Yes, it’s true, the Holy One Himself is the author of sanctified sarcasm. We have room for only one example. Although Job had appropriately used sarcasm on his friends, he got to have a taste of his own medicine when God used sarcasm on him! After accusing God of cosmic mismanagement, Job is forced to listen as God sarcastically addresses him out of the whirlwind: 

“Who is this that questions my wisdom with such ignorant words? Brace yourself like a man, because I have some questions for you, and you must answer them.

“Where were you when I laid the foundations of the earth? Tell me, if you know so much. (Job 38:2-4 NLT). 

There are many other examples of sanctified sarcasm that we could cite but these will suffice to introduce us to the need for this gift to be rediscovered today. The gift is most needed in:

• Addressing heresy and brazen sin.

• Exposing hypocrisy.

• Correcting stupidity.

• Enabling the community to see the truth even if the guilty party cannot.

I’m asking God to give me this gift. Perhaps you will do the same. 

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