Is Sarcasm always bad?

[Dave...]

Sarcasm can be used very destructively, but it can also be a very effective teaching tool. In this bumper sticker slogan world, and it's short attention span, often times our window of opportunity is very narrow. Sarcasm can cut to the marrow of the bone, so to speak, like no other. I think that's why political correctness hates it so much.

Here's some scripture where Paul used sarcasm. It's not the only time.

1 Corinthians 14:36-38 "Or did the word of God come originally from you? Or was it you only that it reached? If anyone thinks himself to be a prophet or spiritual, let him acknowledge that the things which I write to you are the commandments of the Lord. But if anyone is ignorant, let him be ignorant.

What do you think?

 

[WIP]

I would say it has to do with how it is applied. I use sarcasm in jest among my own circle of friends. They know that I am just being facetious or silly or whatever and that I do not intend it to hurt or discredit or disrespect anyone. It's just a way of poking fun and it is often returned in like manner.

I believe Jesus was being a little sarcastic with Philip here.

7 If you had known Me, you would have known My Father also; and from now on you know Him and have seen Him.”
8 Philip said to Him, “Lord, show us the Father, and it is sufficient for us.”
9 Jesus said to him, “Have I been with you so long, and yet you have not known Me, Philip? He who has seen Me has seen the Father; so how can you say, ‘Show us the Father’?
10 Do you not believe that I am in the Father, and the Father in Me? The words that I speak to you I do not speak on My own authority; but the Father who dwells in Me does the works.
11 Believe Me that I am in the Father and the Father in Me, or else believe Me for the sake of the works themselves."
John 14:7-11 NKJV

Jesus had just finished telling them that knowing and seeing Him is to know and see the Father and yet, Philip replies with "Show us the Father."

Every time I read this text, I imagine Foghorn Leghorn saying something like, "Look son, I'm pitchin' but you aint catchin'."

 

[Dave...]

That makes sense. People that know you get the good natured sarcasm much easier.

Is bad natured sarcasm sometimes necessary?

I'm kind of out of much of the political loop these days, but I remember Anne Coulter, a political author, reporter and or commentator. Political correctness used to hate her because she was very sarcastic. But she went toe to toe with political correctness on their terms, I guess, and usually won.

Paul's tone seems to be beyond good natured, but not too harsh.

Dave

 

[WIP]

Is bad natured sarcasm sometimes necessary?

Maybe there is a limit?

Therefore, putting away lying, “Let each one of you speak truth with his neighbor,” for we are members of one another. “Be angry, and do not sin”: do not let the sun go down on your wrath, nor give place to the devil. Let him who stole steal no longer, but rather let him labor, working with his hands what is good, that he may have something to give him who has need. Let no corrupt word proceed out of your mouth, but what is good for necessary edification, that it may impart grace to the hearers. And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. Let all bitterness, wrath, anger, clamor, and evil speaking be put away from you, with all malice. And be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God in Christ forgave you.
Ephesians 4:25-32 NKJV

Let us pursue the things which make for peace and the things by which one may edify another.
Romans 14:19 NKJV

 

[Dave...]

Every time I read this text, I imagine saying something like, "Look son, I'm pitchin' but you aint catchin'."

He also something like. “That dog's as subtle as a hand grenade in a barrel of oatmeal”.

 

[Dave...]

Maybe there is a limit?

Definitely. Anne Coulter is probably way over the top.

“Oh, that woman, got a mouth like an outboard motor” Foghorn Leghorn

There's always that there balance. Thanks for that scripture. If we use cartoon characters to say it, is it still bad?

Dave