Making fun of others

It is my understanding that everyone has one.

And they're all like farts - Nobody can smell his own because he has gotten used to it, but everyone can tell when someone else's stinks.

I understand this is an old post at this point but I thought to throw my two cents in anyway, as it seems to have come up towards the top again.

Yes, what offends one person may not offend another. I've been disabled since I was only 30 and I have a sarcastic streak and passed it onto the children I raised.

We as an immediate family joke all the time about my disability. (if you don't laugh you will cry - and I don't like crying). We also don't mince words, I'm disabled. It's a simple fact of life, to say otherwise is to lie to myself and to others.

My son was visiting with my mother a couple years ago, who was also disabled herself by then, and my sister, an ultra sensitive soul, was also there with her children. My sister had an accident some years ago that caused permanent limited range of motion in one of her arms, which I'm sure can be a challenge at times.

My son just happened to be talking to my mother and mentioned my sister was disabled, likely because he was helping with many things like he does also with me when I run into my own limitations.

My sister overheard and literally started crying. He wasn't joking about her, or being insulting in any way. He simply made a statement of fact, one he's lived with, with myself since his teenage years. (he was a teenager when I became disabled - yes I started young... Lol)

But it caused her to break out in tears and feign offense.

I'm the opposite (and so was my mother) you can literally laugh out loud about my disability and I'll simply see the humor in it and laugh with you. Not only that, but it's something I do myself because I remember being perfectly healthy and at times this all just seems funny.

We don't have the same sense of humor, or the same sense of what makes us feel offended. I'm am literally offended to the point of anger every time I hear the term "menstruating person" or "birthing person" instead of woman. To me it's extremely disrespectful and an attempt to strip women's very identity from them so they can then turn and build them up in their own image, instead of the image God gave us.

There's nothing more offensive than that in my eyes.

But in the end, it's just speech. If I don't want to be bothered by the disrespect then I can always walk away. Likewise, my sister can turn and pretend my son is just odd and stick her head back in the sand.

Should Christians be mindful of their speech? Yes. They should always try and do their best as representatives of Christ on this earth. But at some point, if you don't laugh you will cry, and you can't make everyone happy all the time, it's just not possible.

So speak the truth with grace, and sometimes laugh to keep the tears at bay. The haters will come regardless.

The Apostle Paul flamed the Galatians and Corinthians in his earlier writings. 2nd Timothy, however, was Paul's final letter before he died. And what we find is a telling tale in the difference in how Paul spoke to people who were at fault, or at least negligent. The problems were obvious in the first two letters mentioned, but 2nd Timothy shows us a different issue, which revolves around Timothy perhaps being afraid of taking "care" of the two false renegade teachers in Ephasus. What's at stake? Salvation for those in the Church who were on their way to discovering the Truth of the Gospel. If Timothy neglected them, they may not receive Salvation . . . at least this is the principle.

What we don't see in 2nd Timothy is Paul flaming Timothy. Instead, we find a well-calculated letter that shows how Paul had learned to build confidence, rather than tear another down. Certainly, to leave people at the hands of false teachers is a horrible thing to do, if not worse than what the Corinthians and Galatians were guilty of doing (and not doing). But in Paul's elderly years, he had learned that what was best for people was not being rude and cruel, but the opposite. Paul was kind to Timothy and began writing in ways that would build Timothy up, and more specifically, his confidence. Paul gives Timothy all kinds of reasons to be strong in his Faith. Later in the short letter, Paul gives Timothy instructions on what he should do. But this doesn't mean that Timothy didn't know these things. Paul was occupying Timothy's mind with new thoughts, or, taking Timothy's thoughts away from fear and timidity.

This is what my "handle" is about. And as I write this message, I can see how I have failed in my own purpose. This is not good. Anyway, we should NOT be rude, but figure out how to build another person up so that we don't send them further down the rabbit hole. Think about it . . . how does degrading a person make them better? And, how often have you seen it work?

2 Timothy 2:25 NLT - "Gently instruct those who oppose the truth. Perhaps God will change those people's hearts, and they will learn the truth."

I don't see how we can negate what Paul taught above. Gosh, there is a video where Gary Ridgeway, the Green River killer, was gently admonished by a victims brother or cousin (something like that) and the gentle admonition actually caused Gary to break down and cry. This victim's family member forgave Gary. Can't we do the same for others?

I do think though that there comes a point when you need to call a spade a spade. Sophomoric personal attacks? I agree. Don't engage. But, an honest comment about someone who does something sick or unimaginably foolish? Call'm as you see'm.

If an idea is "bad", (whatever that means) then it's based in something.

The correct course of action is to sit in conversation slash discussion with someone and get to the heart of the matter, and debunk any falsehoods held.

It is NOT, and I repeat not to ridicule and mock a person for their ignorance nor silence them. On the contrary public conversation dispelling falsehoods is best - but should only be done respectfully.

If you can't do that, (have that discussion) it is perhaps that it's you who is lacking in knowledge. Ideas that are based in falsehoods should be appropriately dispelled with respect for the other party.

(And I'm not a person who believes in a flat earth).

I'm not saying doing so is easy, but as Christians we don't take the lazy way out.

start at #20

well, there was that bit in the Bible wear these two youths made fun of Elisha being bald so he asked the Lord to put a curse on them and they got eaten by bears

moral of the story dont mock a prophet

17 Now in giving this next instruction I do not praise you, because you come together not for the better, but for the worse. 18 For, in the first place, when you come together [m]as a church, I hear that [n]divisions exist among you; and in part I believe it. 19 For there also have to be factions among you, so that those who are approved may become [o]evident among you.

Paul sounds pretty sarcastic to me in this section....

I think we should all have a sense of humor, and be sensitive to others' feelings... I can't imagine a church golf tournament without some good natured kidding, ridiculing... I think the key is "good natured".... don't do it to be mean, do it to have fun with each other.

1 Corinthians 11:19

I thought Paul was admonishing his flock here not mocking or ridiculing them

a church golf tournament? I cant imagine one because Ive never been or heard there were such things, or indeed that church people can actually afford to play golf....?

church fishing tournament maybe...oh look Peter, my net just caught 153 fish, how many did you catch?

I can afford a round of golf more easily than I can a fishing license....
Surely you are not proposing breaking the law and fishing without one?

and, yes, Paul WAS admonishing the flock, and he was using sarcasm to make his point... "of COURSE there are divisions among you... there HAVE to be! How else will other people know who among you are the "approved" people, unlike those "un-approved" folks..."
I can hear him saying it....

oh that went over my head lol
I dont do sarcasm

I dont understand it, I think people that do it tend to be bitter about something. But then not everyone can come up with good zingers all the time like Chandler Bing ' Could I BE wearing any more clothes?' oh wait that was Joey.

Jesus said I will make you fishers of men

so, I suppose he was giving them licence, since they had to give up their day jobs following Him

"I better not do any LUNGES!!"

I was bullied as a child.
I don't see how an adult Christian can ever imagine themselves on the right path if they labor to demean others for whatever reason.

When they can get the idea from reading the bible?
https://www.openbible.info/topics/flat_earth

I find belittling others very demeaning.Sadly seen Christians strike out at others because they do not agree. Not quite sure how your going to change someones mind by being rude.
As I recall Jesus gave truth when someone didn't agree with him. Seem to shut them up atm. I personally find more humor in everyday silliness that I deal with at times. Like someone driving like a maniac to get past me to end up beside me at the next red light.

Very well thought out and blessed.