Coarse Jesting
Memory verse: Eph. 5:3-4
Review:
Last week we discussed the power of the tongue for good and for evil. James
gives us a graphic explanation of the explosiveness of that power. We also
defined some specific sins of the tongue: gossip, flattery and slander. We also
saw that the tongue reveals the hearts affections. This week we narrow our
discussion and consider Paul’s admonitions in Ephesians, specifically his
instructions regarding filthiness, foolish talking and coarse jesting.
Introduction:
Yammering, gabbing, verbal jousting and joking are common to man. Humor in
all its forms is a feature of humanity. But how is this feature to be impacted by
our new life in Christ? What is the proper role of humor in Christian speech and
communication? More specifically, what should typify speech between Christian
young men? How is our joking and kidding around to be sanctified? What about a
good-natured horse-laugh at our brother’s (and our) foibles?
Objectives:
1. To understand what kind of speech is sinful for Christians to participate in
2. To understand the proper place of humor and its dangers
3. To understand the importance of thankfulness as an antidote to sinful
speaking
Christian speech in general
1. First, we need to realize that humor is not frowned upon in Scripture
Eccl. 3:4
-“A time to weep and a time to laugh”
2. Secondly, we need to observe that the Bible itself contains examples of what
many Christians would consider inappropriate speech
Gal. 5:11-12
-Paul would like these false teachers (the circumcision) to cut the
whole thing off
Phil. 3:8
-Animal excrement contrasted with the excellency of knowing
Christ
3. Third, we need to realize that what we say matters
Matt. 12:36-37
-Even our “idle” words will be reviewed
-Our words, which flow forth from that which fills the heart, reveal
our true state
- “An idle word is a non-working word; an inoperative word. It has
no legitimate work, no office, no business, but is morally useless and
unprofitable” (Vincent’s Word Studies).
-God knows and pays attention to every word (Psalm 139:4)
4. Fourth, we need to understand that growing in wisdom and godliness affects
our speech
Proverbs 10:32
-“The lips of the righteous know what is acceptable: but the mouth
of the wicked speaketh forwardness” [NKJV: what is perverse].
Summary: With these broader biblical principles in mind, let’s consider the
Paul’s admonitions regarding our speech in Ephesians 4 & 5
Corrupt Words
The prohibition against certain types of talk flows from Paul’s teaching regarding
putting off the old man and putting on the new. As we grow in Christ, Paul says,
“Let each of you speak truth to his neighbor, for we are members of one
another.” (4:25) Growing up in Christ and recognizing that we are members of
one another is the back drop for all these admonitions regarding the use of our
tongue.
Eph. 4:29
What is contrasted in this verse?
-Corrupt words and words that edify and impart grace
What is a corrupt word?
-“Rotten, putrid, of poor quality, bad, unfit for use, worthless”
(Thayer)
-“Decayed, rotten.” “…used of spoiled fish, rotten grapes on the
ground, crumbling stones. Suggests “evil word or evil speech”
(Arndt & Gingrich)
-“filthy,” “foul,” (Eadie, Phillips)
What does “necessary” imply?
-The context and situation defines to some extent whether certain
words may edify or not
-They may be words which are true and good, but they must be
timely to edify and impart grace.
How do we define grace in this passage?
-Undeserved goodness, gifts, favor
-We also need to consider what it means to impart grace.
-Are we assuming that imparting grace is equal to our cultural
(pietistic) definition of niceness—in other words—am I assuming
that if a “word” doesn’t make me feel good, it’s not imparting
grace?
What is grief? What grieves the Holy Spirit? Why?
-Deep sadness usually resulting from loss
-Speaking corrupt words grieves the Spirit because we are sealed
for the day of redemption
-Every corrupt word we speak is a “loss” because we could have
spoken a good word instead
Filthiness, foolish talking and coarse jesting
Ephesians 5:1-4
What are the imperatives in this passage?
-Be imitators of God as dear children
-Walk in love as Christ showed us (even to the laying down of your
life)
How is walking in love defined?
-As Christ walked in love, giving himself
What is a sacrifice?
-Something valuable we give up for another’s benefit
When we imitate Christ in this way, what does God think of it?
-A sweet smelling aroma
What things should be absent among believers?
-Immorality and covetousness will not be found among the saints
(which is fitting)
-Our speech will be free from filthiness, foolish talking and course
jesting
-Our speech will be characterized rather by thanksgiving
What thing should be the dominating presence among believers?
-Thankfulness
Definition of terms
What about the term “filthiness?”
-Obscenity; a general term for impure conversation
-“Filthiness”: Is defined as shamefulness, obscenity, “nastiness”
(Lenski p. 596). “Dirty, indecent, obscene language” (Boles p. 298).
What about “foolish talking?”
-Crude, stupid jokes, often descending into buffoonery
-“Foolish talking”: “Impious, silly, godless speech without
forethought and wisdom “(Caldwell p. 232). “Is the talk of a fool,
the man who does not know God (Psalm 14:1)” (Boles p. 298).
“Foolish talking" would include the discussion of subject matter,
which violates God's truth, that is speculations, which contradict
the truth God has already revealed.
What about “coarse jesting?”
-A well-turned remark; off-color humor; extreme buffoonery
-Humor that has an extreme edge and runs afoul of a truly
sanctified Christian walk
- “The jesting referred to by the third term is that which is clever,
which is witty, which precariously presses the ragged edge of
decency. This is high class dirty talk. It is joking so clever that
many may laugh in spite of themselves.”
-“Coarse jesting”: “Suggestive jesting” (Wms); “coarse jokes”
(Tay) “polished and witty speech as the instrument of sin. “Witty
talk that is corrupted by a smutty intention, a nasty insinuation which
raises a laugh at the expense of someone's good name” (Boles p.
298).
Conclusion/Application
What’s wrong with humor about immorality?
1. It doesn’t take sin seriously enough. This is a deadly error.
2. It enables us to talk about things we would not dare to discuss seriously.
Humor allows us to press the line of appropriateness further than we could
seriously. If we venture too far, we simply say, “Just kidding.”
3. Joking about immorality often is but the first step we take toward
immorality.
4. Joking about sex degrades it. Sex is a gracious gift from God. We dare
not make light of God’s gifts. We mock them in so doing.
Specifically, what Type of Humor Should I Avoid?
1. Jokes that demonstrate disrespect for God, Jesus, the Bible, and the
Church. That is, humor at the expense of that which is holy. Jokes that tend
to place God in a trivial light. Humor, that in the end is teaching the wrong
lesson or a false doctrine.
2. Jokes that rely on sexual humor, and innuendo.
3. Humor that would send the wrong message concerning your own values
or would give people the impression that you might be open to certain
temptations.
4. Humor that is cruel and laughter at the expense of a horrible tragedy.
Humor that you wouldn’t appreciate if you or a loved one were targeted
(Matthew 7:12).
Check your motivation.
Often, when one becomes a Christian there is a learning period to discern
what is and what is not appropriate speech (Hebrews 5:14). But if you have
been a Christian for some time, then look at your motivation before you say
something humorous. If you want to shock people, or prove that you aren’t a
“prude”, then you need to refrain from saying what you were about to say.
Ironically, Christians don’t have to worry about trying to “shock people”, the
message that we are bringing from God will do just fine in getting people’s
attention (Acts 24:25).
Addendum:
Someone has said that the cheapest form of "wit" is that which depends upon a four-letter word or
dirty joke to get a laugh. God isn't against laughter (Eccl. 3:4), in fact God has a very good sense of
humor (Matthew 7:1-5). But God is against the "humor of this world", where getting the laugh or the
admiration of men, has become more important than moral purity. “That versatility which turns about,
adapting itself, without regard to principle, to the circumstances of the moment, and the varying
moods of those around. It refers to the foulness, "foolish talking" to the folly, "jesting" to the false
refinement (and trifling witticism: Tittmann), of discourse unseasoned with the salt of grace
(Trench)”(Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown Commentary). “These words do not preclude spontaneous
Christian joy and a sense of humor, but they indicate that Christians are not to indulge in empty
frivolity. In the Greek they connote the sort of jesting that is vulgar and unclean. The antidote for the
Christian is thanksgiving (The Wycliffe Bible Commentary).
“Christians should be grave and serious-though cheerful and pleasant. They should feel that they
have great interests at stake, and that the world has too. They are redeemed-not to make sport;
purchased with precious blood-for other purposes than to make people laugh. They are soon to be in
heaven-and a man who has any impressive sense of that will habitually feel that he has much else to
do than to make people laugh. The true course of life is midway between moroseness (grumpiness)
and levity (flippancy); sourness and lightness; harshness and jesting. Be benevolent, kind, cheerful,
courteous, but serious. Be solemn, thoughtful, deeply impressed with the presence of God and with
eternal things, but pleasant, and affable (friendly). Think not a smile sinful; but think not levity and
jesting harmless”(Barnes' Notes).
Which means that when the Christian speaks, it should be intelligent speech and not the speech of
the fool. When the Christian engages in humor, it should be morally clever. When I speak people
should be able to say, “he is wise, understanding, clever and he has a good heart.” Filthiness in
speech, simply tells people that we have allowed a lot of trash to accumulate in our minds (Matthew
7:20-23).
All God's gifts, including sex, are subjects for thanksgiving, rather than for joking. To joke about them
is bound to degrade them; to thank God for them is the way to preserve their worth as the blessings
of a loving Creator” (Stott pp. 192-193). Gratitude is a great protection against such sins. For the
person who is truly grateful to God, realizes that they already have more than enough blessings.
They don't view themselves as derived or "deserving" more. When we become ungrateful, we are
easy prey for the devil (Romans 1:21). “Believers have received so many blessings from God, in
grace as well as in nature, that thanksgiving should be a dominant note in their speech as well as in
their thought” (Bruce p. 371).