Making
Fun
In this world today we are always going to have wise-crackers and trouble makers come out of every generation. It appears that making fun of others has become part of our culture and is growing out of control. Why? It all has to do with our upbringing and who we hang with. People love a good laugh making fun of others as long as it does not include themselves. Men trashing other men because of their financial status, women trashing other women because of their size and style, children and teens trashing and bullying each other because of their weight, looks, beliefs, and sexual orientation. (Always judging others). Where does it end? No one has respect for each other any longer. (Many don't even respect themselves, so how can they respect anyone else). We have comedians and talk show hosts who thrive on making fun of others because they have no other material that interest people. Trashing people gets ratings and that's what it is all about. (Especially in social media). It all starts when they are young in age. Children and teens usually follow their parents lead. If the parents are wise-crackers, the children usually follow in their steps. In most cases; "Once a wise-cracker, always a wise-cracker." "Once a bully, always a bully." So, with that being said, lets see what the scriptures say about those who love to make fun of others.
We are back in the book of 2 Kings when Elijah was taken up by a whirlwind, and Elisha took his place in Jericho. Elisha had just performed a miracle with the help of the Lord by purifying the water of the Jordan river. He is about to leave Jericho and head to Bethel in the spirit of Elijah. (He was on a mission from God). Elisha left Jericho and went up to Bethel. As he was walking along the road, a group of boys from the town began mocking and making fun of him. "Go away, baldy!" they chanted. "Go away, baldy!" (2 Kings 2:23). Here we have a group of young wise-crackers and bullies making fun of Elisha. "Go away, baldy!" they shouted. Doesn't sound so bad for the bullies; after all they are young boys having a little fun so it seems. "Lets see what Elisha does."
Elisha turned around and looked at them, and he cursed them in the name of the LORD. Then two bears came out of the woods and mauled forty-two of them. (2 Kings 2:24). A simple curse "In the name of the Lord," from Elisha, and trouble arises from the woods around them. A simple curse brings havoc to the group of boys, and two bears came out and mauled fort-two of them. "Not such wise-crackers then." (When bullies are stood up to, they disappear). The LORD mocks the mockers but is gracious to the humble. (Proverbs 3:34). God always takes care of His own.
Lets go to the new testament and see what it says about making fun and trashing others of others. Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearers. (Ephesaian 4:29). Try not to use bad language or useless gossip, but rather say what is good and helpful to those you are talking to. (Truth that will give them a blessing). There is to much trash talk and not enough God talk in this world today. "Lay off the trash talk... And if you can't say anything good about someone; keep your mouth shut!"
Neither filthiness, nor foolish talking, nor jesting, which are not convenient: but rather giving of thanks. (Ephesians 5:4). Don't take part in unfitting, or improper talk and dirty stories. Jesting here means not to talk about perverted filth and dirty jokes. (It only makes you look like a ass).
When you trash-talk and make fun of others, you are judging them. You may get a laugh, but you are just condemning yourself. Therefore thou art inexcusable, O man, whosoever thou art that judgest: for wherein thou judgest another, thou condemnest thyself; for thou that judgest doest the same things. (Romans 2:1). In other words, those of you who think you are so holy condemn others, but you are just as bad and have no excuse. When you say the wicked should be punished, you are condemning yourself, because you who judge others do these very same things. This brings to my attention (John 8:3-11), when the Scribes and Pharisees brought to Christ a woman that they said had committed adultery. (Making fun of her and calling her a whore).
They wanted to stone her to death for this act according to the law of Moses. But, Jesus was writing in the ground and said to them; "he that is without sin among you, let him cast the first stone at her." (Then Jesus continued to write on the ground). What was Jesus writing? Well, I believe that He was reading their thoughts and they were convicted by their own conscience. Jesus was probably writing something like; "hey john, remember when you were fooling around with that girl over there the other night." "What about you Matt, when you were under the oak tree the other day with another mans wife." "Then there is you Jimmy; you were seen in the back room with both Matt and John." Slowly one by one the woman's accusers left until there was only Jesus and the woman left. Then Jesus asked the woman where her accusers were now, and who was condemning her. She answered, "no man Lord." Then Jesus said to her, "neither do I condemn you: go and sin no more." (Lets leave judging people to God; if you need to judge someone, judge yourself).
Jesus would say it best at the sermon on the Mount. Therefore all things whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do ye even so to them: for this is the law and the prophets. (Matthew 7:12). To sum it up, this is the law of love. "Do to others what you want them to do to you." (Luke 6:31). The "law of liberty," "love your neighbor as thyself." (Galatians 5:13-14).
Keep The Faith,Barton