I think of Isaiah 44:9-20 where the prophet points out the ridiculousness of idolatry with imagery that often strikes me as a little funny.
“He burns half of it in the fire; With this half he eats meat; He roasts a roast, and is satisfied. He even warms himself and says, “Ah! I am warm, I have seen the fire.””
- Isaiah 44:16 NKJV
The same tree becomes fuel for the fire and a “god” to worship and yet the idolater totally misses the irony of it all.
Mar 17, 2022·edited Mar 17, 2022Liked by Kevin LaTorre
Excellent. There is also a difference between the humor that puts we prone-to-hubris mortals in our place, which you describe, and the humor which belittles, which I would argue is always off-limits. However there can be a fine and too-easily-crossed line between the two.
Perhaps the difference lies in the relational element. Humor that mocks is, especially in the Bible, meant to hold one up to a higher example ("you shouldn't worship idols / be legalistic / etc, and you know this, but you won't admit it so I'm going to roast you"), but the belittling humor is exclusionary ("you are and always will be the other").
Came across another (potential) example that I felt compelled to share:
They said to him, “What did he do to you? How did he open your eyes?” He answered them, “I have told you already, and you would not listen. Why do you want to hear it again? Do you also want to become his disciples?”
John 9:26-27 ESV
That last question by the man who was blind from birth always strikes me as humorous. In isolation it seems like an innocent question, but in context (Pharisees interrogating everyone) it comes off as a little funny. You can almost see the religious leaders sputtering in frustration to answer him: “We know that God has spoken to Moses, but as for this man, we do not know where he comes from.”
(Like all sin) the mocker claims to believe we do it in a manner that is understood, appreciated, and enjoyed by the mockee. I recently took part in a dinner in which the server was mocked in an manner that clearly was not appreciated by the recipient of the light mockery. I thought about Christ, as you exemplified in this article.... agreeing with you, when we (I) lightly mock, I do it because it gives ME pleasure, gives ME attention, gives ME self-value. But all at the expense of another's dignity.
I think of Isaiah 44:9-20 where the prophet points out the ridiculousness of idolatry with imagery that often strikes me as a little funny.
“He burns half of it in the fire; With this half he eats meat; He roasts a roast, and is satisfied. He even warms himself and says, “Ah! I am warm, I have seen the fire.””
- Isaiah 44:16 NKJV
The same tree becomes fuel for the fire and a “god” to worship and yet the idolater totally misses the irony of it all.
Excellent. There is also a difference between the humor that puts we prone-to-hubris mortals in our place, which you describe, and the humor which belittles, which I would argue is always off-limits. However there can be a fine and too-easily-crossed line between the two.
Perhaps the difference lies in the relational element. Humor that mocks is, especially in the Bible, meant to hold one up to a higher example ("you shouldn't worship idols / be legalistic / etc, and you know this, but you won't admit it so I'm going to roast you"), but the belittling humor is exclusionary ("you are and always will be the other").
Well done! I enjoyed the read
Came across another (potential) example that I felt compelled to share:
They said to him, “What did he do to you? How did he open your eyes?” He answered them, “I have told you already, and you would not listen. Why do you want to hear it again? Do you also want to become his disciples?”
John 9:26-27 ESV
That last question by the man who was blind from birth always strikes me as humorous. In isolation it seems like an innocent question, but in context (Pharisees interrogating everyone) it comes off as a little funny. You can almost see the religious leaders sputtering in frustration to answer him: “We know that God has spoken to Moses, but as for this man, we do not know where he comes from.”
(Like all sin) the mocker claims to believe we do it in a manner that is understood, appreciated, and enjoyed by the mockee. I recently took part in a dinner in which the server was mocked in an manner that clearly was not appreciated by the recipient of the light mockery. I thought about Christ, as you exemplified in this article.... agreeing with you, when we (I) lightly mock, I do it because it gives ME pleasure, gives ME attention, gives ME self-value. But all at the expense of another's dignity.