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AoibhinnGrainne -> RE: Should Christians Be Sarcastic? (4/29/2008 1:44:52 PM)
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quote:
ORIGINAL: zamdad
Another way to look at it is, do we have a right not to be offended? Sarcasm has its place. If the intended audience of that sarcasm doesn't get it and becomes offended, is that the fault of the person using the sarcasm? As has been stated, internet communication is void of all the non-verbal cues we look for in human interaction. All too often we can read into a post things that are not there as we bring our own perspective filled with our own biases into what we read. We give too much control to others when we're always trying to back pedal from a sarcastic comment we've made that was not taken as intended.
This is an interesting perspective and one I have heard before.
And, yes, we all bring our own "grid" to the table as we read what we read.
But we also read books, magazines, the newspaper, Scripture... and, somehow, we are able to glean from context whether a particular writer's POV is cynical, gracious, snarky, informative, mystical, gracious, illustrative, informative, and so on, and so on.
When Scripture was written, it was, well, written. Paul traveled around and spoke to a great many folk who knew him and knew his method of delivery. They then, later, understood his letters. It would be like reading a book by Ben Stein after you've seen a couple of his movies. You get his POV.
But today, we read a lot of stuff from folk we do not "know". Including Paul. Yes, we have the Holy Spirit to illumine our understanding (and learning a bit of Greek helps <faint>). And, there were times past when "pen-pals" perhaps never met, face-to-face, but managed to be friends (even becoming Husband and Wife! one day) on the basis of written communication.
In a way, these Forums have taken the place of what letter-communication once did.
Yet...there is a deep river of sarcasm and cynicism in the America today. We are products of that culture. And few of us are Paul, who, inspired by the Holy Spirit, may have done sarcasm brilliantly. [;)] Need I say, none of us are God.
Having done some overseas time (three years in England) it doesn't translate well. Especially among the Brethren.
I appreciate that we all do this from time to time. I've been convicted, more than once, for my rapier tongue, as well as fingers. And, as a newbie, who hasn't figured you'all out, it is particularly difficult to know who is joking...and who is not.
But as a general rule, maybe Colossians 4:5-6 could be remembered:
~ Behave wisely toward outsiders, making full use of every opportunity - let your conversation always be gracious and interesting, so that you will know how to respond to any particular individual.
Just a thought...not unsolicited advice...
[:)]
Aoi.
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