Tuesday, June 16, 2015

“Just joking” “Just kidding”





Just as damaging as a madman shooting a deadly weapon is someone who lies to a friend and then says, “I was only joking.” (Proverbs 26:18-19 NLT) 



The above words reminded me of the many times I heard two very popular sayings in this day and age and surprisingly they are not reserve for only children but to my amazement adults use it as well! These are two saying that light fire into me: “Just kidding” and “just joking.” They anger me something fierce. I would go so far as to say these two sayings anger me as much as hearing daily wherever I go, people using the Lord’s name and all His characteristically revealing names in vain. 

There is a shame behind such sayings and there is a great calamity riding behind it like a shark in the midst of a wave. Those to whom express themselves in such foolish ways, are only positioning themselves to experience pain now and later. 




When “just jokin’” and “just kidding” begins it may very well seem playful, childish even, yet what about the saying, ‘what you teach now they learn and will do later.’ In all manner, your words and actions whether looked upon as wise or foolish before the sight of God and men, they have power. They have the ability to deposit and stir up life or death. What about the child or friend, or spouse or parent, who in their hurt lash out and apply to their hurtful words and actions a “just joking,” “just kidding” to it. Will it be taken well? Will it be seen as playful? Will it hurt less? Is it children at play? I think not! 




It will result in disaster. It will result in conflict. It will result in separation even divorce. It will result in a disowning of relatives. It will result in friendships ending. It will result in pain and inevitably whether now or later, in regret even resentment.

Oh how I pray, such sayings as I see them truly to be foolish, despicable even, to be done away with O Lord. Oh that we will be a people that will embody this, “let your yes be yes and your no be no,” that being a people who speak truth, speak with clarity, speak with kindness and humility and speak what is on our mind instead of hiding behind sayings that leave much to the imagination and make way for the enemy to create division between those who you meant to be in close proximity to each other even as one in marriage and also even to the degree of playfulness. May our play, O Lord, be children at play, not in a mean manner, but as it is before your eyes, “pure in heart.” Amen. 


— F. Lugo
5/26/15
8:00am

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