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"light-hearted" jokes about others...

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leah-bygrace

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My bf and I just got into a heated argument. My bf is the son of a southern baptist preacher and he feels the calling to the ministry also, possibly as the youth director, but he currently serves as the college and career minister.

Tonight we had dinner with his brother and 2 other couples in our ministry. One of the couples is a possiblity for church membership, the other he is trying to win. The latter couple have not been the easiest to get along with. The guy has stabbed my bf in the back many times and is rude a lot, but my bf is still trying to reach him. Dinner seemed to go well, but on the way home he made some "light-hearted" jokes about the other couples. Now I'll readily admit that this couple is a bit on the weird side, but I still got upset that my bf made a "jokingly" negative comment about them.

I told him that it made him seem like a hypocrite because here he is saying that he cares about these people, but then he makes sarcastic comments about them. Am I over-reacting?? I mean, I'll readily admit that this isn't the first couple on my list for get-togethers, but I just don't think it's right to say you really care about people and then make fun of them later. I told him that it bothers me because it weakens his testimony towards me and worst of all makes me feel different towards those people (ie: now whenever I see them I'll think about whatever was said about them).

Then my bf went into this whole thing about the ministry...how we're all just human...and that he was completely joking and that I just don't get his sense of humor. And then he threw in this whole thing about how I don't understand what it's like because all I'm doing is sitting in the sidelines and pointing out mistakes instead of helping.

Maybe I don't understand. It's like I've always looked from the outside-in, but now all of a sudden I'm looking from the inside-out and it's not all roses on this side. I mean, this whole pastor's family thing is very new to me and I'm all of a sudden being exposed to the deceitful and unchristian acts of other church members.

Please help me to understand. I'm especially interested to hear points of view from those of you who were pastors, pk's, deacons, etc. because I want understand my bf's side.
 

BT

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Hi Leah!

Your bf has a point. We are all human. However, I think you have a stronger point. When you are called into the ministry, and church leadership you are (like it or not) held to a higher standard. Yes, even by God. We have a warning of this in James, check out James 3:1 "My brethren, be not many masters, knowing that we shall receive the greater condemnation." Interestingly it goes on to talk about the dangers of the tongue.

Having said that... Your bf will learn this as he grows and pursues training for the ministry. We can still have fun. In fact I have more fun now than ever. I feel that our fun should not however be at the expense of others. Your bf will have to get used to receiving a harsher judgement from those around him. This is because he will one day be a leader in the church, and we are called to lead by example.

My pastor put it to me like this once when I asked him why he didn't do something ( I can't remember what it was)... he said, "It might be ok for you to do certain things, but I am held out as an example so I must live my life in a very distinct way. The pursuit of holiness." (something to that effect)

Of course your bf will never be perfect, and as you grow together you will become his confidant. If you should get married, you'll know him better than anyone in the congregation. You'll know that at times he's preaching messages that he needs to hear more than anyone else. I recommend that you just support him the best that you can, and still point out things like this to him so that he can learn from them and grow.

Try not be too hard on him.
 
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FreeinChrist

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It could be that your bf has been hurt by some of the rudeness of the other couple and that is what is behind those jokes. And he probably made them in front of you because he felt comfortable expressing his frustration to you, though in a 'light-hearted joke.'

I had a very smart pastor once say in a sermon that we need to forgive people for being human. We all have to deal with hurts, disappointment and frustration and those in the ministry have those, too. Those in the ministry are often held by others as models of Christianity - but they are forgiven sinners just like us who are struggling against human desires. Some of he best preachers I know have pointed this out and used their own struggles and mistakes to point out God's love and how He gives strength when we turn to Him.

So, IMHO, I think you should forgive your bf for being human and look behind the joke for the reason for the joke.

ps. I saw your request was for responses by pastors and deacons, etc. I am not a pastor or deacon, but the daughter of a longtime deacon and my parents were always VERY involved in ministries...so that is where I am coming from.
 
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BT

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A very smart Pastor! Thank God for that we still have those!!
 
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jenptcfan

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I agree with the comment that those in a spiritual leadership position (pastors, etc.) are held to a higher standard. That doesn't mean they're going to do everything perfect, by any means, but it's something to think about.

I think if it were me, and I was the quirky dinner guest who someone was trying to minister to--if I found out that I was being made fun of or joked about, it could really hurt me and possibly undo any progress that had been made in leading me to the Lord.

Things that seem so innocent to us can really devastate the people we're joking about, and that's a big deal.

One of my biggest struggles is taming my tongue. It's something that I deal with every day, but I am beginning to take notice of my words and try to do better in that area.
 
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