No evil! Not even for a joke! One may do something for a joke but in the end they are trapped in it against their will.

Think of the state of humor today. True comedy has been replaced by mockery, name calling, put downs, humiliations, personal attacks – so much of it political or classist. Horrendous insults are launched, and when challenged, the perpetrator defends themself with a dismissive, “Just kidding.” Call a reported a pig or an idiot or scum? Just kidding. Host a late night talk show where the bulk of the monologue is mockery, insult, and attack? Just kidding. Do everything in your power to belittle, scandalize, humiliate, and deride? Just kidding. Jesus wept.

We live in difficult and contentious times. People feel deep frustration and powerlessness. We control so little, but what we do control – our words – we choose to weaponize instead of disarm. Tearing down with humor displaces all opportunities to build up with grace. It is very hard not to lash out without a desire to inflict some kind of wound. But Dorotheos viewed the misuse of humor as evil, contributing to every problem rather than working to solve them.

And Dorotheos sees this as a trap. While payback humor may offer a momentary sense of satisfaction, it offers no benefit in the long run. If anything, it adds fuel to the fire. Meeting mockery with mockery, insult with insult, put down with put down is a vicious cycle. We end up laughing from our pain rather than from our heart and spirit.

What role does humor play in joy? Joyous people feel no need at retribution, condemnation, and punishment. When a heart and soul is filled with mercy, grace, and compassion, it is revealed in humor. The same is true of anger, frustration, and contempt. To echo a childhood taunt, “What you say is what you are.” Conversely, what we are impacts what we say. What place does hurtful and offensive humor have in “love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, generosity, faithfulness, gentleness, and self control?” (Galatians 5:22-23)

Yes, but! Why should we have to put up with the oppression and injustice of those who call us names, make fun of us, put us down, and work so hard to humiliate and shame us? It depends on whether we believe in the teachings of Jesus or not. There is a Christian way to respond to evil humor, but we really don’t like to put it much into practice. In a nutshell, “But I say to you: Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you,” (Matthew 5:44). Is it possible to both pray for and make fun of the same person?

Our humor is an outward and visible sign of the state of our soul. It can be used a variety of ways. It can be used as a weapon. It can be used as a shield. It can be used to deflect and distract. But it can also be used to lift up, to encourage, to enlighten, and to enjoy (the literal meaning of the word “to bring joy”).

The early Palestinians had very little smile about, let alone laugh. They had much to tolerate, to endure, and to survive. But through faith they found tolerance, endurance, and persistence. How does humor improve our lives, individually and collectively? What are some of the implications of humor that mocks, insults, and humiliates? How do you keep hold of a sense of humor when things around you seem bleak and depressing?