People often try to find a word to describe a generation or an era. We speak of the “Greatest Generation” or an “Era of Enlightenment.” While there are many words that might be applied correctly to our modern era, I think that one of the most apt would be “The Sarcastic Generation.”
Sarcasm saturates our entertainment and our interpersonal communications. Modern humor is often practically synonymous with sarcasm, which Oscar Wilde labeled “The lowest form of wit.”
People often mistakenly use Sarcasm as a synonym for Irony. Irony is when the literal meaning and the spoken meaning of words are different. Sarcasm refers specifically to the mocking intent of the speaker communicated through vocal intonations. Neither term is dependent on the other so while sarcasm is most often expressed with irony, one can also be ironic but not sarcastic or sarcastic but not ironic.
Sarcasm comes from the Greek word sarkasmos which comes from sarkazein, meaning “to bite the lips in rage.” With this etymology in mind, sarcasm seems to express the same thing as the scriptural term “gnashing teeth”, and, indeed, the spirit of sarcasm is not unlike the feeling and spite behind the gnashing of teeth.
Because it so often appears with “weeping” and “wailing”, people often assume that gnashing teeth is an expression of remorse at having been condemned or rejected, but in Webster’s original dictionary, “gnash” was defined as “to grind the teeth, to rage even to collision with the teeth, to growl” and Webster defined the noun “gnashing” in this way: “striking the teeth together, as in anger, rage or pain. A grinding or striking of the teeth in rage or anguish.” The relationship with the Greek roots of the word Sarcasm is apparent.
When Moses commanded Satan to depart in the name of the Only Begotten, the scriptures relate that “Satan cried with a loud voice, with weeping, and wailing, and gnashing of teeth; and he departed hence…“
Satan weeps in rage, his wail is hateful, and he mocks and belittles Moses with biting sarcasm even while departing.
We were blessed in our previous ward to have the marriage and family relations class taught by Sister Marleen Williams, who is a clinical psychologist for the BYU Counseling Center. Among the many wonderful insights she brought to the class was the devastating effect the frequent use of sarcasm can have on a marriage and on children.
Even when used for friendly teasing among friends or family, sarcasm cannot escape its roots. Everyone may laugh, but like a form of emotional slapstick, it often depends on someone getting bruised.
Thomas Carlyle declared “Sarcasm I now see to be, in general, the language of the Devil; for which reason I have long since as good as renounced it.“
We are all familiar with the following verses from the epistle of James, but they are worth review in this context:
James 3:1 My brethren, be not many masters, knowing that we shall receive the greater condemnation.
James 3:2 For in many things we offend all. If any man offend not in word, the same is a perfect man, and able also to bridle the whole body.
James 3:3 Behold, we put bits in the horses’ mouths, that they may obey us; and we turn about their whole body.
James 3:4 Behold also the ships, which though they be so great, and are driven of fierce winds, yet are they turned about with a very small helm, whithersoever the governor listeth.
James 3:5 Even so the tongue is a little member, and boasteth great things. Behold, how great a matter a little fire kindleth!
James 3:6 And the tongue is a fire, a world of iniquity: so is the tongue among our members, that it defileth the whole body, and setteth on fire the course of nature; and it is set on fire of hell.
James 3:7 For every kind of beasts, and of birds, and of serpents, and of things in the sea, is tamed, and hath been tamed of mankind:
James 3:8 But the tongue can no man tame; it is an unruly evil, full of deadly poison.
James 3:9 Therewith bless we God, even the Father; and therewith curse we men, which are made after the similitude of God.
James 3:10 Out of the same mouth proceedeth blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not so to be.
James 3:11 Doth a fountain send forth at the same place sweet water and bitter?
James 3:12 Can the fig tree, my brethren, bear olive berries? either a vine, figs? so can no fountain both yield salt water and fresh.
James 3:13 Who is a wise man and endued with knowledge among you? let him shew out of a good conversation his works with meekness of wisdom.
Controlling our language seems to be a key to our ability to control ourselves in other matters.
Excising sarcasm from our communications is an exercise in lingual self-mastery. Would it not be good for us, as members of Christ’s Church, to renounce sarcasm. Perhaps if we refrain from participating in the halmark of this generation and control our tongues in this matter we will more easily overcome “the great stumbling block to Zion.”