Question 1

What are the effects of ridicule?

Accepted Answer

Proverbs 3:34The Lord mocks the mockers but is gracious to the humble.Proverbs 9:12If you become wise, you will be the one to benefit. If you scorn wisdom, you will be the one to suffer.Proverbs 19:29Punishment is made for mockers, and the backs of fools are made to be beaten.Proverbs 22:10Throw out the mocker, and fighting goes, too. Quarrels and insults will disappear.Proverbs 30:17The eye that mocks a father and despises a mother’s instructions will be plucked out by ravens of the valley and eaten by vultures.Isaiah 28:22The Lord, the Lord of Heaven’s Armies, has plainly said that he is determined to crush the whole land. So scoff no more, or your punishment will be even greater.Zephaniah 2:8-11“I have heard the taunts of the Moabites and the insults of the Ammonites, mocking my people and invading their borders. Now, as surely as I live,” says the Lord of Heaven’s Armies, the God of Israel, “Moab and Ammon will be destroyed—destroyed as completely as Sodom and Gomorrah. Their land will become a place of stinging nettles, salt pits, and eternal desolation. The remnant of my people will plunder them and take their land.” They will receive the wages of their pride, for they have scoffed at the people of the Lord of Heaven’s Armies. The Lord will terrify them as he destroys all the gods in the land. Then nations around the world will worship the Lord, each in their own land.Matthew 5:22“But I say, if you are even angry with someone, you are subject to judgment! If you call someone an idiot, you are in danger of being brought before the court. And if you curse someone, you are in danger of the fires of hell.”One of the effects on those who ridicule others is divine judgment.Proverbs 1:20-22Wisdom shouts in the streets. She cries out in the public square. She calls to the crowds along the main street, to those gathered in front of the city gate: “How long, you simpletons, will you insist on being simpleminded? How long will you mockers relish your mocking? How long will you fools hate knowledge?”Proverbs 11:12It is foolish to belittle one’s neighbor; a sensible person keeps quiet.Proverbs 14:6, 9A mocker seeks wisdom and never finds it, but knowledge comes easily to those with understanding. . . . Fools make fun of guilt, but the godly acknowledge it and seek reconciliation.Another effect on those who ridicule others is a continued life of foolishness.Proverbs 22:10Throw out the mocker, and fighting goes, too. Quarrels and insults will disappear.Proverbs 29:8Mockers can get a whole town agitated, but the wise will calm anger.Ridicule causes disharmony.Proverbs 11:9With their words, the godless destroy their friends, but knowledge will rescue the righteous.Ridicule can destroy relationships.Job 19:1-3Then Job spoke again: “How long will you torture me? How long will you try to crush me with your words? You have already insulted me ten times. You should be ashamed of treating me so badly.”Psalm 89:50Consider, Lord, how your servants are disgraced! I carry in my heart the insults of so many people.Ridicule can cause enduring pain.

Question 2

How should I respond to ridicule?

Accepted Answer

Matthew 5:11-12“God blesses you when people mock you and persecute you and lie about you and say all sorts of evil things against you because you are my followers. Be happy about it! Be very glad! For a great reward awaits you in heaven. And remember, the ancient prophets were persecuted in the same way.”We should feel honored and privileged when we are ridiculed for our faith in Christ.Luke 6:22-23“What blessings await you when people hate you and exclude you and mock you and curse you as evil because you follow the Son of Man. When that happens, be happy! Yes, leap for joy! For a great reward awaits you in heaven. And remember, their ancestors treated the ancient prophets that same way.”When being ridiculed, we should keep an eternal perspective. We can rejoice when we are insulted for Jesus’ sake because we know that in the end we will be victorious in him.Nehemiah 4:4Then I prayed, “Hear us, our God, for we are being mocked. May their scoffing fall back on their own heads, and may they themselves become captives in a foreign land!”When being ridiculed, we should pray for the strength not to respond with revenge and that God would bring justice to the situation.Matthew 27:39-44The people passing by shouted abuse, shaking their heads in mockery. “Look at you now!” they yelled at him. “You said you were going to destroy the Temple and rebuild it in three days. Well then, if you are the Son of God, save yourself and come down from the cross!” The leading priests, the teachers of religious law, and the elders also mocked Jesus. “He saved others,” they scoffed, “but he can’t save himself! So he is the King of Israel, is he? Let him come down from the cross right now, and we will believe in him! He trusted God, so let God rescue him now if he wants him! For he said, ‘I am the Son of God.’” Even the revolutionaries who were crucified with him ridiculed him in the same way.Luke 23:34Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they don’t know what they are doing.”1 Peter 2:21, 23God called you to do good, even if it means suffering, just as Christ suffered for you. He is your example, and you must follow in his steps. . . . He did not retaliate when he was insulted, nor threaten revenge when he suffered. He left his case in the hands of God, who always judges fairly.Ridicule is an unfair and unfounded put-down of a person to make the mocker appear or feel more important. One of the most difficult ways to respond to a put-down is to lift up the one who ridicules us. Yet this is what God expects us to do.Lamentations 3:24-31, 61I say to myself, “The Lord is my inheritance; therefore, I will hope in him!” The Lord is good to those who depend on him, to those who search for him. So it is good to wait quietly for salvation from the Lord. And it is good for people to submit at an early age to the yoke of his discipline: Let them sit alone in silence beneath the Lord’s demands. Let them lie face down in the dust, for there may be hope at last. Let them turn the other cheek to those who strike them and accept the insults of their enemies. For no one is abandoned by the Lord forever. . . . Lord, you have heard the vile names they call me. You know all about the plans they have made.1 Peter 3:8-9All of you should be of one mind. Sympathize with each other. Love each other as brothers and sisters. Be tenderhearted, and keep a humble attitude. Don’t repay evil for evil. Don’t retaliate with insults when people insult you. Instead, pay them back with a blessing. That is what God has called you to do, and he will grant you his blessing.When being ridiculed for our faith, we should remember that God is aware of all the insults hurled against us. He will comfort us and reward us for the godly way we handle ridicule. God wants us to respond to others sympathetically, lovingly, and humbly. We should return blessing for cursing, praise for ridicule, and healing for hurts. By responding this way, we display God’s love and forgiveness.Nehemiah 4:1-6Sanballat was very angry when he learned that we were rebuilding the wall. He flew into a rage and mocked the Jews, saying in front of his friends and the Samarian army officers, “What does this bunch of poor, feeble Jews think they’re doing? Do they think they can build the wall in a single day by just offering a few sacrifices? Do they actually think they can make something of stones from a rubbish heap—and charred ones at that?” Tobiah the Ammonite, who was standing beside him, remarked, “That stone wall would collapse if even a fox walked along the top of it!” Then I [Nehemiah] prayed, “Hear us, our God, for we are being mocked. . . .” At last the wall was completed to half its height around the entire city, for the people had worked with enthusiasm.Our response to being mocked should be renewed prayer and focus on our task. When being ridiculed for the good work we are doing, we should keep working and praying and let the work speak for itself.Psalm 44:16All we hear are the taunts of our mockers. All we see are our vengeful enemies.Psalm 119:23Even princes sit and speak against me, but I will meditate on your decrees.Ecclesiastes 7:21-22Don’t eavesdrop on others—you may hear your servant curse you. For you know how often you yourself have cursed others.Hurtful words and hurtful people can consume our thoughts. Hurtful words can overshadow helpful or joyous words. We must control our thoughts so that we do not give in to the temptation to dwell on the hurtful words. We should ignore the ridicule and thus relieve the pressure to respond.1 Samuel 10:26-27When Saul returned to his home at Gibeah, a group of men whose hearts God had touched went with him. But there were some scoundrels who complained, “How can this man save us?” And they scorned him and refused to bring him gifts. But Saul ignored them.Proverbs 12:16A fool is quick-tempered, but a wise person stays calm when insulted.Proverbs 15:1A gentle answer deflects anger, but harsh words make tempers flare.Acts 18:6When they opposed and insulted him, Paul shook the dust from his clothes and said, “Your blood is upon your own heads—I am innocent. From now on I will go preach to the Gentiles.”1 Peter 3:9Don’t repay evil for evil. Don’t retaliate with insults when people insult you. Instead, pay them back with a blessing. That is what God has called you to do, and he will grant you his blessing.At times we should ignore ridicule; at other times we should respond. Our responses should be in truth and love, bathed in prayer, trusting God for the right thoughts and words.Isaiah 51:7“Listen to me, you who know right from wrong, you who cherish my law in your hearts. Do not be afraid of people’s scorn, nor fear their insults.”Romans 2:10There will be glory and honor and peace from God for all who do good—for the Jew first and also for the Gentile.1 Peter 3:14Even if you suffer for doing what is right, God will reward you for it. So don’t worry or be afraid of their threats.Regardless of how we are treated, we should continue doing right without fear or worry. Right will prevail, if not today, certainly when God judges all people.2 Chronicles 30:10The runners went from town to town throughout Ephraim and Manasseh and as far as the territory of Zebulun. But most of the people just laughed at the runners and made fun of them.Ridicule is nothing more than hurtful words designed to cause hurt to another person. Responding to hurtful words with hurtful words of our own does not help, nor is it a godly response. As followers of Jesus, we should always act with love and kindness toward others, no matter how hard that may be. God will reward us for our right behavior.

Question 3

In what ways can ridicule help me?

Accepted Answer

Acts 5:41The apostles left the high council rejoicing that God had counted them worthy to suffer disgrace for the name of Jesus.2 Corinthians 12:10That’s why I take pleasure in my weaknesses, and in the insults, hardships, persecutions, and troubles that I suffer for Christ. For when I am weak, then I am strong.Hebrews 10:32-34Think back on those early days when you first learned about Christ. Remember how you remained faithful even though it meant terrible suffering. Sometimes you were exposed to public ridicule and were beaten, and sometimes you helped others who were suffering the same things. You suffered along with those who were thrown into jail, and when all you owned was taken from you, you accepted it with joy. You knew there were better things waiting for you that will last forever.Ridicule can sharpen our perspective and solidify our priorities, producing faithfulness, contentment, and even joy. When we are put down, God will lift us up.

Question 4

How should I respond when people ridicule me for my faith?

Accepted Answer

Job 12:4“Yet my friends laugh at me, for I call on God and expect an answer. I am a just and blameless man, yet they laugh at me.”Psalm 22:6-8I am a worm and not a man. I am scorned and despised by all! Everyone who sees me mocks me. They sneer and shake their heads, saying, “Is this the one who relies on the Lord? Then let the Lord save him! If the Lord loves him so much, let the Lord rescue him!”Proverbs 21:24Mockers are proud and haughty; they act with boundless arrogance.Isaiah 59:14-15Our courts oppose the righteous, and justice is nowhere to be found. Truth stumbles in the streets, and honesty has been outlawed. Yes, truth is gone, and anyone who renounces evil is attacked. The Lord looked and was displeased to find there was no justice.John 7:1-5After this, Jesus traveled around Galilee. He wanted to stay out of Judea, where the Jewish leaders were plotting his death. But soon it was time for the Jewish Festival of Shelters, and Jesus’ brothers said to him, “Leave here and go to Judea, where your followers can see your miracles! You can’t become famous if you hide like this! If you can do such wonderful things, show yourself to the world!” For even his brothers didn’t believe in him.John 15:18-21“If the world hates you, remember that it hated me first. The world would love you as one of its own if you belonged to it, but you are no longer part of the world. I chose you to come out of the world, so it hates you. Do you remember what I told you? ‘A slave is not greater than the master.’ Since they persecuted me, naturally they will persecute you. And if they had listened to me, they would listen to you. They will do all this to you because of me, for they have rejected the One who sent me.”Acts 2:13Others in the crowd ridiculed them, saying, “They’re just drunk, that’s all!”2 Peter 3:3-7Most importantly, I want to remind you that in the last days scoffers will come, mocking the truth and following their own desires. They will say, “What happened to the promise that Jesus is coming again? From before the times of our ancestors, everything has remained the same since the world was first created.” They deliberately forget that God made the heavens long ago by the word of his command, and he brought the earth out from the water and surrounded it with water. Then he used the water to destroy the ancient world with a mighty flood. And by the same word, the present heavens and earth have been stored up for fire. They are being kept for the day of judgment, when ungodly people will be destroyed.Jude 1:10These people scoff at things they do not understand. Like unthinking animals, they do whatever their instincts tell them, and so they bring about their own destruction.The ungodly often justify their immorality by ridiculing those who obey God.Matthew 5:11-12“God blesses you when people mock you and persecute you and lie about you and say all sorts of evil things against you because you are my followers. Be happy about it! Be very glad! For a great reward awaits you in heaven. And remember, the ancient prophets were persecuted in the same way.”Luke 6:22-23“What blessings await you when people hate you and exclude you and mock you and curse you as evil because you follow the Son of Man. When that happens, be happy! Yes, leap for joy! For a great reward awaits you in heaven. And remember, their ancestors treated the ancient prophets that same way.”1 Peter 4:14-16If you are insulted because you bear the name of Christ, you will be blessed, for the glorious Spirit of God rests upon you. If you suffer, however, it must not be for murder, stealing, making trouble, or prying into other people’s affairs. But it is no shame to suffer for being a Christian. Praise God for the privilege of being called by his name!Hebrews 11:36, 39-40Some were jeered at, and their backs were cut open with whips. Others were chained in prisons. . . . All these people earned a good reputation because of their faith, yet none of them received all that God had promised. For God had something better in mind for us, so that they would not reach perfection without us.We can actually be joyful when the ungodly ridicule our godliness, for they recognize that God is in us and we recognize that we know the truth about what is really important and eternal.Mark 8:34-38Calling the crowd to join his disciples, he [Jesus] said, “If any of you wants to be my follower, you must give up your own way, take up your cross, and follow me. If you try to hang on to your life, you will lose it. But if you give up your life for my sake and for the sake of the Good News, you will save it. And what do you benefit if you gain the whole world but lose your own soul? Is anything worth more than your soul? If anyone is ashamed of me and my message in these adulterous and sinful days, the Son of Man will be ashamed of that person when he returns in the glory of his Father with the holy angels.”Romans 1:16I am not ashamed of this Good News about Christ. It is the power of God at work, saving everyone who believes—the Jew first and also the Gentile.2 Timothy 1:8So never be ashamed to tell others about our Lord. And don’t be ashamed of me, either, even though I’m in prison for him. With the strength God gives you, be ready to suffer with me for the sake of the Good News.When others ridicule us for serving Jesus, we should keep on serving him. At times our good work will attract ungodly criticism.

Question 5

How can I avoid ridiculing others?

Accepted Answer

Job 12:5“People who are at ease mock those in trouble. They give a push to people who are stumbling.”Psalm 55:12-14It is not an enemy who taunts me—I could bear that. It is not my foes who so arrogantly insult me—I could have hidden from them. Instead, it is you—my equal, my companion and close friend. What good fellowship we once enjoyed as we walked together to the house of God.Proverbs 11:9With their words, the godless destroy their friends, but knowledge will rescue the righteous.Proverbs 14:31Those who oppress the poor insult their Maker, but helping the poor honors him.Proverbs 17:5Those who mock the poor insult their Maker; those who rejoice at the misfortune of others will be punished.To avoid ridiculing people we should remember that all people are loved by God and are his unique creations. When we recognize a person’s God-given worth, we are less likely insult them.Psalm 69:19-20You know of my shame, scorn, and disgrace. You see all that my enemies are doing. Their insults have broken my heart, and I am in despair. If only one person would show some pity; if only one would turn and comfort me.Proverbs 10:11, 32The words of the godly are a life-giving fountain; the words of the wicked conceal violent intentions. . . . The lips of the godly speak helpful words, but the mouth of the wicked speaks perverse words.Proverbs 12:6, 18The words of the wicked are like a murderous ambush, but the words of the godly save lives. . . . Some people make cutting remarks, but the words of the wise bring healing.Proverbs 15:4Gentle words are a tree of life; a deceitful tongue crushes the spirit.Proverbs 18:4, 21Wise words are like deep waters; wisdom flows from the wise like a bubbling brook. . . . The tongue can bring death or life; those who love to talk will reap the consequences.Ephesians 4:31Get rid of all bitterness, rage, anger, harsh words, and slander, as well as all types of evil behavior.To avoid ridiculing others, we should use nurturing, helpful, and healing words that bless them. When we bless others, we are blessed. When we ridicule others, we make ourselves look foolish.Proverbs 4:23Guard your heart above all else, for it determines the course of your life.Ecclesiastes 10:20Never make light of the king, even in your thoughts. And don’t make fun of the powerful, even in your own bedroom. For a little bird might deliver your message and tell them what you said.Matthew 12:35“A good person produces good things from the treasury of a good heart, and an evil person produces evil things from the treasury of an evil heart.”Matthew 15:18“But the words you speak come from the heart—that’s what defiles you.”To avoid ridiculing people, we need to guard the way we think. Our thoughts affect our emotions and eventually our words and actions. God, his Word, and godly friends are like guards at the gateway of our thoughts, helping us to have godly thoughts and appropriate actions.Psalm 64:3They sharpen their tongues like swords and aim their bitter words like arrows.Proverbs 11:12It is foolish to belittle one’s neighbor; a sensible person keeps quiet.Proverbs 15:28The heart of the godly thinks carefully before speaking; the mouth of the wicked overflows with evil words.Proverbs 21:23Watch your tongue and keep your mouth shut, and you will stay out of trouble.James 3:2-6If we could control our tongues, we would be perfect and could also control ourselves in every other way. We can make a large horse go wherever we want by means of a small bit in its mouth. And a small rudder makes a huge ship turn wherever the pilot chooses to go, even though the winds are strong. In the same way, the tongue is a small thing that makes grand speeches. But a tiny spark can set a great forest on fire. And among all the parts of the body, the tongue is a flame of fire. It is a whole world of wickedness, corrupting your entire body. It can set your whole life on fire, for it is set on fire by hell itself.1 Peter 3:10The Scriptures say, “If you want to enjoy life and see many happy days, keep your tongue from speaking evil and your lips from telling lies.”To avoid ridiculing people, we should think before we speak and be satisfied with our own silence. Sometimes silence is more powerful than words.Psalm 1:1Oh, the joys of those who do not follow the advice of the wicked, or stand around with sinners, or join in with mockers.Proverbs 9:7Anyone who rebukes a mocker will get an insult in return. Anyone who corrects the wicked will get hurt.Proverbs 22:10Throw out the mocker, and fighting goes, too. Quarrels and insults will disappear.To keep from ridiculing people, we should avoid association with and conversation with people who ridicule others.