“Like a madman who throws firebrands, arrows, and death is the man who deceives his neighbor and says, ‘I was only joking!’” (Proverbs 26:18-19).
Some jokes are just not funny. Any “joke” which intentionally deceives another just to have the opportunity to say “Just kidding” is not funny. It usually embarrasses—even humiliates—the person being deceived, and it always does serious damage to the credibility of the one doing the deceiving. This is a major lose/lose event. It also is a blatant disregard of Ephesians 5:3-4’s declaration that foolish talk and coarse jesting are not fitting among heaven-bound saints.
Though the perpetrator is convinced he is only trying to have “a little fun”, there is nothing innocent about his intentions or actions. His judgment is seriously flawed, completely untrustworthy.
He is like the neighborhood maniac who decides to haphazardly shoot off his fireworks on your property. He is like a drunk joyriding in town at high speed. He is like a young child with a loaded pistol in a roomful of youngsters wanting to play “Cowboys and Indians”. Rarely do these scenarios end with no one getting hurt and/or killed.
Spare your friend the embarrassment. Save your integrity from self-destruction. Some jokes are just not funny.
