“I signed up for mockery from the world, and I signed up for unity with my brothers and sisters in Christ. Vastly, what I’ve seen is crickets from the world and mockery with my brothers and sisters in Christ.”

This recent lament from popular Christian artist Forrest Frank went viral, resonating with many modern Christians in an increasingly divided culture. Frank (who also made headlines recently for his stance on not attending awards shows) is far from the only artist who feels this way. Especially online, meme culture and the rise of “keyboard warriors” have made mockery a hallmark of our contemporary discourse. The complex backstory behind Frank’s statement is a story for another day. But it raises an important theological question: Should Frank be surprised by his experience? Should we?

For many Christians today, disdain from the world is expected and understood. However, mockery from within the church, among peers, is a different story.

Is it reasonable for believers to expect other professing Christians to refrain from verbal jabs and sarcastic, mean-spirited, or condescending comments?

Common in Scripture Too

Surprisingly, Scripture is full of examples of mockery within and among God’s people—though it never excuses or commends this behavior. Consider three examples.

Joseph’s biological brothers, fellow professing believers in Yahweh, prefaced their persecution of Joseph with sarcasm: “They said to one another, ‘Here comes this dreamer. Come now, let us kill him and throw him into one of the pits. Then we will say that a fierce animal has devoured him, and we will see what will become of his dreams’” (Gen. 37:19–20).

The narrative is clear that Joseph’s prophetic dreams were truly from God and that he faithfully trusted God’s messages concerning his future. Nevertheless, he faced scorn from his own brothers. Rather than honoring his great faith, they mocked it and plotted to kill him. The brothers’ mockery, paired with a murder attempt, came not from pagans but from men who professed to trust in the one true God.

Moses was relentlessly mocked by the Israelites, God’s chosen people, perhaps even more so than by the Egyptians (Ex. 17:3, Num.12:1–2, 16:3). As one example among many, while fleeing Pharaoh, the Israelites said to Moses, “‘Is it because there are no graves in Egypt that you have taken us away to die in the wilderness?” (Ex. 14:11). Notice their tone: It’s loaded with biting sarcasm.

How about Jesus? Who is he taunted by most during his earthly life? It isn’t the Gentile pagans. The most vehement mocking came from Jews. Often we read how they “ridiculed” him (Luke 16:14). Before Jesus’s crucifixion, the high priest, scribes, and elders spat in his face and struck him. Some slapped him, saying, “Prophesy to us, you Christ! Who is it that struck you?” (Matt. 26:67–68). Earlier in Jesus’s ministry, his own biological family belittled him, saying, “He is out of his mind” (Mark 3:21). All these people were Jews; these were supposed to be Jesus’s people.

I haven’t even mentioned the apostles’ experiences, or the many verbal assaults Old Testament prophets endured from their own people. Scripture contains countless examples of the mockery of faithful saints, not by the world but by supposed brothers and sisters in the faith.

Forrest Frank, take heart, you’re in good company.

Make Sense of In-House Mockery

From this sobering pattern, perhaps rather than being surprised, we should expect that the most severe mockery will come from religious people—even from those who attend church weekly.

Peter warns believers against being unjustifiably “surprised” by experiences of suffering, and mockery in particular, as if something “strange” were happening, rather than the normal, expected tribulations of faithfully following Christ (1 Pet. 4:12–19). This doesn’t mean experiencing mockery is easy. But when we choose to expect it from professing Christians, we’ll be more spiritually prepared to respond in the right way.

The answer to unjust mockery by siblings in Christ must never be retaliation, returning sin with more sin. Sometimes, receiving mockery can actually become an opportunity for Christians to grow in humility. Charles Spurgeon advises, “Brother, if any man thinks ill of you, do not be angry with him; for you are worse than he thinks you to be.”

Although accusations may be unkind, and often untrue, we all have sins greater than our bullies even know. A wise mentor once advised me, whenever I feel defensive about a criticism or insult, to consider the possibility that it might be 10 percent true. Even if the mockery is only partially true, and delivered with an ungodly tone, enduring it with humble reflection can yield in us precious sanctification.

Even if the mockery is only partially true, and delivered with an ungodly tone, enduring it with humble reflection can yield in us precious sanctification.

On other occasions, evangelism might be the most fitting reply to consistently mean-spirited humor. While Frank calls such people his “brothers and sisters in Christ,” tragically, some might not be. Profession of faith doesn’t guarantee possession of faith. Some mockeries are potentially from those who “profess to know God [but] deny him by their works” (Titus 1:16).

Those who are perpetually quick to cast the first stone might be revealing that their hearts haven’t been changed by Christ, even if they may intellectually affirm the Bible’s teachings. In these instances, we should respond not with correction or defensiveness but with prayer for true conversion.

The Pharisees didn’t merely need growth. They needed evangelism. They knew the Old Testament inside and out, but their hearts were hard as stone.

Christian Speech Should Be Different

Frank’s dismay at Christian-on-Christian mockery is also a reminder to be more careful with our words. While sarcasm runs rampant, especially online, Christians should be different. Proverbs 12:18 says, “There is one whose rash words are like sword thrusts, but the tongue of the wise brings healing.” We can pursue two outcomes with our words: We can thrust a sword of humiliation through the heart, or we can wisely apply a healing balm of encouragement.

The adage “Sticks and stones may break my bones, but words will never hurt me” simply isn’t true—not biblically, at least. Solomon affirms that the right words can indeed “break a bone” (25:15). Before wielding sarcasm, first ask yourself whether the result will bear righteous fruit.

Usually, the better (and more biblical) approach when you witness a brother committing perceived idiocy is to pull him aside in private—lovingly saving him from the shame of public humiliation (Matt. 18:15–17). Offer him an opportunity for repentance without an audience if sins are truly involved. If you’re unwilling to discuss in private, you should be unwilling to mock in public. The tongue may be a small body part, but the stakes could hardly be higher, especially among fellow believers: “Death and life are in the power of the tongue” (Prov. 18:21).

At the end of time, although the sins of all God’s people will be cleansed by the Lamb’s blood, God will still call Christians to give account for “every careless word they speak” (Matt. 12:36). This surely includes every careless word we type.

Ancient Lament

Frank’s lament isn’t new—it’s ancient. For millennia, believers have felt “misunderstood” (as Frank describes it in his new song with Cory Asbury) and unjustly mocked.

Before wielding sarcasm, first ask yourself whether the result will bear righteous fruit.

Thankfully, we have a high priest in Jesus who understands being taunted most severely by his religious peers. As we feel misunderstood in this life, mocked by professing Christians, may we learn to soften our tongues, endure with faith, lovingly correct, pray for the weak, and evangelize the lost. Ultimately, let’s entrust our mistreatment to the just God, who will one day return to right all wrongs and silence scorn forever. Maranatha—come quickly, Lord Jesus!