SPENCER SMITH'S INAPPROPRIATE JESTING AKA FOOLISH TALK

 What is Jesting? (youtube.com)

In answer to Spencer Smith's charge that anyone who does not approve of his foolish talk has a humourless sour disposition and is miserable. We find our joy in the Lord Jesus Christ, not in Smith's version of humour, which apparently a number of people do not appreciate. 

Smith: "Smite that like button and all your dreams will come true."  This is fairly typical of Smith's idea of a joke. The underlying motive is of course that he wants to get as many hits on his channel as possible in order to generate income. Smith spends an inordinate amount of time merchandising, touting for subscriptions and donations, offering rewards for watching his videos, competitions, giveaways etc. He repeatedly tells his viewers to "smite thine like button". Smith's self-serving worldly behaviour is unseemly for a man of God.

Smith: "There are a breed of people that think that anything like that is unspiritual.. I mean I don't want to be this prude where I'm just, you know, like some hermit in a monastery somewhere and I never smile. I don't think that's scriptural either.. and I did some studying in the Bible and I found out several things. I found out that God laughs, I find out that merry heart doeth good like a medicine, and I just don't think this humourless sour disposition is becoming of a Christian."

Smith's two absurd examples:

But you, O LORD, laugh at them; you hold all the nations in derision. (Psalm 59:8 cf. Psalm 2:4; 37:13; Proverbs 1:26). This expression does not concern God's humour, rather it expresses his contempt and derision. 

A glad heart makes a cheerful face, but by sorrow of heart the spirit is crushed. (Proverbs 15:13). Smith quotes half the verse which continues with the opposite of glad i.e. sorrow. The definition of glad (sameach) is glad, cheerful, merry. This verse does not concern jesting!

Benson: "Hebrew, of a good heart, that is, composed, quiet, and contented, conscious of intending God’s glory in all things, and of being devoted to his service in love and obedience; hath a continual feast — Hath constant satisfaction and delight in all conditions, yea, even in affliction." 1 

 

Like many poor teachers, Smith doubles down on his ungodly behavior and attempts to justify it with the scriptures. Some have challenged Smith with Ephesians 5:3 regarding his inappropriate foolish talk or jesting. Smith proceeds to totally distort this verse to suit his own agenda. Ephesians 5:3 does, of course, refer to crude sexual jokes, but it also refers to "any kind of impurity or greed". In verse 4, Paul identifies idolatry as immorality impurity and greed. This passage is clearly not limited to crude sexual jokes! Several real theologians disagree with Smith's eisegesis of Ephesians 5:3.

But among you, as is proper among the saints, there must not be even a hint of sexual immorality, or of any kind of impurity, or of greed. Nor should there be obscenity, foolish talk, or crude joking, which are out of character, but rather thanksgiving. For of this you can be sure: No immoral, impure, or greedy person (that is, an idolater), has any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God. (Ephesiains 5:3-4).

Barnes: "Nor foolish talking - This word - μωρολογία mōrologia - does not occur elsewhere in the New Testament. It means that kind of talk which is insipid, senseless, stupid, foolish; which is not suited to instruct, edify, profit - the idle 'chitchat' which is so common in the world. The meaning is, that Christians should aim to have their conversation sensible, serious, sincere - remembering the words of the Lord Jesus, "that every idle word that men shall speak, they shall give account thereof in the day of judgment;" Matthew 12:36."

Ellicott: "But rather giving of thanks.—The opposition is striking. 'The foolish talking and jesting' aim at mirth and play of mind; St. Paul will not austerely condemn, such light-heartedness, but he finds a wholesome and spiritual vent for it in the habitual expression of thankfulness to God, which proceeds from a natural and childlike cheerfulness. Exactly in the same spirit below (Ephesians 5:18-20) he contrasts the excitement of drunkenness with the being 'filled with the Spirit . . . giving thanks always for all things.'”

Meyer: "μωρολογία] is the carrying on of insipid, foolish talk. Antig. de Mirab. 126: μωρολωγίας καὶ ἀδολεσχίας, Arist. H. A. i. 11; Plut. Mor. 504 A.
εὐτραπελία] signifies properly ready versatility (from τρέπω and εὖ), urbanity; then specially a witty, jesting manner; and in a bad sense, as here, the witticism of frivolity, scurrilitas. See in general, Wetstein ad loc.; Dissen, ad Pind. p. 180; Krüger on Thuc. ii. 41. 1."

Isaac Barrow: "All profane jesting, all speaking loosely and wantonly about holy things (things nearly related to God and religion), making such things the matters of sport and mockery, playing and trifling with them, is certainly prohibited, as an intolerably vain and wicked practice. It is an infallible sign of a vain and light spirit, which considereth little, and cannot distinguish things, to talk slightly concerning persons of high dignity, to whom especial respect is due; or about matters of great importance, which deserve very serious consideration.." 2  

But avoid irreverent babble, for it will lead people into more and more ungodliness.. (2 Timothy 2:16).

I do not recommend Spencer Smith as a bible expositor for obvious reasons! I guess I will continue to be "miserable" and find my joy in the Lord! (Psalm 19:8).

1. Proverbs 15:13 Commentaries: A joyful heart makes a cheerful face, But when the heart is sad, the spirit is broken. (biblehub.com)
2. Against Foolish Talking and Jesting. (biblehub.com)

WOLVES IN SHEEP'S CLOTHING: FALSE PROPHETS AND BIBLE TEACHERS IN THE LAST DAYS: Spencer Smith (bewareofthewolves.blogspot.com)