When the Joke Doesn’t Translate
“Let your speech always be gracious, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how you ought to answer each person.”
— Colossians 4:6 (ESV)
Earlier today I was in the grocery store. At the checkout, a young cashier—mid-twenties, with piercings in her ears and nose—was ringing up an older couple. As the wife walked off, the older gentleman leaned toward the cashier and said with a grin, “Did you know men are going to get to heaven before women? Revelation 8 says there’ll be silence in heaven for about 30 minutes!” He chuckled at his own humor.
The young cashier, however, didn’t laugh. She rolled her eyes, handed him his receipt, and said flatly, “Have a good day.”
I stood there and thought: What kind of witness was this for a young woman, possibly without faith, about Christian men? Is that the kind of husband she would want? Is that the kind of example she’d hope for her son? Did that moment show her anything about Christ’s love—or did it confirm a stereotype that Christians are tone-deaf, judgmental, or dismissive?
The truth is, humor has its place. I’m not faulting the man for trying to be charming. But just as words don’t always translate between languages, jokes don’t always translate between people, cultures, or generations. In my travels, I’ve seen how English humor doesn’t always land in Swahili or Urdu, not because people lack joy, but because the words don’t carry the same weight or rhythm.
What happened at that checkout wasn’t simply a failed joke—it was a mistranslation. A missed opportunity to let speech be “gracious, seasoned with salt.” Instead of pointing to the heart of Christ, it left the air heavy with awkwardness.
I didn’t rebuke the man. I didn’t explain to the young woman that we’re not all like that. Instead, I chose a gentle smile and told her sincerely to have a great day. I prayed silently that she wouldn’t judge the love of Christ by that one exchange.
The lesson is simple: as believers, we must take care with our words. Not every verse is meant to be twisted into a punchline. Not every moment is the right place for a joke. We are responsible not only for what we say, but how we say it—and whether it brings people closer to Christ or pushes them away.
So share your testimony. Speak of Jesus. Let joy be in your words. But above all, let people feel His love when you speak—because love always translates.
Prayer
Lord,
Guard my lips so that my words bring grace and not harm.
Help me to use Your Word with reverence, not for jest,
and let my speech be seasoned with love,
so that others see You and not just me.
Make me mindful that every word I speak
is either planting or uprooting seeds in someone’s heart.
Let my words always point to Your goodness and Your love.
In Christ’s name, Amen.
Takeaway
What you say and how you say it can shape how others see Christ—make sure it translates as love.
Justin Edwards
Founder ICUMISSIONS.ORG
ICUMISSIONS.ORG@GMAIL.COM
