I’m not even sure how it started, but once it did, it became a friendly free for all. It was insults, from the Bible, no less.

I got to work one morning and found a yellow sticky note stuck on my computer screen from a co-worker which had both an insult, and a Bible verse that went with it.  It said – They shall not make baldness upon their head, neither shall they shave off the corner of their beard… Leviticus 21:5  “You shave the sides of your beard having your little goatee AND you’re bald!  You’re a double sinner!!”

 I laughed. Then plotted.

The next day I left a post it note on his desk, and was quite pleased with my response — Do not answer a fool according to his folly, or you yourself will be just like him. Proverbs 26:9  “I refuse, therefore, to answer a silly insult from thee, oh foolish pond scum!”

My co-worker responded the next morning with another note and I burst out laughing — “Whatever, Cretan!” One of Crete’s own prophets has said it: “Cretans are always liars, evil brutes, lazy gluttons.” Titus 1:12

The Bible battle of insults was on!!  No doors barred.  All chapters, all verses allowed and truly, it was all in good fun.

I even wondered what Jesus would use if he was playfully teasing back and forth with one of His disciples. But then I realized it wouldn’t be any fun to play this game with Jesus!  His Father inspired the whole Bible!  Besides, everything Jesus answered would just be written in red letters anyway!!

The next morning, I left a stale donut on my co-worker’s desk with a note — “I think you need to reconsider your gym membership, sinful fat boy.”  For bodily exercise profits little: but godliness is profitable to all things…I Timothy 4:8a 

The next day on my desk – Fools find no pleasure in understanding, but delight in airing their own opinions. Proverbs 18:2 “Quiet! You noisy, foolish squawk box!”

The next day I left a note – “When you’re on the treadmill later today, remember:”  The wicked run when no one is chasing them. Proverbs 28:1

Next day he wrote – Isaiah 41:24  But you are less than nothing, and your works are utterly worthless; whoever chooses you is detestable! 

This went on for several weeks with all kinds of verses! Believe it or not, we later agreed that it forced us to read and search the Bible in a whole new way, albeit, probably not the best way.

The last message to my co-worker, who isn’t very tall, was – “I figured it out!” Proverbs 10:27b…the wicked shall be cut short!  

The next day he responded about my jab at his height with — …but for the sake of the elect, whom he has chosen, he has shortened them. Mark 13:20bWe both got busy with other things and it just kind of fizzled out from there.

On a serious note, the word of God is profitable, (when used correctly) and is of benefit in every instance of life.  Even misusing verses in fun was edifying and uplifting.  Yeah, that’s not theologically correct, maybe even weird, but it increased our faith.

Faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God. Romans 10:17

God’s word is powerful, sharper than a two-edged sword.  It divides matters between true and false, right and wrong, good and evil. It always, ALWAYS accomplishes its purpose.  Whether serious, or messing around with a co-worker in jest, Scripture points us in the right direction!

May you know the truth of both the black and red-letter words which can truly set you free.  And as the wise King Solomon wrote, may you: bind them on your fingers; write them on the tablet of your heart! Proverbs 7:3