We hear so much in many circles today about the “humor” and “funny” things in the church. The “jokes” that a speaker tells, and the laughter that follows from the flock. It’s the main emphasis in the “a-musement” and entertainment culture that has invaded the western church.
We see joy in the Word of God. We see laughter in the Bible. Thank God for the break this provides from the battle real Christians wage against the flesh and the schemes of the devil.
And…the most humorous things in life are the true and holy events we experience, the natural, clean play on words, etc. – these things that are not contrived nor stated to tickle the ears of the “audience.”
But…how do we know something is a tradition of God vs. a tradition of man? By its repeated use and example in the Holy Scriptures. We also know that sarcasm (from the Greek word “sarx” – meaning to ‘cut the flesh’) is used extensively by our Lord Jesus and our brother the apostle Paul to stun their rebellious and stubborn hearers and gain entry into their heart for a change to holy behavior.
So with that in mind, we give you the top 3 examples of depreciating and silly humor and joking in the Bible. Since we see so much in the current church and we want to follow the Word by example, this shouldn’t be very hard.
Example 1:
Example 2:
Example 3:
Well, that’s it. No, I haven’t left anything out, dear one.
Please don’t tell us here that “the speaker was so funny” as if to say he or she was like Jesus Christ in their approach. Is that the emphasis any ambassador for Christ should be displaying? Were they holy in all their behavior as the apostle Peter commands us?
But here’s what the apostle Paul proclaimed. In Titus chapters 1 and 2 we see a consistent and wholesale rejection of youthful non-sense…that is, making no sense of sober and revealed holy truth.
1.7-8: For the overseer must be…sensible…
2.2: Older men are to be…sensible…
2.3,5: Older women likewise are to be (and to) encourage the young women to (be)…sensible…
2.6: Likewise urge the young men to be sensible…
He went on…
2 Timothy 4:1-5 I solemnly charge you in the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who is to judge the living and the dead, and by His appearing and His kingdom: preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort, with great patience and instruction. For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but wanting to have their ears tickled, they will accumulate for themselves teachers in accordance to their own desires, and will turn away their ears from the truth and will turn aside to myths.
But you, be sober in all things, endure hardship, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry.
So, that’s it. Be sober, solemnly proclaim the majesty of the kingdom gospel of the King of Kings, and reprove, rebuke and exhort. Don’t be an “accumulated teacher” than tickles ears. Bad place to be with God.
And a bit later Paul says..
2 Timothy 4:7 I have fought the good fight, I have finished the course, I have kept the faith…
A fight to the end…against the devil and his minions, against the principalities and powers, forces of darkness and spiritual wickedness.
Abide in Christ and He will do it, brethren!
“Again, oh great God, we appeal to You to keep us sober of heart…and fighting the good fight of faith so we may not lose the faith You’ve so graciously given to us.”
Please comment on this post right below. Feel free to write and proclaim your leadings in the Spirit in an honorable fashion.
Your friend and brother in fighting the good fight,
Marc
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Saints, we’re one day closer to Home, and Him! Love Him wholeheartedly!
You may view our Archives here: FRIDAY FIRE – ARCHIVES; Complete Archives; feel free to write and proclaim your leadings in the Spirit in an honorable fashion. May our Father richly bless you with His grace, through Jesus Christ our Lord, in order to walk worthy of His name.
Please comment on this post right below. Feel free to write and proclaim your leadings in the Spirit in an honorable fashion.
Ken Soderlund says
Marc, I think I found one: when Jesus was drawing in the dust during the women caught in adultery situation wasn’t He drawing LOL? No but I thought you might like a little levity on a subject that is so correct. The Fear of The Lord has been replaced with awesome entertainment. Please don’t bust that bubble of denial that I am clinging to so tightly. Let’s all get along as we go along life’s merry way to…I pray that destination for all I know is the eternal presence of our Mighty God. Have a great weekend brother.
marc says
Brother Ken,
Thanks for the observation dear brother…you’re so very right about the a-musement word vs. fear of the Lord. Stonewalling is a terrible sin for any of us…thx again for your faithfulness to us here at walk worthy.
Marc
Jonathan Crum says
Humor and joking are most often done in a fashion that either a) pokes fun at authority, lessening their respect, or b) makes light of serious and/or aweful situations, which are often the result of foolish disregard for the laws of God (including physical laws of nature), and therefore making light of the originator of those laws.
Best to be careful: we are told to honor those in authority and respect them such as they agree with the Father.
–Jonathan
marc says
Brother Jonathan,
Excellent observation and discernment – if we just took all the “joking” effort and put it into the commands of God, the kingdom would mostly likely be a lot further along. thx again.
marc
qs says
I like this. thanks marc
marc says
Thanks dear sister – we love you too…be sober in all things.
Brother Marc
Heather G says
I think humor and joking are somewhat neutral activities – the Bible does say that “laughter is a medicine” and that would make things that provoke laughter probably in the Biblically acceptable realm. There are a lot of things the Bible doesn’t specifically refer to and for those things I don’t think the Lord would want us yoking people with do’s and don’ts regarding those things.
So if my premise, that humor is neutral (neither good nor evil) then there is still room for you to voice your objections to how humor is used in the church, without coming against humor altogether. Humor that helps us see ourselves or the Lord better would be a holy use of humor, humor that pokes fun at things that are honorable, good, holy, pure, etc, would be a wrong use of humor. I think it’s probably best to leave our statements about it there and not go further into condemning humor wholesale.
Tickling isn’t in the Bible either, but human parents seem to do it somewhat universally. And it creates laughter, and that’s a good thing. Ticking of the ears then is an evil thing for a speaker to do, but I wouldn’t use that to say that people shouldn’t tickle their children when playing with them. Nor does the Bible say it is even ok to play with one’s children. Some things are just neutral.
marc says
Heather – thx for writing and sharing your thoughts. Let me explain a bit further. We’re called to be holy in all our behavior. Much of the behavior that passes for humor is depreciating and silly, full of nonsense. So, I’ve added those words to the post title. Humor is an action and is not neutral by any means. But humorous things can be Godly – just look at some of the animals God made! A knife or gun is neutral – and can be used for good or evil. Laughter can be a good thing, yes, when it honors the Lord.
But be very careful when you proclaim that activities must be in the Bible to act on them, i.e. tickling, play with children. The written Word doesn’t say we have to eat 2-3 meals a day. But we normally do to survive. If we look at His Purpose (Kingdom of God – population, maturing, completion), then His Principle (act soberly and sensible in all things vs. non-sense), then His Practice (refrain from silly humor, and act Godly) will help fulfill his Purpose!
again, thx for writing in…
Brother Marc
Theresa Gomes says
Marc,
Very interesting teaching that folks don’t talk about much. It made me think about the verse in Ephesians 5:4 –
“…there must be no filthiness and silly talk, or coarse jesting, which are not fitting, but rather giving of thanks.”
I have always been uncomfortable with ‘religious’ humor from the pulpit. Especially jokes about hell, which is no laughing matter. In fact, any mention of hell ought to be accompanied by tears.
Thank you for provoking holy thinking,
Theresa
jesusislord says
Sister Teresa – thanks for the en-courage-ment! yes, much to be done in all of us to speak with daily sobriety…
the coarse jesting admonition was due to the sexual crudeness in that culture…let us all guide our “rudder” of the ship to live holy in all our behavior.
one may find more here: http://www.walkworthy.org/holy
Thanks again and we appreciate your fellowship here.
Brother Marc