Hell yea, it’s day #3 of Laughter week!
Seriously
Have you ever heard this quote from the Bible? “Nor should there be obscenity, foolish talk or coarse joking, which are out of place, but rather thanksgiving” Eph 5:4
I went looking for the exact quote to make sure I got it right and found some interesting sites! There’s one that starts out with, ‘Laughter is not joy and humor is not from God’. It then goes on for a LONG time describing in details why jokes and joking and humor are bad and destructive. Ironically, it’s very funny.
There is also a site that asks the question, “Did Jesus ever laugh?” That made me laugh.
Good Humor
I don’t like hearing jokes that are hurtful and mean-spirited. That is why I avoid TV shows and comedians that use their humor in mean-spirited and hurtful ways. Not because it isn’t funny; sometimes mean things are funny, but because it hurts. And yes, I understand there is a fuzzy line between appropriate and inappropriate and the line is different for each person.
Food Poisoning
So, when am I responsible for my response? I liken it to eating something poisonous vs eating something rotten. I can eat something filled with poison but not know it. then I am dead or really sick. Bad luck for me. I can also eat something where there is something a little off about the taste or smell. I chalk it up to you being paranoid and eat it anyway. Then the food turns out to rotten and I end up with food poisoning. In that case, I am to blame for not heeding my better instincts and avoiding the food.
The same is true with humor. Sometimes I don’t realize the humor is hurting someone and I just laugh. Sometimes I understand it is humor between friends, meant in an affectionate way and no offense is taken. But other times I do know it is hurtful and I choose to listen and laugh at it anyway. That’s not a good thing in my book.
While I am not a big believer in the idea of heaven in the first place, if it does exist I hope it’s filled with a lot of fun and laughter just nothing mean and hurtful.
___________________
Drawing and commentary by Marty Coleman
Quote by Martin Luther, 1483 – 1546, German monk, founder of the Lutheran Church and foremost Protestant of the reformation era.
___________________
If you’re not allowed to laugh in heaven, I don’t want to go there.
I have no doubt there will be plenty of laughing in Heaven, but not at the expense of others. I believe laughing is from God. No where in the Bible does it say that it’s not. Of course, if it’s on the internet it has to be true, right? I enjoy your posts Mr Coleman. This one just struck a chord with me.
Thanks Brook, I actually wouldn’t care what it said in the bible about it. I laugh, I like it, I don’t hurt anyone by it, it’s not a moral or ethical issue, so it’s good and all the bible exegesis in the world one way or the other would make me question the bible more, not laughing more. Do you know what I mean?