Humor: The Missing Link

[Resting In Him]

Mitali Perkins
Author

Friday, June 9, 2006

Humor: The Missing Link

I've always wanted to see a comedian like Jerry Seinfeld or Billy Crystal do a stand-up routine using only the words in the Sermon on the Mount. Why? Because I have a sneaking suspicion that Jesus had the chutzpah to be a riot. So does Earl Palmer, author of Laughter in Heaven: Understanding The Parables of Jesus.

(NOTE: Dr. Palmer was my pastor during grad student days, and will be featured in my as-yet-unwritten-but-sure-to-be-on-Oprah memoir called "CHANGED! How A Bengali Hindu Immigrant Morphed Into A Presbyterian Minister's Wife.")

Hours of sipping chai and sharing chuckles are an essential part of my South Asian cultural heritage. That's probably why one of my favorite scenes in Mel Gibson's The Passion is extra-biblical -- the brief clip of Jesus and Mary having a water fight. Our Lord had to be the kind of person you could tease, because nothing shatters barriers between cultures, generations, and genders more effectively than self-deprecatory, intimacy-building wit.

Cont'd... (http://www.crosswalk.com/news/weblogs/MPerkins/?adate=6/9/2006#1401798)

[Cindybobindy]

I just don't picture Him doing "You know you're a redneck if......"

But I agree.....I think there was probably and is probably a great sense of humor there. Heck..He created Baboons!!!! That's gotta be proof!!!

[SylvieDee]

As seen in a previous post, He has to have a sense of humor.

He created us, didn't He? :D:

[frisian1970]

Not once does scripture mention God laughing.

So we are left to conjecture and assumptions.

Perhaps reconciling sin wasn't a funny matter to Christ?

[SylvieDee]

Frisian,

Read Luke 24:13-25

Jesus was kidding around with them!

[roadrunner570]

I could see Jesus doing some miracle, and when people say "Wow! That was amazing!" Jesus saying "Well yeah, I am the son of God you know." :laugh

[frisian1970]

Frisian,

Read Luke 24:13-25

Jesus was kidding around with them!
How so?

[SylvieDee]

How so?

Luk 24:13 And behold, two of them were going that very day to a village named Emmaus, which was about seven miles from Jerusalem.
Luk 24:14 And they were talking with each other about all these things which had taken place.
Luk 24:15 While they were talking and discussing, Jesus Himself approached and {began} traveling with them.
Luk 24:16 But their eyes were prevented from recognizing Him.
Luk 24:17 And He said to them, "What are these words that you are exchanging with one another as you are walking?" And they stood still, looking sad.
Luk 24:18 One {of them,} named Cleopas, answered and said to Him, "Are You the only one visiting Jerusalem and unaware of the things which have happened here in these days?"
Luk 24:19 And He said to them, "What things?" And they said to Him, "The things about Jesus the Nazarene, who was a prophet mighty in deed and word in the sight of God and all the people,
Luk 24:20 and how the chief priests and our rulers delivered Him to the sentence of death, and crucified Him.
Luk 24:21 "But we were hoping that it was He who was going to redeem Israel. Indeed, besides all this, it is the third day since these things happened.
Luk 24:22 "But also some women among us amazed us. When they were at the tomb early in the morning,
Luk 24:23 and did not find His body, they came, saying that they had also seen a vision of angels who said that He was alive.
Luk 24:24 "Some of those who were with us went to the tomb and found it just exactly as the women also had said; but Him they did not see."
Luk 24:25 And He said to them, "O foolish men and slow of heart to believe in all that the prophets have spoken! Luk 24:26 "Was it not necessary for the Christ to suffer these things and to enter into His glory?" Luk 24:27 Then beginning with Moses and with all the prophets, He explained to them the things concerning Himself in all the Scriptures.
Luk 24:28 And they approached the village where they were going, and He acted as though He were going farther. Luk 24:29 But they urged Him, saying, "Stay with us, for it is {getting} toward evening, and the day is now nearly over." So He went in to stay with them.
Luk 24:30 When He had reclined {at the table} with them, He took the bread and blessed {it,} and breaking {it,} He {began} giving {it} to them.
Luk 24:31 Then their eyes were opened and they recognized Him; and He vanished from their sight.

[SylvieDee]

I can picture Him:

What are you guys talking about?

:gossip :cry

What?? What things? ;):

[USATeacher2005]

Sorry for butting in here...gotta go anyway...but doesn't the Bible say several times something about God looking down from heaven and laughing? I mean, I realize that maybe it's not a, "ha ha, that's funny" kind of laugh, so maybe that doesn't count? :noidea

[Werner]

Psalm 2

Laughs and scoffs! :):

[USATeacher2005]

Yeah, that's what I was thinkin'...not a acting silly type laugh, more of a ...oh, I don't know what's the word I'm lookin' for! :):

[SylvieDee]

gentle chuckle???

[Resting In Him]

It's been my own personal experience to have shared laughter with God during times of fellowship with Him. :):

Certainly I'm not alone in this regard?

[SylvieDee]

It's been my own personal experience to have shared laughter with God during times of fellowship with Him. :):

Certainly I'm not alone in this regard?


He sees the humor in our daily lives, and He sympathizes :D:

[USATeacher2005]

gentle chuckle???

maybe that's it! :laugh

[SylvieDee]

Our God is a Loving and Gentle God. :nod ....while we are still here....

He LOVES us.

When we are gone to be with Him, He will not be so gentle and loving. How dreadful, and how bad I feel.

Pray......

[frisian1970]

Psalms 2 in the Hebrew seems to mean more so that God will make their plans foolish or a mockery of it. Not that He is laughing.

http://www.blueletterbible.org/tmp_dir/words/7/1149905977-8589.html

[Mountain Girl]

[QUOTE=frisian1970]Not once does scripture mention God laughing.

So we are left to conjecture and assumptions.




Psalms 37:13 "The Lord shall laugh at him: for he seeth that his day is coming."

[Werner]

Psalms 2 in the Hebrew seems to mean more so that God will make their plans foolish or a mockery of it. Not that He is laughing.

http://www.blueletterbible.org/tmp_dir/words/7/1149905977-8589.html

Are you suggesting God can't or never laughs? Except to mock? That He has no sense of humor at all?

:confused

[frisian1970]

Are you suggesting God can't or never laughs?I am suggesting that scripture, in the Hebrew, doesn't definitively say such either way. Except to mock? That He has no sense of humor at all?

:confused
There sure aren't many examples..biblically. He seems more stoic than playful to me.

:noidea

[SylvieDee]

What are you trying to say, Frisian?

That God is a big Grouch, just sitting there, mad at everyone, never feeling joy, always thinking of ways to slam us with His terrible rage? You make me feel like He is mean-tempered and always scowling and in a bad mood.

That's not my Heavenly Father. No-no. :hand

[frisian1970]

What are you trying to say, Frisian?

That God is a big Grouch, just sitting there, mad at everyone, never feeling joy, always thinking of ways to slam us with His terrible rage? You make me feel like He is mean-tempered and always scowling and in a bad mood.

That's not my Heavenly Father. No-no. :hand
No, not a grouch. Stoicism doesn't equal anger.

[SylvieDee]

"Let us make man in our image"

We laugh,:laugh we cry,::cry

.....

What does YOUR God do?

[SylvieDee]

Geting upset here. :fear

Something's not right.... Gotta go.

[frisian1970]

Sorry, nevermind.

Carry on.

I didn't mean to upset, merely express/share an opinion.

[Resting In Him]

Geting upset here. :fear

Something's not right.... Gotta go.

You're smarter than I am. I fight to the finish and get in trouble. :(:

[Werner]

When talking with Fris, it's good to have a :fish handy...

Or perhaps... http://i74.photobucket.com/albums/i263/chronias/bigfish.gif


:lol

[USATeacher2005]

:fish :fish :fish :fish :fish :fish :fish :fish

That enough? :becky

[frisian1970]

When talking with Fris, it's good to have a :fish handy...

Or perhaps... http://i74.photobucket.com/albums/i263/chronias/bigfish.gif


:lol:B: When I considered not literal or pursuant enough, I am a liberal Christian...when I go for the literal jugular...I am ruining fun.

:noidea

:):

[frisian1970]

When talking with Fris, it's good to have a :fish handy...

Or perhaps... http://i74.photobucket.com/albums/i263/chronias/bigfish.gif


:lol:B: When I am considered not literal or pursuant enough, I am a liberal Christian...when I go for the literal jugular...I am ruining fun.

:noidea

:):

[USATeacher2005]

:laugh

:hug

[Empyrean]

I already posted this in the other humor thread, but read through
1 Samuel 5 + 6. Verse 5:6, in particular, brings about hilarious mental
pictures! I do not doubt that God injected a great deal of humor into
his method of revenge on the Philistines.

God has a wonderful sense of humor, in my opinion. Who else could
exact revenge in such a brilliant way?

"Hmm. Well, I could have the ground swallow them up. Nah. That's too
generic. Let's make it hemorrhoids!" :pound

Go, God! :cheer

[Werner]

:lol :hug

Heaven is going to be a blast! :thumb

[Gary]

Luk 24:13 And behold, two of them were going that very day to a village named Emmaus, which was about seven miles from Jerusalem.
Luk 24:14 And they were talking with each other about all these things which had taken place.
Luk 24:15 While they were talking and discussing, Jesus Himself approached and {began} traveling with them.
Luk 24:16 But their eyes were prevented from recognizing Him.
Luk 24:17 And He said to them, "What are these words that you are exchanging with one another as you are walking?" And they stood still, looking sad.
Luk 24:18 One {of them,} named Cleopas, answered and said to Him, "Are You the only one visiting Jerusalem and unaware of the things which have happened here in these days?"
Luk 24:19 And He said to them, "What things?" And they said to Him, "The things about Jesus the Nazarene, who was a prophet mighty in deed and word in the sight of God and all the people,
Luk 24:20 and how the chief priests and our rulers delivered Him to the sentence of death, and crucified Him.
Luk 24:21 "But we were hoping that it was He who was going to redeem Israel. Indeed, besides all this, it is the third day since these things happened.
Luk 24:22 "But also some women among us amazed us. When they were at the tomb early in the morning,
Luk 24:23 and did not find His body, they came, saying that they had also seen a vision of angels who said that He was alive.
Luk 24:24 "Some of those who were with us went to the tomb and found it just exactly as the women also had said; but Him they did not see."
Luk 24:25 And He said to them, "O foolish men and slow of heart to believe in all that the prophets have spoken! Luk 24:26 "Was it not necessary for the Christ to suffer these things and to enter into His glory?" Luk 24:27 Then beginning with Moses and with all the prophets, He explained to them the things concerning Himself in all the Scriptures.
Luk 24:28 And they approached the village where they were going, and He acted as though He were going farther. Luk 24:29 But they urged Him, saying, "Stay with us, for it is {getting} toward evening, and the day is now nearly over." So He went in to stay with them.
Luk 24:30 When He had reclined {at the table} with them, He took the bread and blessed {it,} and breaking {it,} He {began} giving {it} to them.
Luk 24:31 Then their eyes were opened and they recognized Him; and He vanished from their sight.

If that's meant as a joke, I'm afraid I don't get it.:confused

[Empyrean]

I forgot....

Whenever I see an animal do something comical, I immediately
think of God and tell him how much I love his sense of humor.

"That was a good one, Lord. Do it again!" :pound

Whenever I run head-on into a door or trip on myself, I do the
same and laugh.

There are too many funny things in the world, for them to just
happen by chance. And our human propensity to pick up on
these humorous things and appreciate them is also no coincedence,
IMO.

I think God, himself, is humorous, and he created humorous things,
so that we, with the humorous dispositions he gave us, could laugh,
with the warm, pleasant feel of joy in our bellies, and enjoy the
funny things he created.

He's the best Dad ever. What dad wouldn't want to see his beloved
child laugh?

[Empyrean]

If that's meant as a joke, I'm afraid I don't get it.

I understand what SylvieDee's trying to say. I agree with her,
and it is a very subtle, underlying humor that I see.

I think different people may read these verses in different ways,
as far as humor is concerned. Some people may not see any
humor at all, but just a serious subject being discussed. Others,
may detect a bit of humor on our Lord's part when he answers.

I think it all depends on the type of humor a particular person has.

[SylvieDee]

If that's meant as a joke, I'm afraid I don't get it.:confused

It's not necessarily a "joke", but you can discern His sense of humor can't you?

Or is it just me? :noidea :confused

Empyrean, you beat me to it. :D:

[God's gardener]

There's a talking Donkey in the bible. Hello?????????

[frisian1970]

Anthropomorphization.

[USATeacher2005]

:laugh I had to google that word! :lol I wouldn't want 'em to throw THAT one at me at Scripps!

[frisian1970]

:laugh I had to google that word! :lol I wouldn't want 'em to throw THAT one at me at Scripps!
:peep I was amazed I had spelled it correctly. I had to look to make sure, to be frank.

:becky

[SylvieDee]

the attributing of human shape or characteristics to a god, animal or inanimate object.

So? :becky

[zhan]

Act 12:11 And when Peter was come to himself, he said, Now I know of a surety, that the Lord hath sent his angel, and hath delivered me out of the hand of Herod, and [from] all the expectation of the people of the Jews.

Act 12:12 And when he had considered [the thing], he came to the house of Mary the mother of John, whose surname was Mark; where many were gathered together praying.

Act 12:13 And as Peter knocked at the door of the gate, a damsel came to hearken, named Rhoda.

Act 12:14 And when she knew Peter's voice, she opened not the gate for gladness, but ran in, and told how Peter stood before the gate.

Act 12:15 And they said unto her, Thou art mad. But she constantly affirmed that it was even so. Then said they, It is his angel.

Act 12:16 But Peter continued knocking: and when they had opened [the door], and saw him, they were astonished.

I always giggle when I read the above. I can just see Peter saying "Hey it's me, Peter!" and then the girl running in and telling/arguing with the others about whether he's really out front or not. I can see him sitting there knocking on the door the whole time going "Uh ... guys? ... guys? Hello? Anybody want to let me in? Just escaped from prison here guys ... Hello???” :heh

Obviously I don't know exactly what was said, but it always makes a funny movie in my mind. :D: :D:

[nancyjean]

God created us in His image and I know that our emotions and ability to laugh was something made to be good. Laughter has proven to increase endomorphines which help in our overall feelings of good well-being. God created laughter therefore he must be able to laugh. Another point, lets consider his creation. I laugh everytime I see a platypus(I can't even spell the word and I am too lazy this morning to check it out).

I believe that the Lord had so much to say in the Bible that not every part of everything that was done, said or explained to the Apostles were written down. I think that His concern for us and our salvation overwhelmed the need to show us his humorus side.

[God's gardener]

Anthropomorphization.
http://i25.photobucket.com/albums/c52/kellyrobertson/favorite%20smilies/talkinhorse.gif

[carmen]

I do believe that God has a sense of fun and humor, but I don't see a lot of that in Scripture, though I think there are certainly glimpses. I suspect that that is because His word was a letter to us of urgency and laughter, while good and necessary in it's place, didn't really factor in the ugency of trying to get His point across to us.

James tells us that ALL good things come from God, and Proverbs (I believe) says laughter does good. I don't believe satan would be the source of laughter and wholesome joy, though he certainly twists it at times and we find ourselves laughing at things that simply aren't, at their root, funny.

Also, since we are made in his image, and humor is such a huge part of mankind in general, I can't believe this facet wasn't also a part of Him :):

[frisian1970]

I do believe that God has a sense of fun and humor, but I don't see a lot of that in Scripture, though I think there are certainly glimpses. I suspect that that is because His word was a letter to us of urgency and laughter, while good and necessary in it's place, didn't really factor in the ugency of trying to get His point across to us.

James tells us that ALL good things come from God, and Proverbs (I believe) says laughter does good. I don't believe satan would be the source of laughter and wholesome joy, though he certainly twists it at times and we find ourselves laughing at things that simply aren't, at their root, funny.

Also, since we are made in his image, and humor is such a huge part of mankind in general, I can't believe this facet wasn't also a part of Him :):
Well said.