New Reminders: Humor

There has been a long debate, among church leaders, whether humor belongs in the pulpit.  A handout I received at the Advanced Preaching course I took said, “Remember, you are not there to entertain them.”  That might be good advice, since it is easy to go overboard and turn a serious topic into a farcical charade.  That said, a little humor can go a long way in making something memorable.

As a teacher, I used to dread the first day of what was called “Teacher Training” (which I always thought was demeaning, since most of us had already had many years of on-the-job training, on top of our years of educational education on educating.)  The one “training day” I do remember, is the day a group of classroom teachers gave the key-note speech.  They used humor to get their points across, and we all took seriously what they had to say.  We left that session eager to teach.  Like anything else, humor is a tool that can be misused or can be effective if used properly.

The bible uses phrases like “be joyful”, “take heart, laughter will come” and “A glad heart is good medicine.”  It also says things like “don’t act foolishly” and “be of sober mind.”  Each applying to a particular circumstance.” An appropriate balance is called for in all circumstances.

I once belonged to a church where the pastor used some humor in almost every sermon.  It was a joy to attend services every Sunday, and it was easy to invite others to enjoy them too.  That pastor was a master at making serious points with a ‘spoonful’ of humor.  It was not a clown show (though he encouraged puppets and clowns to help the Sunday school grow) and he never made light of our need for redemption and salvation.  He simply demonstrated the joyfulness we should all feel at the wonderful blessings we all enjoy at being part of a Christian community of believers.

“In your presence there is fullness of joy; at your right hand are pleasures forevermore.  I have set the Lord always before me; because he is at my right hand, I shall not be shaken.  Therefore, my heart is glad, and my whole being rejoices; my flesh also dwells secure… You make known to me the path of life; in your presence there is fullness of joy; at your right hand are pleasures forevermore. Psalm 16:8-11 

“Then our mouth was filled with laughter, and our tongue with shouts of joy; then they said among the nations, ‘The Lord has done great things for them.’ Psalm 126:2. Laughter is a joyful noise, just like singing, which we all think belongs in church.