What does humour have to do with Christ-like living? I have no doubt that humour is essential to a healthy life and that taking ourselves too seriously is a recipe for disaster. When you must approach someone who you know is unfriendly, your opening attitude is often a sign of the way things will develop – if you approach someone “with all guns blazing” do you expect them to treat you in a friendly way? Humour is an essential way to make life go better. It diffuses tension, it comforts those who are sad and it is used in teaching to illustrate the message in a way that encourages concentration and makes things memorable.
Jesus used humour when teaching his followers:
- At the wedding at
- After his resurrection, he greeted his disciples with a miraculous catch of fish, after they had caught nothing all night (John 21)
The parables Jesus told were full of characters with outrageous behaviour, designed to hit home the message he was preaching, and no doubt to bring a smile to those listening to him speak.
Humour breaks down barriers, it defuses pomposity, arrogance and pride – and can be a very effective way of illustrating the wrong actions of others. I believe there will be laughter in heaven, why not start getting used to it? Personally, I am very fond of self-deprecating humour – I’m just not very good at it!
Lord – help us to keep a lightness in our hearts and to be joyful in all situations. Amen
Dave MacLellan
(first published in 2008)
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