Proverbs 17:22 (TPT) says,” A joyful, cheerful heart brings healing to both body and soul. But the one whose heart is crushed struggles with sickness and depression.” Do yourself (and your health) a favor and laugh a little. Realize all the reasons Christian comedy can be so good for you.
How should a Christian view comedy? There are certainly plenty of things to laugh at in our lives that are pure and praiseworthy. Genuine humor is a godly thing, and the Lord wants us to be joyful (John 15:11). We should exercise great care when we go to a comedy movie or stand-up comedy show by always asking ourselves if the comedy in which we choose to participate would be pleasing to the God, and have a positive influence on our Christian walk. Do yourself (and your health) a favor and laugh a little. Here are five reasons Christians should actively engage in comedy.
1.
Carbonated
Holiness: The many benefits that
laughter brings to our health and wellness are well documented. Some physical
and mental benefits include lowering stress hormones, relaxing muscles,
preventing heart disease, easing anxiety, and enhancing resilience. Laughter
also bonds us to each other by strengthening a sense of community.
Few things in life are as delightful as the
peals of laughter coming from a baby that are innocent and guttural and
unreserved. God created us with an innate gift of laughter, and what better way
to honor God than to exercise what author Anne Lamott calls “carbonated
holiness?”
2.
Self-Deprecation: One of the reasons why Christians struggle to
perform well in the world of comedy is our lack of self-deprecation. Humor requires the ability to admit weakness and a
willingness to laugh at it, but it’s akin to putting bullets in your opponent’s
gun in a culture war. You can’t laugh at yourself until you yield the moral
high ground.
Indeed we are so concerned with drawing people
to Christ that we are afraid of exposing
our flaws. Self-deprecation can disarm the tensions of culture wars, and allow
a refreshing honesty to breathe life into our tense conversations. Don’t be
afraid of making fun of yourself. Let’s face it; you’ve got plenty of material.
3.
The
Art of Paying Attention:
Comedy is the art of exploring humanity. Behind every joke, comedians spend
hour’s relentlessly taking notice of our world, paying attention to the nuances
of human interaction to zero-in on one ridiculous detail, and serving it up as
the punch line. The iconic sitcom, Seinfeld
is often described as being a show about nothing because it simply makes jokes
about ordinary life experiences that often mirroring the real lives of the
producers and writers.
The comedian jolts us into a realization that
something we do in our ordinary life is absolutely ridiculous. Much like the
discipline of science and art, it is our sacred duty to observe the wonders of
what God has gifted us by paying meticulous attention is certainly an act of
worship.
4.
The
Prophetic Voice of Irreverence: Satire has long been used as a tool of social commentary, from
the French Enlightenment writer, Voltaire, to the great American author, Mark
Twain, humor has been wielded as the sword of truth. Sarcasm, though
irreverent, deftly draws attention to the ills in society we have numbingly
accepted as normal. In order for humor to be effective, it points out that
which is true and ridiculous at the same time.
The audience ends up simultaneously slapping our
knees and nodding our heads. We laugh, and then we are sobered and moved to
action. Jesus Himself used irony and hyperbole when He talked about planks in
eyes (Matthew 7:5) and camels going through the eye of a needle (Matthew
19:24). Could He have been using stand-up comedy to teach his truths?
5.
Thinking
Outside the Box: In order to be funny,
you have to be surprising. People don’t laugh at what is expected, but at
creative punch lines and edgy wit. Pushing at the boundaries of social etiquette
and overturning assumptions is a pursuit of greater imagination.
I think we need more troublemakers, those who
dare to “go there.” No one ever changed the world by keeping rules. The
revolution of the Christian hope begins with a practice of wild imagination by
expanding possibilities for what is to come.
“Laughing will
give your diaphragm a workout, will show you have a sense of humor, and can
increase your life by 8 years.” (coolnsmart.com)[i]
[i] Sources used:
·
5 Christian Comedians Who Are Crushing It” by Carrie
Kintz
·
“Five Reasons Christians Should Do Comedy” by Cindy Brandt
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