- Oct 17, 2018
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I have a simple question about laughter and humor in New Testament Christianity. I think it's an important subject, particularly for me because I'm writing a book for those who have mental illness and are Christians, and how such people can use Christian Faith to make their lives more enjoyable. A few things that are universally acknowledged to be good for human beings are laughter, camaraderie, smiling, and humor. However, the NT has this to say about joking:
Ephesians 5:3-4 New King James Version (NKJV)
But fornication and all uncleanness or covetousness, let it not even be named among you, as is fitting for saints; neither filthiness, nor foolish talking, nor coarse jesting, which are not fitting, but rather giving of thanks.
Ephesians 4:29 New International Version (NIV)
Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen.
We see here, as in the entire New Testament, that any sort of sexual immorality, defined as sex (with either gender) outside the heterosexual marriage covenant is a sin. We see the barometer for sexual behavior set by the statement that even a "hint" of sexual immorality should not exist among us, and 1 Thess 4:3-8 paints a vivid contrast between us and the "Gentiles" who do not know God and give their bodies up to lasciviousness. A case can be strongly made that "possessing your vessel in sanctification and honor" and not having a "hint" of sexual immorality would also forbid masturbation or any impure thoughts or touching of a significant other that is not a husband or wife.
We also see that coarse jesting, foolish talk, or generally any idle chatter or banter used to generate vain humor is forbidden, because it does not fall under the category of thanksgiving, edification, and building up the Body of Christ.
Jesus has this to say about the importance of our words: "by your words you will be justified, and by your words, you will be condemned." (Matt 12:37)
Recently, to lighten the emotional load in my life, lived with a mental disorder and the need to support myself by paying my own rent in my own apartment, living alone, and trying to live out the command of Jesus to avoid sexual immorality, I obtained a book of Jewish jokes to relieve some psychological pressure. I love to laugh. I figure, if I'm not allowed to have sex, at least I can laugh, right? Apparently, not according to the New Testament. Especially if that humor does not fall under the category of edifying the other person, and can be perceived as "unwholesome talk". Well, what is unwholesome talk? Pretty much any joke ever invented.
It seems to me that any joke worth its salt is at least slightly inappropriate. What would provoke laughter if the joke was not at least a bit insulting to something else or self-depreciating?
How do we reconcile the fact that humor is often foundational for human life and relationships, and that we see people immediately after church ends smiling, laughing, and joking, and yet the New Testament is a rather somber collection of documents that speaks of "trials by fire" and "persevering under trials" (as in 1 Peter and Hebrews) and yet so little speaks about enjoying life? Where do you get humor in your life, and how do you justify it in Christianity? I've heard that the New Testament is such a somber collection because it was written by people who were outcasts in the world and largely being persecuted. The author to the Hebrews states, commending the believers, that they accepted abuse (persecution) from nonbelievers and joyfully accepted the plundering of their possessions, because they knew they had a much more enduring reward in heaven. Christianity as a whole seems very much focused on the next life, and the discarding of this life as far as any personal enjoyment goes. Maybe because I'm not skilled in Scriptural interpretation, I'm reading this wrong. But does anyone else get this tone from reading the New Testament? I read a quote online, which was attributed to CS Lewis, which said, "One thing we never read in the New Testament: "Jesus laughed."
Input from Christians would be much appreciated.
Ephesians 5:3-4 New King James Version (NKJV)
But fornication and all uncleanness or covetousness, let it not even be named among you, as is fitting for saints; neither filthiness, nor foolish talking, nor coarse jesting, which are not fitting, but rather giving of thanks.
Ephesians 4:29 New International Version (NIV)
Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen.
We see here, as in the entire New Testament, that any sort of sexual immorality, defined as sex (with either gender) outside the heterosexual marriage covenant is a sin. We see the barometer for sexual behavior set by the statement that even a "hint" of sexual immorality should not exist among us, and 1 Thess 4:3-8 paints a vivid contrast between us and the "Gentiles" who do not know God and give their bodies up to lasciviousness. A case can be strongly made that "possessing your vessel in sanctification and honor" and not having a "hint" of sexual immorality would also forbid masturbation or any impure thoughts or touching of a significant other that is not a husband or wife.
We also see that coarse jesting, foolish talk, or generally any idle chatter or banter used to generate vain humor is forbidden, because it does not fall under the category of thanksgiving, edification, and building up the Body of Christ.
Jesus has this to say about the importance of our words: "by your words you will be justified, and by your words, you will be condemned." (Matt 12:37)
Recently, to lighten the emotional load in my life, lived with a mental disorder and the need to support myself by paying my own rent in my own apartment, living alone, and trying to live out the command of Jesus to avoid sexual immorality, I obtained a book of Jewish jokes to relieve some psychological pressure. I love to laugh. I figure, if I'm not allowed to have sex, at least I can laugh, right? Apparently, not according to the New Testament. Especially if that humor does not fall under the category of edifying the other person, and can be perceived as "unwholesome talk". Well, what is unwholesome talk? Pretty much any joke ever invented.
It seems to me that any joke worth its salt is at least slightly inappropriate. What would provoke laughter if the joke was not at least a bit insulting to something else or self-depreciating?
How do we reconcile the fact that humor is often foundational for human life and relationships, and that we see people immediately after church ends smiling, laughing, and joking, and yet the New Testament is a rather somber collection of documents that speaks of "trials by fire" and "persevering under trials" (as in 1 Peter and Hebrews) and yet so little speaks about enjoying life? Where do you get humor in your life, and how do you justify it in Christianity? I've heard that the New Testament is such a somber collection because it was written by people who were outcasts in the world and largely being persecuted. The author to the Hebrews states, commending the believers, that they accepted abuse (persecution) from nonbelievers and joyfully accepted the plundering of their possessions, because they knew they had a much more enduring reward in heaven. Christianity as a whole seems very much focused on the next life, and the discarding of this life as far as any personal enjoyment goes. Maybe because I'm not skilled in Scriptural interpretation, I'm reading this wrong. But does anyone else get this tone from reading the New Testament? I read a quote online, which was attributed to CS Lewis, which said, "One thing we never read in the New Testament: "Jesus laughed."
Input from Christians would be much appreciated.
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