For the record, this is not me.
As many of you know, I am a very famous Christian humorist. As many of you who speak and/or read English also know, “humorist” is the least funny word in the language—but never mind. The point is that I, for one, am a regular laugh riot in church. Just last Sunday, for instance, I really loudly asked for some cheese with my communion wafer. How the reverends laughed and laughed until one of them brained me with a thurible.
But I jest. In reality, I busted out a can of Cheez Whiz.
See? Funny! Have to roast in hell forever—but funny!
No, but seriously. The other day most excellent Steve McGarvey, editor of the massive Christian website Crosswalk.com, sent me some questions relative to a (serious) magazine article he was writing on the relationship between Christianity and humor.
“You’re a pretty funny guy,” he said. “And you’re a Christian, right?”
Steve is funny. He’s about the funniest person in the history of spewing out your food at the table. I hate him.
Anyway, Steve said I could share with you what I wrote in response to his questions. So below are his first two questions, along with my answers to them, on the subject of Christianity and humor.
Q. How do you think the Christian worldview should inform the way we think about humor and comedy as they occur in popular culture?
A. I’m afraid the sheer density of that question is threatening to collapse my head. But I can definitely say this: If you insist on “informing” your response to comedy with your “Christian world view,” then practically nothing will ever seem funny to you. Constantly screening for religious acceptability goes together with funny like a needle goes together with a balloon. Nothing kills humor like the application to it of what amounts, in this context, to dogma. That’s why the Church Lady is so funny: she doesn’t think ANYTHING is funny. Which, in real life, isn’t funny at all.
Q. It seems like humor is a difficult thing to define, especially for Christians. Is there any way we can cut through the subjectivity of what people find funny?
A. The reason humor is difficult for Christians to define is because humor is virtually impossible for anyone to define. What happens with a person when they’re suddenly moved to genuine, loud laughter is as rich and magical a mystery as we have. It’s much easier to understand why we cry, even, than why we laugh. A true, spontaneous laugh is simply a freak occurrence that’s in no way subject to definition or understanding. As for “cutting through the subjectivity of what people find funny,” that, too, is virtually impossible. Ultimately all humor must remain subjective (he said, looking forward to another day being funny enough in print to in large part contribute to his living as a writer). By definition, that means that the only real measure any of us have of what’s funny is whether or not we personally laugh at it. If we do, it’s funny! If we don’t, it’s completely unfunny. You can’t “cut through” that any more than you can chew through a car.
Tomorrow: I answer the questions, “As a whole Christians, at least evangelicals generally, seem to be a humorless lot. Would you agree? Why is that?” and, “Most attempts by Christians to be professionally funny are usually dismissed as lame. Why do you think that is?”
Related post o’ mine: Was Jesus Funny?, and Pastors and Other Christian Leaders: Loosen Up, Before It’s Too Late!
Join my Facebook group here. Now. Loser.
Posted by Tony York on January 14, 2009 at 5:19 am
My experience around people who call themselves Christians has not been humorless. I also don’t know what the connection of a Christian World View is with the amount of humor someone has.
Our world views may cause something to be funny to us that others may not find funny but that is true of *every* world view. By the way, I define world view as the filter by which we look at the world and make decisions. Our world views supply us context. Within a Christian context, I may not find some types of humor as fulfilling as other people would but that does not diminish my funny bone.
Interesting questions… I will be back tomorrow to check out the next set.
Posted by Dan Harrell on January 14, 2009 at 7:01 am
I’ve always wondered why the most effective religious speakers (to me)have a twinkle in their eye and a smile on their lips. John Ortberg, for one, has a great sense of humor. I find I gain more understanding when someone appeals to my whimsy than when I have someone making me wish I was somewhere, anywhere, else, and not listening to a dry boring lecture.
Christians seem to be way too serious. Is it because they fear they just aren’t good enough to get the final prize?
Posted by Tracey on January 14, 2009 at 8:51 am
I’ve noticed that there are those more serious Christians, and they seem to be the ones who cannot (or will not) laugh at *themselves*. If we as a group can’t make fun of ourselves, I see that as a problem.
Humor has always been important to me, and in fact was probably the #1 thing on my list in finding a husband. Does he make me laugh? More than I make him laugh? Good. Now, is he a Christian? The man I found not only knew just how to make me laugh — and heartily, I might add — but was very devoted to God. I still tease him, though, about the nerdiness of he and his fellow Bible grads joking in Hebrew. Yikes!
Posted by John Shore on January 14, 2009 at 9:26 am
Bible nerds joking in Hebrew. That is too perfectly perfect. THANKS!!
Posted by ric booth on January 14, 2009 at 9:44 am
I’ve always wondered if Jesus is being funny whenever he would tell someone, “The kingdom of God is near!” I picture myself looking around everywhere but at him asking, “Where? Where?” And then in my imaginative head we start playing that game “you’re get warmer/colder” So he replies with “Well actually, right now you’re burning up.”
Posted by Mike (FVThinker) Burns on January 14, 2009 at 9:54 am
Speaking of professional Christian comics…
Did you see the ‘comic’ duo “God’s Pottery” (www.godspottery.com) on Last Comic Standing? It was so bad I couldn’t tell if they were mocking Christianity or endorsing it. And, yes, I dismissed them as lame…how could anyone NOT!
Posted by ric booth on January 14, 2009 at 10:37 am
BTW John, this line: “Most attempts by Christians to be professionally funny are usually dismissed as lame. Why do you think that is?” — hysterical. Spit-out-food funny.
Posted by daniel on January 14, 2009 at 10:41 am
Mike: if you live in san diego and the chance to see brian orme, he’s an excellent christian comic…
John: I’ve been blessed with that gene to find the funny in everything, christian or not. But as a christian myself, humor among others like music and visuals, is a means for me to communicate. But that doesn’t mean I have to crack a christian joke so that everyone now knows i’m a christian and I can shove the gospel in they’re faces (see Sane Evangelizing 101
I’m just known to be a funny guy.. and I happen to be a christian….. and finding the funny in everything actually helps diffusing tense situations, or puts a smile on someone’s face who’s having a bad day. I think that right there is when christianity can be lived out effectively and would be lame without humor…
Ric: I like that!
Posted by daniel on January 14, 2009 at 10:45 am
Oh… see, there it goes again…: I was just reading over my post and found so many spelling mistakes and words i left out… I found it funny because in my head I’m going “that’s why I’m not a writer: because I can’t spell properly..” -thanks guys for putting up with it
Posted by mcoville on January 14, 2009 at 11:02 am
Ok, I saw a bumper sticker that said “In case of rapture this car will swerve until my mother-in-law takes the wheel”, now thats funny Christian humor.
Check out Brad Stein or Brian Regan, funny guys.
Posted by daniel on January 14, 2009 at 11:30 am
Omg, Brian Regan is so crazy funny!!
)
I also very much enjoy the humor of Gabriel Iglesias, Jim Gaffigan and even Dane Cook or Lewis Black (i know, how un-christian of me
Posted by Tim on January 14, 2009 at 1:50 pm
Honestly… I think the funniest thing in your post today is the suggestion that a protestant minister would know what a thurible is… I can think of.. well… maybe 6 in the RCA who might. Fewer who would have one to clock you with!
Grace and Peace,
`tim
Posted by John Shore on January 14, 2009 at 1:56 pm
Tim: It’s so funny you noted that. I TOTALLY made The Big Call that even though it was more than likely people might not know what a thurible is, the combination of them knowing it had SOMETHING to do with taking communion, with the sheer funniness of the way the word sounds, would be better than I could get using any other word or, no matter how quickly, stopping to explain. I thought it worked–but you really hit upon a moment where I had to stop and really feel my way to it.
Posted by FreetoBe on January 14, 2009 at 2:09 pm
Thurible….had to look it up. Thought maybe “thimble” was close, but, no. Funny! Looking forward to tomorrow.
Posted by FreetoBe on January 14, 2009 at 2:12 pm
..to tomorrow’s blog, sorry, my fingers type faster than my brain.
Posted by skerrib on January 14, 2009 at 9:12 pm
I had to look it up too. I was thinking some sort of holy beer stein or something. Because those exist (Holy beer steins, Batman!). I think I need some sleep…
Posted by skerrib on January 14, 2009 at 9:20 pm
A quick story first–back when my husband and I were first married our church still used real bread for the communion (now they’ve resorted to the little Chiclet-looking things–terrible). They would pass around chunks and everyone would tear off a little piece. My husband went to take his little piece, and ended up with a strip of bread close to 4″ long. But it was the middle of communion and he’d already touched it, what do you do? So he handed off the plate, and the usher-guy (who is a friend of ours) leaned over & asked, “you want some cheese with that?” Luckily we were able to keep our giggling quiet, and luckily it is the kind of church that doesn’t kick people out for trying (unsuccessfully) not to giggle during communion.
Posted by pastoralmusings on January 15, 2009 at 8:10 am
C.H. Spurgeon often laughed. He thanked God for the gift of laughter. He once responded to those who did not like his humor by telling them that they should be glad that he held so much back.
Humor is not the exclusive domain of the secular world. I get a kick out of Mark Lowery. He can really roast some sacred cows, but do it in a way that will make you think about what he’s saying even if you don’t agree.
Humor, I think, is somewhat relative, too. Last night while in the pulpit I told my church that Jesus was much more tactful than I (I really wasn’t thinking when I said it), I then turned to one of my references, and read where Jesus looked at a guy and said, “You hypocrite!” I started laughing right then and said, “You see, I told you Jesus was tactful!”