Stop Joking Around
Following is an area of concern to me. Its about making jokes and taking lightly the things of God.
Lets me make my point by telling a few jokes.
A lady was asked by a friend, "Where do you think your recently deceased husband has gone? The lady responded, "Well, I suppose the poor man is enjoying eternal bliss, but I wish you wouldn't talk about such unpleasant subjects."
This type of joke will make most of us smile. But does it carry a deeper meaning?
Apparently the lady looked upon death as, eternal bliss, yet it was an unpleasant subject of conversation to her. She summarizes in her comments the predicament of living in a house divided by a believer (her deceased husband,) and herself, being an atheist. This joke carries with it unconscious overtones and undertones, audible to our soul and spirit.
This joke in ways makes a mockery of,
2 Cor.6:14, "Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion = (fellowship) hath light with darkness?" This is a serious issue with God.
Joke # 2
A man in Europe returned from a journey. Upon entering his wives bedroom, he found his wife in the arms of the local bishop. After a moment's hesitation, the man walked calmly to a window leaned down to the street, and began to bless all who stood below.
"What are you doing?" cried his wife. The man said,
"Because the bishop is performing my duties as a husband, I am performing his duties as a man of God."
Again, jokes like this will put a smile on our faces, but is the joke making light of important Biblical issue?
Upon examination, the joke reveals that the bishop's behaviour is both unexpected as a man of God, but yet perfectly logical as to being a man. The sin is sexual immorality, the logic being the division of labor.
The bishop's conduct would have been expected to be directed by a different set of rules, rules as old as civilization itself, the code of sexual morality.
It's the clash between these two mutually exclusive codes; one of labor, the other of morality. When they clash, it produces a comic effect. God said,
Ex.20:14, "Thou shalt not commit adultery." The world jokes and Christians smile.
Jokes concerning Biblical issues in many ways mock the word of God. To joke about these things, does not require a sharp mind, because the subject matter makes it very easy to do so. Religious jokes concerning serious issues, should leave you with no real pleasure. Also, those who take their faith seriously will consider you to have bad taste.
Lets suppose some intelligent, rational thinking persons, none Christians, were to visit America. They were going to examine American Christian heritage, and then write about it.
They visit our schools, watch our children's behaviour, listening to their conversations, and make note of the jokes they tell. On Sunday they visit a few churches and observe the people in attendance. After the services, they overhear in the hallway a few men making jokes concerning religious issues. Their conclusion? minutes before these were serious minded people talking about serious issues. But now these issues seem to be taken lightly. What a confusing message they are given.
They hear jokes about Peter meeting us at the golden gate, pastors gone bad, the pastors wife, and the priests daughter etc. What inference would these strangers be likely to draw about Christian America?
They may conclude that the Bible is a serious issue, but not always. There are those who consider the subject of Scriptures, in part or in whole to be nothing but a string of fables, mythologies, and fairy tales. Our visitors may begin to conclude that Biblical characters and events, have been invented for the amusement of men.
As they search through our historical past, they in time, and for the larger part, learn that the things in Scripture are true and not myths. They begin to understand that America was settled by Christian's; most having lived by Biblical principles. The courts having been founded on God's dictates of law and justice; the constitution reflecting God's word, and public education having been founded by Christian men and women.
But, what would they think of Christian America today? They read about our past, and now have observed our actions and words today.
They may conclude in their observations that a great power and influence of evil has over taken the Christian community. Has the devil blinded the spiritual discernment of Americans?
Has Satan so deceived us concerning moral attitudes, judgements, and sentiments, and so hardened our hearts, that Christians can joke about the things of God?
This spiritual enemy offers poison disguised as candy. The dangers he exposes us to and the end ruin of his victims are trivialized, laughed about and made to be entertainment and amusement.
What is so funny about sin? What is so funny about the evil it produces the death it causes, and the eternal hell that awaits us. Many jokes uphold the world of the devil and his hell. Christian dogmas are not to be mocked.
People find a form of joke in the subject of horror: They simply become allusions and not reality.
What do you think the Lord is thinking? Would you present your joke, or a distorted humor to Him as a gift of thanks for His finished work?
Generally speaking, God fearing people would never be accustomed to regard any wickedness, or eternal misery as a subject for a joke. Personally I do not find amusement in the pain, disappointments, and sorrows of others, but many do because they continually joke about it.
Any and all sin is the work of Satan and will produce deep and lasting scars for those who indulging in them. Ask yourself, is the suffering of others something to be trivialized? Joking about God's word, may in time make a serious minded person begin to treat these matters less seriously.
First we may smile, then laugh, then join in laughing and joking about the pitiful situations that has befallen others.
In America, forty or more years ago those who had committed sodomy would have landed you in jail. Today it is promoted in public schools to our children as an alternative life style and many jokes are made concerning this very serious matter.
The gay community now flaunts their life style producing it as entertainment. Theirs an old saying, once you let the camels nose in the tent, eventually you will share your tent with the camel.
When the world mocks God, His church, and things relevant to salvation, why are so many Christians' offended? We promote these things, by watching, and spending our money on the products these companies produce.
Our sacred issues are eternally connected with the issues of evil, we ourselves making light of the evil, yet offended when that which is holy is mocked.
When the ridicules is confused with religious issues, it tends to disfigure the truth by blending elements of falsehood with it. The attacks and infiltrating effects that doctrinal error or deviation have, come in the form of myths, superstitions, and hearsay. These can become extremely dangerous to the body of believers, especially when joked about.
A God driven church, with godly people, having a godly leadership will find it their duty to show that absurd things are absurd. Not absurd merely because people have a tendency to smile at things, but because of the absurdity of the thing itself.
Nothing will change or harm God's truths, even when taken lightly. If Christians were to begin to strip and tear away the fabric of weakness in the churches, absurd things and the delusions of false reasonings would eventually disappear. God's truths would again begin to heal and bless us.
The young are mostly effected by these adult ludicrous and ridiculous representations. Mature Christians must show the young by example that no part of Scripture is to be joked about, or treated lightly.
If not informed, a certain contempt for these particular matters may arise in them as they grow older. Simple jesting, spiraling downward to scoffing, contempt, and eventual atheism.
1 Cor.15:33, "Evil communications corrupt good manners."
Prov.4:14 , "Go not in the way of evil men."
We are NOT to keep company with the devils disciples, or partake from their table. We are not to tempt or mock the things of God. The things that are Holy, are to be kept Holy.
If Christ were hanging on a cross before you, would you present yourself and your family to Him as one who makes jokes concerning spiritual matters? Think about it.
Would you bring your children dressed in Halloween costumes, accompanied by others dressed as Santa or the Easter bunnies? If you believe He died for these ridiculous things, then bring them to him, and lay your gift at His feet.
If you would not, then why do you support them? Is it because you believe Jesus return to be far off?
The things you offer Christ had better be the things of God. Satan is not a joke, neither will the results be for those who follow him. Jesus died for the sins of all men. The devil has caused man to sin, and to die, yet some make light of it.
I myself like a good joke. Its good for us to laugh, and enjoy the things God has given us. But we are not to mock God. He will not wink nor smile, when we joke about Scriptural issues.
He gave His life for us, he set the tone, and marked the way. As his ambassadors, lets do the right things. Spent your time with God, in His word and support those who teach the word and love Jesus Christ.
Phil LaSpino