I get asked some version of this from time to time, wasn’t surprised to see it come through the website. If you’re happy, and you know it, lighten up!
Question: Is it wrong to satirize or joke about Christ and Christian faith?
Answer: A pastor was running late for a counseling session, and couldn’t find parking anywhere near the office building he was headed to. Desperate to make it on time, he pulled into a “no parking” zone, and left a note on his windshield, which said: “I’m a minister who’s circled this block 10 times, and I’ll be late if I don’t park here. Forgive us our trespasses, Matthew 6:12.” When he got back, there was a ticket waiting for him. Written on the envelope, it said: “I’m a parking officer who’s worked this block for 10 years, and I’ll get fired if I don’t write you a ticket. Lead us not into temptation, Matthew 6:13.”
This is an example of humor, in and of itself, is not sinful. It’s a good way to highlight spiritual ideas, and can be a positive way to break tension and relieve stress. The Bible makes positive references to laughter, and uses various types of humor as a way to emphasis its message. Of course, not all uses of humor are appropriate. Laughing at a situation which is not meant to be taken lightly, such as sin or tragedy, is not a good use of humor. Neither is humor which deflects or distracts from Biblical truths, or which causes us to reject what God commands. So, presenting the truth in a humorous way is one thing. Defying God isn’t acceptable, whether it’s through humor or otherwise.
In the Bible, humans are said to be created in the image of God (Genesis 1:26-27), meaning we share many of His attributes; this apparently includes a sense of humor. Laughter is portrayed as a positive alternative to weeping by Jesus (Luke 6:21). Jesus Himself was known to be a “friend of sinners” (Matthew 11:19), and of children (Mark 10:13-16), both of which would have been unlikely if He was dry and humorless.
God used several types of humor to relay His message, either directly or through His messengers. Some passages of the Bible are sarcastic (1 Kings 18:27, Job 38:21), some are wordplay (Matthew 19:24, Luke 6:42, John 3:5-8), some use deliberate exaggeration (Matthew 23:24). Scripture is sometimes satirical, mocking certain attitudes or behaviors (Proverbs 26:14-15, Proverbs 22:14, Isaiah 44:9-20).
God sometimes created comical situations in order to send particular messages, such as Balaam’s donkey (Numbers 21:21-35) and Gideon’s discovery under his house (Judges 6:11-12). Jesus named His most unstable disciple, “Rock” (Matthew 16:18), in what was probably meant to be gentle teasing.
Humor, ultimately, is not significantly different from any other human emotion. There are appropriate times and ways to express things like happiness, sexuality, anger, or humor. Humor has to be constrained by compassion; Will Rogers famously said that anything is funny as long as it’s happening to someone else. It also needs to be kept in the right proportion. Like seasoning, humor is meant to enhance our message, not take the place of substance.
