This morning, Dr. Erik Thoennes read his paper “Laughing Through Tears: The Redemptive Role of Humor in a Fallen World.” He noted that the ability to laugh helps deal with difficulties we face in life.
Dr. Thoennes offered four reasons for why Christians should study humor:
1) Humor is a unique human experience, and it is central to human relationships.
2) Humor goes to the gutter quickly.
3) Maturity should lead to Godly sense of humor. He cited some self-critical questions posed by A.W. Tozer, one of which was “What do I laugh at?”
4) Ministering should lead to Godly laughter for us and those we serve.
Humor is commonly defined at words or actions intended to cause laughter. Most often, it involves recognition of incongruity.
While the Bible does not speak directly of God’s humor, and it is primarily serious in nature, humor is a subtext of the Bible. Dr. Thoennes went through several instances of humor throughout the Bible in categories such as irony, sarcasm, etc.
He suggests that there is a link between humor and hope. The story of the incarnation is rampant with ironic humor, such as the Sustainer of the universe riding into Jerusalem on a donkey as His “triumphal entry.”
We must use discernment in laughter as with other aspects of life. Dr. Thoennes suggested getting in the habit of pausing before responding to something with laughter to consider whether it is something we should really be laughing at. We should laugh for the good of others and to the glory of God.
