Do you think God has a sense of humor?

God shows happiness in His creation in Genesis 1 and 2.

We see that God causes us to laugh: "When God restored the captive ones of Zion, We were like those who dream. Then our mouth was filled with laughter, And our tongue with shouts of joy; Then they said among the nations, The Lord has done great things for them." The Lord has done great things for us; We are glad. Psalm 126: 1-3"

God finds pleasure and delight in His servant:

"(The Lord) brought me out into a broad place; he delivered me, because he delighted in me." --Psalm 18:19

Hebrews 12:1-2 also shows us a picture of Christ and joy: "Let us fix our eyes on Jesus ... who for the joy set before him endured the
cross ..."

The parable of the lost sheep shows us that there is great rejoicing in Heaven!

Does God laugh and rejoice! Of course He does!

Originally posted by ScottEmerson:
God shows happiness in His creation in Genesis 1 and 2.

We see that God causes us to laugh: "When God restored the captive ones of Zion, We were like those who dream. Then our mouth was filled with laughter, And our tongue with shouts of joy; Then they said among the nations, The Lord has done great things for them." The Lord has done great things for us; We are glad. Psalm 126: 1-3"

God finds pleasure and delight in His servant:

"(The Lord) brought me out into a broad place; he delivered me, because he delighted in me." --Psalm 18:19

Hebrews 12:1-2 also shows us a picture of Christ and joy: "Let us fix our eyes on Jesus ... who for the joy set before him endured the
cross ..."

The parable of the lost sheep shows us that there is great rejoicing in Heaven!

Does God laugh and rejoice! Of course He does!

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Scott,

Not one of the passages you cite have anything to do with comedy. If you think they do, just remember God will laugh when He destroys His enemies and His people will rejoice with Him. As it is written,

"I also will laugh at your calamity: I will mock when your fear cometh."

And again,

"The righteous will rejoice when he sees the vengeance; he will wash his feet in the blood of the wicked."

And again,

"O daughter of Babylon, who art to be destroyed; happy shall he be, that rewardeth thee as thou has served us. Happy shall he be, that taketh and dasheth thy little ones against the stones."

Do you find something funny or comedic about that?

Mark Osgatharp

Originally posted by Mark Osgatharp:
Not one of the passages you cite have anything to do with comedy. If you think they do, just remember God will laugh when He destroys His enemies and His people will rejoice with Him. As it is written,

Do you find something funny or comedic about that?

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I don't have a problem with it. God will clearly show Himself to be God.

However, we cannot focus only upon God's joy at destroying nations. We must also understand that God finds pleasure in His children and His creation.

Has anyone ever seen the miniseries from the 70's called "Jesus of Nazareth"? Not once in the entire 3-video movie does Christ even crack a smile. I feel this is a major problem with the Church today. We believe that we should all be stoic, even stone-faced, show no emotion at all. God forbid that the Church should have fun, enjoy anything, or even smile as we sing "How Firm a Foundation."

Hardly the picture of Christ I see. "The Visual Bible" (Matthew) does a much better job in my opinion with the portrayal of Jesus... using Scripture as the script.

Did Jesus laugh? I imagine that He did, if He was in fact fully man. I believe that God does have a sense of humor... and all the doom-saying in the world will not change that. This of course, is just my humble opinion.

Joshua Rhodes, I love those pencil drawings of Jesus with him tossing children in the air, holding children on his knee with a big smile on his face..... I have no doubt that Jesus was jovial and very approachable. No dour faced person could draw others like Jesus does! Let's remember that Judas had to point out Christ by kissing his cheek. Jesus blended in with the disciples.

Diane

While this is slightly different from the other examples of humor in the Bible, Luke, the writer of Acts, mentioned a humorous incident in the life of the early church. Peter was imprisoned and the church was praying for his release. God answered their prayers, but the church had a hard time believing that God had actually responded to their pleas.

Poor Peter was left out in the street, knocking on the door to the home where the church was praying, trying to convince them that he was free from prison! They wouldn't believe the word of a girl.

Acts 12:11-16
11 Then Peter came to himself and said, "Now I know without a doubt that the Lord sent his angel and rescued me from Herod's clutches and from everything the Jewish people were anticipating."
12 When this had dawned on him, he went to the house of Mary the mother of John, also called Mark, where many people had gathered and were praying.
13 Peter knocked at the outer entrance, and a servant girl named Rhoda came to answer the door.
14 When she recognized Peter's voice, she was so overjoyed she ran back without opening it and exclaimed, "Peter is at the door!"
15 "You're out of your mind," they told her. When she kept insisting that it was so, they said, "It must be his angel."
16 But Peter kept on knocking, and when they opened the door and saw him, they were astonished.


The whole scene reminds me of an incident from the 1930s that occured in a church where I used to pastor:

There was a severe drought in the area (a farming and ranching community) and the pastor of the church spread the word around town that they were going to devote the upcoming Sunday morning service to pray for rain. The congregation met that Sunday morning and prayed fervently for rain. As they prayed, clouds began to form and darken and suddenly it started pouring down rain with such force that they had to shut the windows on the sides of the sanctuary to keep the water from pouring in.

The congregation was excited and relieved by the rainfall, but realized that no one in the congregation but a little girl had enough faith to bring an umbrella to avoid getting their dress clothes soaked.

Originally posted by ScottEmerson:
</font><blockquote>quote:</font><hr />Originally posted by Mark Osgatharp:
Not one of the passages you cite have anything to do with comedy. If you think they do, just remember God will laugh when He destroys His enemies and His people will rejoice with Him. As it is written,

Do you find something funny or comedic about that?

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I don't have a problem with it. God will clearly show Himself to be God.

However, we cannot focus only upon God's joy at destroying nations. We must also understand that God finds pleasure in His children and His creation. </font>[/QUOTE]Scott,

I didn't ask you if you had a problem with it. I asked you if you found something funny or comedic about it. Do you?

Mark Osgatharp

Mark, do you think we all should abstain from anything that would make us crack a smile? Should we all walk around with a scowl on our faces, ready to condemn the first person who laughs?
"God doesn't laugh, and we shouldn't either!!"

That is hardly the type of Christian I would want to fellowship with.

Have you never laughed out of happiness? That is how I envision God's laughter, as laughter borne from happiness that His children do His will.

WIZOFOZ,

To start with, a laugh of happiness and a laugh of comedy are not the same thing. We do find where the Bible commends the laugh of happiness. No where does the Bible commend comedic laughter.

I don't necessarily say it is wrong but neither can we say it is essential to Christian character (even though you piously declare non-fellowship with the humorless Christian). We do, however, find where the Bible condemns inappropriate jesting.

And we also find where the Bible commands us to be sober, grave, and temperate. Therefore, while I would not say that some occasional light hearted joking is sinful, I would say that comedy should not characterize us. And I would further say that comedy has little place in the pulpit where the most deathly serious matters are being discussed.

Finally, it cannot be proven from the Scriptures that God ever laughed out of a sense of comedy. We do, however, find that He will laugh at and deride those He destroys, and I hardly think that has anything to do with judgement being funny.

Mark Osgatharp

To start with, a laugh of happiness and a laugh of comedy are not the same thing. We do find where the Bible commends the laugh of happiness. No where does the Bible commend comedic laughter.

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I know the difference. I was wondering if you did.

I don't necessarily say it is wrong but neither can we say it is essential to Christian character (even though you piously declare non-fellowship with the humorless Christian).

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So it's not a Christian character to laugh and enjoy oneself? Or to have fun and laughter with others? Where did you pull that from?
I don't care to be around those who think they have to be somber and dour all the time. I don't see where that makes me to "piously declare non-fellowship" with them.

And we also find where the Bible commands us to be sober, grave, and temperate.

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Doesn't it also tell us to be happy, joyful, glad, etc.?

Therefore, while I would not say that some occasional light hearted joking is sinful, I would say that comedy should not characterize us.

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Neither should we shun comedy, for laughter is beneficial to us.

And I would further say that comedy has little place in the pulpit where the most deathly serious matters are being discussed.

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I have seen, and used, comedy in some form behind the pulpit to drive home a point, not to soften the blow. It is effective, when used properly.

Finally, it cannot be proven from the Scriptures that God ever laughed out of a sense of comedy.

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No, it can't. But does that mean that we can't enjoy comedy?

We do, however, find that He will laugh at and deride those He destroys, and I hardly think that has anything to do with judgement being funny.

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No one said it did. You're taking this way too seriously.

Originally posted by Mark Osgatharp:
I didn't ask you if you had a problem with it. I asked you if you found something funny or comedic about it. Do you?

Mark Osgatharp

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There's nothing comedic about God destroying the ungodly, although I understand why He laughs. However, there is no commandment that states that comedy is evil or sinful. The only type of condemnation about laughter that we see in the Scriptures is the laughter caused by a frivilous presumption of living. As to laughter being sinful in and of itself, the passage just doesn't exist. I do not understand why you continue the "argument from silence." It appears to me that you are encouraging other Christians in your church to not enjoy the Christian life, and it is no wonder that so few young people go to your church, honestly. I know that I would not want to. I wonder what type of example it sends non-believers when you tell them that the only time God laughs is when He is destroying something.

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PROVERBS 17:22 A merry heart doeth good like a medicine: but a broken spirit drieth the bones.

Boy, Mark must be fun at parties.

Comedy is one of the greatest gifts God has given us; it is something that makes the worst days bearable and the best days a true joy. Laughing with friends is truly one of the most enjoyable experiences of life.

Sure, God may not 'laugh' at humor because he knows the punchlines, but there's no reason to think that God is so benign and joyless that He has no humor. I bet God will tell us all a few zingers once we get the heaven.

Originally posted by ScottEmerson:
There's nothing comedic about God destroying the ungodly, although I understand why He laughs. However, there is no commandment that states that comedy is evil or sinful. The only type of condemnation about laughter that we see in the Scriptures is the laughter caused by a frivilous presumption of living. As to laughter being sinful in and of itself, the passage just doesn't exist. I do not understand why you continue the "argument from silence." It appears to me that you are encouraging other Christians in your church to not enjoy the Christian life, and it is no wonder that so few young people go to your church, honestly.

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Scott,

All I did was point out the facts that:

1. The only mention in the Bible of God laughing is the laugh of vengeance.

2. The only mention of comedic laughter in the Bible is in a negative way.

3. That one can laugh out of happiness without comedy being involved at all.

Notwithstanding, I still concluded: "I would not say that some occasional light hearted joking is sinful, I would say that comedy should not characterize us.

So why have you falsely accused me of saying it is sinful to laugh? Do you not have a conscience against making false accusations?

Mark Osgatharp

Originally posted by Brett:
Comedy is one of the greatest gifts God has given us; it is something that makes the worst days bearable and the best days a true joy.

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Brett,

I've endured some pretty dark days in my life and it was never comedy that made them bearable. It was always the assurance and comfort of God great and precious promises, none of which I have ever found "humorous" in the comedic sense of the term.

And the most joyful days of my life were days spent in the house of God among the people of God worshipping God in sobriety and gravity. Nothing about some sophomoric joke can top that.

Notwithstanding, I don't mind joking around at times (in spite of you and Scott's vicious slanders). It's just that I don't consider that some grand part of my Christianity.

But neither do I condemn a man who is deathly serious at all times. As a matter of fact, I wish I was more that way sometimes.

Mark Osgatharp

Sure, the Bible doesn't directly say God has a sense of humor. But it doesn't say that God didn't. But there are so many folks on this board who can attest to God's sense of humor in their lives, that it's clear, to me, at least, that God does, indeed, have a sense of humor.

But if we look at Jesus' life, we must remember that Jesus, besides fully divine, was fully human. As a human, he would have known, and would have had, a sense of humor. Many of his teachings and parables indicate a gift for humor and pun. Beam/log, the camel passing through the eye of the needle, etc. Do we really think Jesus never smiled or laughed? That's a myth of hyper-reverent artisans.

Originally posted by Mark Osgatharp:
Do you not have a conscience against making false accusations?

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I need to ask the same of you.

You've falsely accused me on several occasions.

Originally posted by Johnv:
Many of his teachings and parables indicate a gift for humor and pun. Beam/log, the camel passing through the eye of the needle, etc.

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JohnV,

This statement reminds me of an article I read about Jesus' sense of humor. He argued that Jesus characterizations of the Phariseesindicated He had a sense of humor. He turned around and stated we shouldn't direct our humor at other denominations!

Do we really think Jesus never smiled or laughed? That's a myth of hyper-reverent artisans.

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I don't know if Jesus ever laughed or not and my conception of Him doesn't depend on it one way or another. Some things I know for certain:

1. If He did laugh it wasn't important enough for the Lord to make a record of it in the Scriptures which are our all sufficient rule of faith and practice.

2. The fact that He was "a man of sorrows and aquainted with grief" was important enough to record in the Scriptures. This is highly significant because it was a prophecy made by Isaiah whereby men could identify Christ when He came. Therefore, if some clown or comedian had claimed to be Christ, it would have been a sure sign he was an imposter.

3. The only time that I know for certain the Lord will laugh is when He casts the wicked down to the ground and has them in derision.

Mark Osgatharp

Originally posted by Mark Osgatharp:
If He did laugh it wasn't important enough for the Lord to make a record of it in the Scriptures which are our all sufficient rule of faith and practice.

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I think just the opposite. If Jesus didn't laugh, I think it would have been important enough to record. I can't see Jesus saying "let the little children come to me", with him being surrounded by children, without him smiling and laughing with them. Trust me, I was a Sunday School teacher for years, and nothing makes me smile and laugh more than being with kids who want you to be with them.

Besides, while Scripture is to be our all sufficient rule of faith and practice, determining whether or not Jesus smiled, laughed, or had a sense of humor is not a matter of faith or practice, but a matter of trying to get to know our Lord a little better. The Gospels are very clear that the happenings in Jesus' life were so vast, that they could not all be contained in writing. But that's just my $.02. I'm by no means a bible scholar.

Surely the statement that Scott and I made "vicious slanders" is itself an untruth. The joke that you must not be fun at parties was intended to be lighthearted, as indicated by the smiling wink face after it. Nobody could honestly interpret such a statement as "vicious".

Aside from that, I certainly wasn't implying that those who are "deathly serious", as you put it, are any less Christian than you or me. But somebody like that, for me at least, would not be very fun to be around.

I got the joke Brett... and I thought it was pretty funny.