Day 6: Hilarious Gospel

Laughter is the best medicine.
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Being a follower of Christ Jesus is a pretty serious deal. It is not merely a one-time decision and that's the end of it. It is a commitment which has the power to change your life; turn it upside down.

Thankfully, that doesn't mean that we have to walk around with grave faces all day long.

For the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking, but of righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit (Romans 14:17, NIV)

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. (Galatians 5:22-23)

You see the common theme here? The Holy Spirit brings joy. Doesn't sound very dull, does it?

I have a feeling that when Jesus walked the earth, he did a lot of laughing with his disciples and the people he surrounded himself with. Don't get me wrong, I'm going out on a limb here, I don't have the scriptural evidence. However, we are made in the image of God and he created humor. I can think of few things that cure a bad day more than hearty laughter with some good friends.

I think that we miss out on a lot of opportunities to show, be, and receive God's love when we take our messages, bible studies, and gatherings and turn them into business meetings. If God was running a business, I think it would look a lot more like some place like Google or even one of those kids fun zones instead of a stiff corporate office with suits and ties.

When I imagine the love of God, I don't imagine a row of people sitting in a pew dressed nicely and not really talking to each other. Instead, I imagine something that looks a lot more like a bar with a lot of laughter and a lot of good friends gathered close around a table enjoying some food and good company. I hope you don't think I'm being sacrilegious. I think the love God shows us in the scriptures is a lot more raucous than we might imagine by default.

Don't be afraid to keep things lighthearted, especially if your sitting across from me in a small group.

There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under heaven:
...a time to weep and a time to laugh, a time to mourn and a time to dance,
(Ecclesiastes 3:1,4)

There is a time for everything and that includes time to laugh and time to dance. I'm not discounting that there are times for the serious too, a time for sorrow, and a time to grit your teeth. But don't forget that God brings the joy in some seriously large helpings.

See you tomorrow.