Humour Aside

Submitted by Alan Marsden on Wed, 07/10/2020 - 00:09
 
This month's Evangelical Times reports a Scottish atheist relishing his government's Hate Crimes Bill as the means by which he can bring about prosecutions of those in possession of holy books. Having read the letter, I think it's clearly satirical, though the ET and David Robertson took it at face value. In one sense, it's refreshing to see an atheist with a sense of humour, as they've certainly become a bitter, angry bunch of late. Telling the difference between literal truth and parody is not always easy; those of us with dryer-than-average humours are sometimes called upon to explain our witticisms or defend them to straight-faced, incredulous recipients. The American Christian satirical site, the Babylon Bee, had a recent article 'fact checked' for claiming that the Ninth District Court legally resurrected the late Ruth Bader Ginsberg. The fact checker declared that the judge had not in fact been raised from the dead, to the relief or disappointment of any morons who took the claim literally.
 
I've sometimes been called upon to defend the Bible's and God's lack of humour. No such defence is needed. Although the scriptures are not without mirth, it is clear that humour can be very much misunderstood, examples of which I have already given. The gospel message is deemed too important to cloak with wit. The scriptures get straight to the point. Like one's Last Will and Testament, the message and delivery is both solemn, plain and practical. 
 
George Fox wrote in his journal of a visit to Weymouth in the 1650s:

There was a captain of horse in the town, who sent to me, and would fain have had me stay longer; but I was not to stay. He and his man rode out of town with me about seven miles; Edward Pyot also being with me. This captain was the fattest, merriest, cheerfullest man, and the most given to laughter, that ever I met with: insomuch that I was several times moved to speak in the dreadful power of the Lord to him; yet it was become so customary to him that he would presently laugh at anything he saw. But I still admonished him to come to sobriety, and the fear of the Lord and sincerity.

We lay at an inn that night, and the next morning I was moved to speak to him again, when he parted from us. The next time I saw him he told me that when I spoke to him at parting, the power of the Lord so struck him that before he got home he was serious enough, and discontinued his laughing. He afterwards was convinced, and became a serious and good man, and died in the Truth.

Fox was a humourless fellow and a part of me is sorry that he converted the nation's most cheerful chap into a puritan stereotype. Yet laughter is sometimes a mask behind which we hide. I have often wondered at the number of comedians whose private lives are fraught with depression and despondancy. 

Better to be sober here and laugh in eternity, than the other way round. Thankfully, many of us can smile and laugh both here and there. 

A merry heart maketh a cheerful countenance: but by sorrow of the heart the spirit is broken. The heart of him that hath understanding seeketh knowledge: but the mouth of fools feedeth on foolishness. All the days of the afflicted are evil: but he that is of a merry heart hath a continual feast. Prov 15:13-15.

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