Bring a gift of laughter

Psalm 100:1-2  On your feet now—applaud God! Bring a gift of laughter, sing yourselves into his presence.

I love to laugh.  It is my favorite thing to do.  I love to make other people laugh.  I remember early in my ministry, trying to find “my voice”, trying to find the style that God would give me to present his word.  One Bible Study I just started making fun of Peter.  The kids rolled.  They said it finally made the Bible “real” to them.  That was it…my voice.

I have been told from time to time that I need to be more serious or more “pastoral”.  I don’t really know what that means or how to do that.  I could no longer stop using humor to present Gods word as I could do it in Russian.  I think God likes humor.  I see the way he talks to the pharisees and his use of hyperbole and irony to get them cornered and realize surely it would have made the people in ear shot snicker.

I love creativity, I am not that creative but I love it.  I love finding new ways to present an old story.  I love to wow people with the Gospel.  To the critics who say that is unnecessary I would just point out, was it really necessary for God to use a burning bush, a donkey, bright lights and angels at the birth, walking on water, ascending into heaven?  The answer is no, he didn’t have to but it was more effective communication and a lot cooler.

Now I am not saying that humor and creativity should outshine the truth of God’s word.  There has never been a time where truth is needed more.  However, if there is a better way to communicate.  If there is a way to make people smile or laugh while discovering the mysteries of God, shouldn’t we try?

I don’t know it is just a thought.  I am going to go watch Monte Python now.