Christians sometimes take themselves too seriously. I know. I'm one of them. Why are Christians sometimes seen as gloomy? Why are church services perceived as stuffy? Have Christians taken too much of the fun out of Christianity?
Jesus was completely human as well as completely divine. And as a perfect human being, he was whole. Personally, I have never met someone who seemed whole and had zero sense of humor. Actually, I'm not quite sure you can have zero sense of humor and even be human! Jesus was serious at times, but he was also at times a fun guy to be around (Ecclesiastes 3:4).
Imagine Jesus as a child. He was a little boy once! Just like me. Just like my two little boys. Smiling, giggling, enjoying life. Making faces, laughing, playing games. Running, jumping, and bouncing with joy. Jesus was a healthy little boy who had the love of a mother and father, not to mention thee Father, and little boys who are loved are generally free to have fun and love life!
Jesus would well have known passages from the Old Testament which encourage fun and laughter. Because of the great things the Lord has done our mouths can be filled with laughter and songs of joy (Psalm 126:2). God wants us to be filled with laughter and for us to shout out with it (Job 8:21).
God himself must be a humorous being who delights in fun. Consider Adam and Eve. Reproduction. "Um... God, you want us to do what?" That's a humorous God, right there. He could have made reproduction a little less fun. He didn't. It's pretty fun. God created us in his own image. And he created us to laugh and enjoy life. Too often do I think of God as only a serious being. God has a sense of humor. He must. After all he made the platypus! God laughs at the wicked even (Psalm 2:4; 37:13). He laughs at their folly and at their derision even in the midst of his wrath.
Jesus himself had a sense of humor as an adult. He brings a dead girl back to life and as the parents stare he tells them to stop staring and get the girl something to eat! Of all the hings to say! I can imagine the scene playing out with this common natural human reaction when grief unexpectedly turns to joy... a bursting out of laughter, tears, and happiness. They surely were there in these parents at Jesus' humorous declaration that this girl is back. (Don't most kids this age consume food like it's going out of style anyway?)
Consider the many nights Jesus was traveling with his disciples. The many campfires. The many dinner parties. I've been to a decent number of campfires and dinner parties and it is rare to have these without some fun and laughter. In fact, Jesus would well have known the human tendency to relax into conversation about serious topics when enjoying fun fellowship around the table. He would have used this to great advantage in his ministry (Matthew 9:10; Luke 7:36; John 12:12, etc.)
I had the great joy of spending the last few days at the Hillsong NYC conference. What a joy it was to be surrounded by thousands of fellow Christians in exuberant praise to Jesus. One of the huge reminders for me at the conference was simply... have fun. Jump. Shout. Cry. Laugh. Love. Knowing Jesus is fun. It brings joy to life. Let that show in our fellowship! Let that show in our worship! Let that show in our teaching! Let that show in our lives! The leaders and speakers at Hillsong are so down to earth and real. They just have fun. They don't take themselves so seriously all the time. They teach serious messages and bring a seriousness to God's word and worship, yet they enjoy it. They bring something that we as Christians sometimes forget to bring... fun.
When all is said and done there will be a great banquet in heaven (Matthew 22:2; Revelation 19:17). It's going to be a fun party. It's going to bring laughter. Let's bring a little of that to our gatherings here on earth in anticipation of what is to come.
Knowing Jesus is fun. Jesus is fun. Let's laugh a little. Let's have some fun.
worship Him 24/7...
scott
Jesus was completely human as well as completely divine. And as a perfect human being, he was whole. Personally, I have never met someone who seemed whole and had zero sense of humor. Actually, I'm not quite sure you can have zero sense of humor and even be human! Jesus was serious at times, but he was also at times a fun guy to be around (Ecclesiastes 3:4).
Imagine Jesus as a child. He was a little boy once! Just like me. Just like my two little boys. Smiling, giggling, enjoying life. Making faces, laughing, playing games. Running, jumping, and bouncing with joy. Jesus was a healthy little boy who had the love of a mother and father, not to mention thee Father, and little boys who are loved are generally free to have fun and love life!
Jesus would well have known passages from the Old Testament which encourage fun and laughter. Because of the great things the Lord has done our mouths can be filled with laughter and songs of joy (Psalm 126:2). God wants us to be filled with laughter and for us to shout out with it (Job 8:21).
God himself must be a humorous being who delights in fun. Consider Adam and Eve. Reproduction. "Um... God, you want us to do what?" That's a humorous God, right there. He could have made reproduction a little less fun. He didn't. It's pretty fun. God created us in his own image. And he created us to laugh and enjoy life. Too often do I think of God as only a serious being. God has a sense of humor. He must. After all he made the platypus! God laughs at the wicked even (Psalm 2:4; 37:13). He laughs at their folly and at their derision even in the midst of his wrath.
Jesus himself had a sense of humor as an adult. He brings a dead girl back to life and as the parents stare he tells them to stop staring and get the girl something to eat! Of all the hings to say! I can imagine the scene playing out with this common natural human reaction when grief unexpectedly turns to joy... a bursting out of laughter, tears, and happiness. They surely were there in these parents at Jesus' humorous declaration that this girl is back. (Don't most kids this age consume food like it's going out of style anyway?)
Consider the many nights Jesus was traveling with his disciples. The many campfires. The many dinner parties. I've been to a decent number of campfires and dinner parties and it is rare to have these without some fun and laughter. In fact, Jesus would well have known the human tendency to relax into conversation about serious topics when enjoying fun fellowship around the table. He would have used this to great advantage in his ministry (Matthew 9:10; Luke 7:36; John 12:12, etc.)
I had the great joy of spending the last few days at the Hillsong NYC conference. What a joy it was to be surrounded by thousands of fellow Christians in exuberant praise to Jesus. One of the huge reminders for me at the conference was simply... have fun. Jump. Shout. Cry. Laugh. Love. Knowing Jesus is fun. It brings joy to life. Let that show in our fellowship! Let that show in our worship! Let that show in our teaching! Let that show in our lives! The leaders and speakers at Hillsong are so down to earth and real. They just have fun. They don't take themselves so seriously all the time. They teach serious messages and bring a seriousness to God's word and worship, yet they enjoy it. They bring something that we as Christians sometimes forget to bring... fun.
When all is said and done there will be a great banquet in heaven (Matthew 22:2; Revelation 19:17). It's going to be a fun party. It's going to bring laughter. Let's bring a little of that to our gatherings here on earth in anticipation of what is to come.
Knowing Jesus is fun. Jesus is fun. Let's laugh a little. Let's have some fun.
worship Him 24/7...
scott