Humor in the Pulpit
I recently heard this quote from ____________ (Ah, not going to tell you to keep from tainting your opinion):
This week, Cedarville led our church in corporate worship. Being a Grace grad, I considered an introduction making fun of Jason or perhaps some other easy Cedarville target (Jason especially likes when I talk about Cedarville's grass). However, Cedarville did such a good job "setting the table" that it would have been terribly inappropriate to do some standup, and distract the focus from the Word. Instead, we turned straight to Joshua 5
Alright preachers, I see you on my statcounter. Tell me what you think about humor in the pulpit or how you've found the balance. What about those in the congregation, what do you think? Am I just getting old, or am I finally getting what preaching is about?
People say to me now, who knew me when I was young, "You're not as funny as you used to be." And I say, "Life isn't as funny as it used to be." But, I made my trade sortof being a Bob Newhart knock-off when I was young. I did every Youth for Christ thing, Campus Crusade deal, Junior High, Senior High, I spent summers doing Junior High camp. And I had the shtick, the stand up comedy, the whole bit. Once in a while it leaks out, but usually they edit it out of the tape.Through no intentional decision on my part, I'd have to say I'm finding less room for humor when I preach as well. It's not that I think it is morally objectionable to use humor in the pulpit (for I don't), it's just that the more I preach, the less time 40 minutes feels like. (I know, it would kill the church if I went longer, but nearly every week I feel like I could preach for an hour much easier than for 40 minutes.)
Well you know, they criticized Spurgeon for saying things that are humorous, and he said, "You outta hear the things I think and don't say." And I confess there are things I think of that I don't say. Maybe more of them now than I used to say.
This week, Cedarville led our church in corporate worship. Being a Grace grad, I considered an introduction making fun of Jason or perhaps some other easy Cedarville target (Jason especially likes when I talk about Cedarville's grass). However, Cedarville did such a good job "setting the table" that it would have been terribly inappropriate to do some standup, and distract the focus from the Word. Instead, we turned straight to Joshua 5
Alright preachers, I see you on my statcounter. Tell me what you think about humor in the pulpit or how you've found the balance. What about those in the congregation, what do you think? Am I just getting old, or am I finally getting what preaching is about?
*As a side note, I do not plan on talking about the Ohio State-Michigan game on Sunday, and it will be quite minor if I do. Despite the fact that they will be undefeated and on their way to the champtionship game, it pails in comparison to the things God has for us in Joshua 6!
posted by danny2 @ 9:15 PM
5 Comments:
At 12:29 PM,
Anonymous said…
Now, THAT's funny!
At 1:50 PM,
marissa finch said…
you should make a post about the "beauty and the beast" night between you and charity just like you told it last night at LIFE group!
At 10:53 PM,
~~anna~~ said…
I vote for using humor when it's appropriate (like making fun of OSU) AND take a full hour to speak. After all, a football game is technically 60 minutes, so why not a msg!
and I have to agree with thereformedthinker! GO BIG BLUE #1!!!
Here in CR there are a number of us getting together to watch the game at another family's home (Yes! a house NOT an apartment)
Fun times...of course, the TV station may broadcast in Spanish, but then we can just say we're all studying with the TV on!
At 8:56 AM,
David Mohler said…
You asked for preachers to respond.
Frankly, you can break tradition. The post-modern church has broken virtually every tradition of the church for the sole convenience or desire of "culture", whether it is theologically-rich hymns, prayer meetings, or preaching. I vote for chucking man's traditions more than once in a while. If football is that important, then find a bar and camp out for the post-game party and quit the duplicitous facade. Just come out and say that we really don't need more than a passing moment dedicated to the reverence of Almighty God.
I am not aware of any congregation that has not had some kind of "dedication" service for it's church, setting aside the facility unto the Lord's work. We arrogantly dedicate our facilities to God, then beg the integration of the world's culture into the church recreationally, and socially. But preaching? Pffft.
To answer your question, I don't think it has anything to do with getting "old". I'm barely older than you, and neither of us are "old". It has everything to do with whether the pulpit is viewed as the "sacred desk" or merely a lecture stand. It's the difference between giving a "sermon" and giving a "talk".
Humor for the sake of humor is a waste of time. We all know pastors (in addition to Joel Osteen) who have to tell a joke every time they enter the pulpit. But why?
Sometimes, the pastor's homiletic style does invoke a humorous response. Al Mohler is known for this ability, and is always punctuates his point. But no one comes away from Al's preaching thinking he is a jokester, and the anticipation is not "what joke is Al going to tell today?"
Perhaps that's a good test: do the people silently wonder, "What's today's joke?" I know a pastor from my youth who precipitates that very question in people's minds to this day as soon as he steps into the pulpit.
Christians in the pew have serious issues in their lives. They don't need stand-up comedy to be engaged. They don't need a super bowl Sunday to bait people into the church as an "outreach". Good grief, who are we kidding? What you bait them with is what you will have to feed them later.
Ephesians 5:4 (NIV) "Nor should there be obscenity, foolish talk or coarse joking, which are out of place, but rather thanksgiving."
At 11:14 PM,
danny2 said…
~d,
if david felt i joked too much, he'd tell me. (he refuses to post his messages on the internet, so i've never heard him preach, but he has too much wit to never use humor in the pulpit.)
and i love humor, and to be honest i probably crack a joke or two per week...not that i plan to.
the cedarville example is just what i'm talking about. if i felt so commited to tell a joke that i destroyed the atmosphere of what God was doing (something i know i have done before) then i have not been a good steward of what God has given.
~d, most of all, thank you for your comments about my preaching. honestly, those are the exact comments a pastor hopes to hear about his sermons. thanks be to God! (for if you would have heard me 8 years ago, i was the jokester who just wanted to "work the crowd.") God was gracious for not striking me dead (i certainly deserved it for taking the ministry of the Word lightly) and doubly gracious for changing my preaching when i didn't think it needed changed (i was soooo arrogant...again worthy of lightning to the head).
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