Colbert says he's a Sunday school teacher and it's obvious he knows a thing or two about all things religious. Just like every other topic, he is able to weave his sarcastic humor and intelligence into a compelling presentation. Here's one example...
| The Colbert Report | Mon - Thurs 11:30pm / 10:30c | |||
| Bart Ehrman | ||||
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I think the red letters in the New Testament show that Jesus used a variety of methods to get His point across. Humor and sarcasm were regular elements of His teachings on grace, mercy, and forgiveness. We can learn from Colbert and Jesus. The Message is a story that can be presented in so many ways. For some, His words create smiles. For others, it produces tears. Either way, the Gospel was designed to make people think - just like Colbert does in the video.
I want us to engage people and walk with them. It's not about following a script. It's discovering where they are and giving them a Message of hope - whatever the method.
7 comments:
That Colbert is on the Comedy Channel should be a dead giveaway. There is a style to his delivery. His show is a product of packaging. Maybe churches who want to follow his lead should have a team of writers that mix sarcasm, humor and brilliant analysis of local issues that cause people to laugh in ridicule of their own quirkiness. Laughter is a great medicine, but there is no recorded incident of Jesus laughing. In fact, the bible says he was a man of sorrow and acquainted with grief. Maybe because he knew he was going to die the ignominious death of a crucifixion for the sins of the world he could never quite reach “funny.”
True - the Bible does describe Jesus as a man of sorrow and acquainted with grief. However, the Bible also says that Jesus was fully human and I would propose that humans understand humor and, with few exceptions, use humor as part of their communication with others.
Who wouldn't laugh when our Savior talked about having a plank in our eye? Now that's funny and I have to believe that there were a few laughs in the crowd.
Dan...even in my own moments of sorrow and grief, I'm thankful God has blessed me abundantly with wit and humor as a form of comfort. Now, I'm no theological genius, but if God blessed me with humor, doesn't it seem like something he would equip his own son with before sending him to the world to talk religion, politics, and health to a bunch of people and then die for all those same people. Including us?
As you mentioned, no record of Jesus laughing in the bible. I do take the Bible to be true. But just because there isn't documentation that Jesus laughed thousands of years ago, doesn't mean he didn't, couldn't, or wouldn't.
Think of it this way. You (Jesus) went to the doctor (God) and got medication(any event in the life of Jesus). The nurses (we could call them gospel writers for name sake) didn't document the event in your chart. Did you still get the medicine? So, do you think it is POSSIBLE that Jesus laughed a tiny bit? I totally think God is laughing with me right now and I am feeling the love.
Laughter is an enigma. God uses it in some very strange ways. Proverbs 1:26 is an example. God says “I also will laugh at your calamity; I will mock when the thing comes that shall cause you terror and panic.” Makes me wonder, at what things do you think Jesus might have laughed?
Who doesn't laugh at a wedding? I wonder if his mother interrupting him to change the water to wine made him upset because he was having such a good time.
Also, the Pharisees had to be an real source of laughter for many people. I wonder if people were chuckling and shaking their heads in confusion when the religious bunch came up with new rules and regulations. Could Jesus have laughed, also, at the absurdity?
Another classic: Jesus jokes about the rich when he says, "It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God" (Matthew 19:23).
The Gospel is the Good News. How could such a great Message be shared without a glowing smile joy-filled laughter?
Oh yeah, I can picture Jesus asking the crowds “How many resurrections does it take to make one Sad-you-see?” All the fishermen sitting around would begin pumping their fists in the air and chanting “yo, yo, yo!” Then he might make a few jokes about “hanging around for a few days.” The only thing missing would be the rim shot! I don’t know if the people were shaking their heads when they heard the new regulations, but Andrew Lloyd Webber might have had it right when Herod was throwing bagels.
OK, now I have a name. I'm using it to enroll at Fuller. Looks like I might need it!! Dan-I'm laughter anonymous...
I always thought the laughter in Proverbs is just because people were plain stupid and it was God showing once again who really is in Charge. God just is.
When I talk about Jesus laughing, he is more like us, but not. Better. I always viewed him as more relational, talkative (I heard he talked a lot) high touch, and the list goes on. I mean really, if you had somebody you aspired to be like...wouldn't you want to be like that. And if God laughed in proverbs at people being stupid, Is it possible Jesus laughed at Satan for trying to tempt him to eat. He was out there for 40 days by himself, nobody had a camera or anything so I guess we will never know?
I mean, does that type of laughter get saved only for foolish people denying God's superior word, or Satan as well when he is trying to get this guy to eat a chunk of food when the Guy already knows he pretty much isn't going to do it. And, he keeps bugging him to eat. I mean, kind of sounds like me driving my car around and my kids asking for McDonalds for the 15th time. Eventually, I just laugh at them because they don't know what they are up against. The difference is, sometimes I give in. That is why Jesus is better.
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