CONSIDER WHAT WAS ON GOD’S MIND
God said: “I’ll create humans with free will.”
Satan sneered: “I’ll defeat you with sin (ego, pride).”
God said: “I’ll send my son who will live a perfect life of faith.”
Death chortled: “I’ll defeat you with the cross.”
God said: “I’ll save the world with very human pastors.”
Hope laughed: “This I got to see. Can I help?”
God said: “Only if you have a sense of humor.”
THE COMEDY OF GOD
One of the classic structures of humor is what is called the “reversal” or “turn.” You set up the joke with a premise that leads the listeners to expect one outcome and then you take a sudden turn that they did not expect.
I’ve begun to wonder if an appropriate image for God might not be that of comedian. Among many examples of God’s use of the reversal are the foundational event of the birth of Isaac when there was no biological way that was possible. Remember, Isaac’s name in English is “laughter.”
Consider the formation of the people with the Crossing of the Red Sea.
Scripture reports in Psalm 126 that God’s reversal of using a pagan emperor, Cyrus, to effect the people’s return from exile resulted in the people breaking out in uncontrolled laughter.
Of course, for Christians God’s best reversal was at the resurrection.
In the fall I will release God Laughs–Why Don’t You, which explores how comedy can be an effective part of a pastor’s ministry and an anti-toxin for the stress of ministry. I hope you will join me in experiencing some humor.
