hammondjones
Puritan Board Junior
Regarding the use of humor in sermons, is that something that arose during the 2nd Great Awakening, or is there evidence of it before that time?
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I don't believe in telling jokes in sermons, but I do believe in the use of humor.
I don't believe in telling jokes in sermons, but I do believe in the use of humor.
Yep, that's where im coming from.I don't believe in telling jokes in sermons, but I do believe in the use of humor.
Originally Posted by SolaScriptura
I don't believe in telling jokes in sermons, but I do believe in the use of humor.
unhelpful time-killer...
Regarding the use of humor in sermons, is that something that arose during the 2nd Great Awakening, or is there evidence of it before that time?
Regarding the use of humor in sermons, is that something that arose during the 2nd Great Awakening, or is there evidence of it before that time?
I am curious as to why you mention the 2nd Great Awakening. I have not read a great deal of sermons from that time. Did they use a great deal of jokes?
Sometimes a piece of humor in a sermon has made the message itself more memorable, and made the point stick. I one time heard a preacher say that you ask most people what they think Samson looked like they almost always describe a Jewish Arnold Schwarzeneggar. I remember the main points of the message and why it fit so well, so it was profitable. Another man, who is a very serious preacher, talking about being in a church where maybe half are converted and half are converted made the remark, "I suppose the Lord could give me great grace if I have to look at the butts of the goats for a while." (He might have said "deal," but that is how I heard it). It was very difficult to not laugh when I heard that, but in no way did it break the power in his message, and I'd say the line contains a sermon in itself. Sobering night.
I think that we can all agree that jokes to induce humor are distractions, at best (profane, at worst).
However, a humorless sermon, one that intentionally shuns anything that might cause hearers to smile (or even laugh) in recognition of God's greatness, our meanness, and His never-failing love in spite of our unworthiness, is not really biblical. The Bible has humor of various sorts throughout its pages. And the sermon should mimic that in appropriate ways.
There is a certain sort of piety that eschews any sort of humor as improper but such misguided pietism should neither keep us from appropriate expressions of it nor induce us to react against it with joke-telling and other sorts of inappropriate humor.
Peace,
Alan
Now, the overall tenor of my pastor's ministry is not humorous. But he does use humor to make a valid point. And he knows there are times it shouldn't be used. So I think it's more complex than saying, "A sermon should not include a joke."
Very well put.
David Murray addressed this topic in the Puritan Reformed Journal a few years ago: PRJ 3, 1 (2011), 328-338.
Thoughts?
He proves his point too much. It is obvious he is Scottish, which is not synonymous with Reformed. He sets up his point by explaining (after a fashion) what Scots are like, and why we should be like them. His point is very correct with respect to telling stories (humorous or not) instead of preaching the text. But it is not true that preaching is devoid of humor - the Bible is full of humor in the sense of mockery of those who rebel against God, showing the foolishness of sin, etc.David Murray addressed this topic in the Puritan Reformed Journal a few years ago: PRJ 3, 1 (2011), 328-338.
Thoughts?
And at noon Elijah mocked them, saying, “Cry aloud, for he is a god. Either he is musing, or he is relieving himself, or he is on a journey, or perhaps he is asleep and must be awakened.”
(1 Kings 18:27 ESV)