In it's proper place humor is a wonderful tool to use in preaching the word of God. Verbal communication needs the attention of the audience. Using humor as an introduction to a larger, important point not only gets the listener's attention but also helps in the message being remembered. It need only be brief and not mean spirited. Whatever you think of TV Pastor John Hagee, I think he does use humor very effectively to set up the various parts of his sermons.
Agreed. But I think we've got to be sensitive to context, as well, which is what P_4_TX alludes to.
A dose of humor in an evangelical church service doesn't sound the discordant note that the same humorous experssion would if it came in the middle of a "high church" (formal, liturgical) service.
And that's what I'm hearing among some of those who're objecting to the stuff this guys doing over there at "Momentum". They can't imagine it being "proper" to ever do those things in the context of their usual liturgical worship experience, and they're quite right about that part, but they go too far in extrapolating from their experience to assert an absolute judgment that those things (skits, comedy bits, &c.) are not appropriate to any church service.
So, we've all got a little bit of accommodating to do. As a person hailing from non-liturgical roots, I have to understand the nature of the church services of my liturgical brothers and sisters and agree with them that, "Yes", it really would NOT be appropriate to crack a joke in the middle of mass. They, in turn, have to understand the church services of us non-liturgical types and recognize that, "Yes", in fact a relevant joke in the middle of the sermon might work quite well to drive home a biblical precept. IOW, nothing's changed since the apostle wrote I John 4; we Christians still have to love one another. ;-)
What's key is to note that this assessment of appropriateness bears upon the environemental context, not the joke, itself (assuming, or course, that it's a "clean" joke).
While filling a church is great; saving souls is even greater. Pastor Hagee had some pretty uncompromising things to say about apostate churches in the last days.
The Lord warned that we can tell by the results (fruit) whether something is rotten or not. It is God, not man, who should be honored. If worship is lifted up with joy and gladness, since the news of our redemption is The Good News(!) that's terrific--just as long as the fruit is not really deception in disguise.
The Devil is a real sneak, and it's been said he paves the road to Hell with good intentions. His whole purpose is to deceive. There are some who even deny his existence...the greatest deception of them all. These are the days in which good will be called evil and evil will be made to look good.
KJV: For there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall shew great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect. Matthew 24-24