Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

To: joebuck; Pining_4_TX
In it's proper place humor is a wonderful tool to use in preaching the word of God.

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).

105 posted on 07/16/2007 5:26:50 PM PDT by HKMk23 (Nine out of ten orcs attacking Rohan were Saruman's Uruk-hai, not Sauron's! So, why invade Mordor?)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 104 | View Replies ]


To: HKMk23
"What's key is to note that this assessment of appropriateness bears upon the environemental context, not the joke, itself"

Absolutely - everything in its season. Just as you wouldn't tell jokes at a funeral, nor would you dress in black and act somber at a summer Church picnic.

106 posted on 07/16/2007 6:36:25 PM PDT by joebuck
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 105 | View Replies ]

Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article


FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson