If you are like most folks, probably you haven't. Some folks are downright against humor in religion. I have a preacher friend named John. He was preaching in a church in Texas a few years ago. On one occasion, an older lady stopped him and told him, "If you tell one more joke or humorous story from the pulpit, I'm going to get up and leave, religion is serious business." John said, true to her word, she did just that in the middle of one of his lessons. Obviously, she had never thought about a Jesus who laughed.

I look for clean religious humor whenever I can. I enjoy laughing and it helps keep my spirits up in a sometimes very troubled world. Just last week I ran across a group called "The fellowship of Merry Christians" that produces books, cards, and pictures, as well as a monthly newsletter of religious humor and cartoons. One of the things I found on their website is a picture of a laughing Jesus, titled, "Risen Christ by the Sea." There before my eyes was a picture of Jesus laughing, and it hit me, I don't think I ever pictured him that way before.

Yes, I've heard people speak about the cultural humor in some of his parables, but I had just never imagined him laughing out loud because something struck him as being funny. Yet, isn't that one of the most basic things that makes up our humanity?

I've mentioned before that I like a good science fiction movie and I noticed something interesting through the years. In a couple of the movies, the writers decided that a machine or computer could be considered to be a living self-aware being if it could understand and laugh at something humorous to humans. Granted, that is taking liberties just because they are the script writers, but it points out that it is considered important to many people. In fact, our sense of humor is part of what defines who we are. It's hard to be likable, warm or accepting if you can't laugh at the world around you as well as yourself.

I believe that Jesus knew how to laugh and did so! I also believe that he fully expects us to do so also. Notice a couple of Old Testament scriptures with me that emphasize this point.

• This one, about God, is often repeated as he looks at the rebellious hearts of the nations trying to oppose him with their meager power! "But the one who rules in heaven laughs" (Psalm 2:4 NLT).
• And this one is just about a good philosophy of life. "A cheerful heart is a good medicine" (Proverbs 17:22).

How happy are you?

• Then there is the naming of Isaac — the name Isaac means "laughter" — since both Abraham and Sarah both laughed at having a child in their old age (Genesis 21:6).
• Laughter is a key response to God's deliverance for his people in any age. We were filled with laughter, and we sang for joy. And the other nations said, "What amazing things the LORD has done for them!" (Psalm 126:2).
• Laughter is even a key part of the description of the worthy woman! She is clothed with strength and dignity, and she laughs with no fear of the future (Proverbs 31:25).

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Russ Lawson is a former missionary to Africa and minister in Ohio. He now works with World Christian Literature Outreach and writes a weekly email devotional, Messages from the Heart. For more information about Russ, click here.

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