www.byzcath.org Forums General Discussions Town Hall Humor for all of us Nerds

Jesus and Satan were having an on-going argument about who was better on the computer. They had been going at it for days, and frankly God was tired of hearing all the bickering. Finally fed up, God said, "THAT'S IT!
I have had enough. I am going to set up a test that will run for two hours, and from those results, I will judge who does the better job."

So Satan and Jesus sat down at the keyboards and typed away.

They moused.

They faxed.

They e-mailed.

They e-mailed with attachments.

They downloaded.

They did spreadsheets.

They wrote reports.

They created labels and cards.

They created charts and graphs.

They did some genealogy reports.

They did every job known to man.

Jesus worked with heavenly efficiency and Satan was faster than hell.

Then, ten minutes before their time was up, lightning suddenly flashed across the sky, thunder rolled, rain poured, and, of course, the power went off.

Satan stared at his blank screen and screamed every curse word known in the underworld. Jesus just sighed.

Finally the electricity came back on, and each of them restarted their computers.

Satan started searching frantically, screaming: "It's gone! It's all GONE! "I lost everything when the power went out!"

Meanwhile, Jesus quietly started printing out all of his files from the past two hours of work.

Satan observed this and became irate.

"Wait!" he screamed. "That's not fair! He cheated! How come he has all his work and I don't have any?"

God just shrugged and said, "Jesus saves."

Dear Yuhannon,

Thank you for a good laugh. I needed that!

Zenovia

I simply say I deeply disagree this kind of jokes.

Our Lord Jesus Christ, Son of the Living God, came here to pull us in the Heavens, He was crucified for us. He resurrected. For us.

With every our sin we crucify Him again. He is the second Person of the Most Holy Trinity.

Forgive me.

I agree ... we simply should not make jokes involving Our Sweetest Jesus.

Be sober be watchful .. for the devil prowls about the world seeking whom he may devour.

We are called to be sober and prayerful ... not dissipative.

Shlomo Lkhoolkhoon,

I will let David Armstrong answer those of you who have no humor.

Christianity, Humor, and Satire

Malcolm Muggeridge observed that Christians in particular most appreciate humor, because the great majority of humor is based on human fallibility and foibles, and the Christian notion of original sin and universal human sinfulness and pride ties into that nicely. In the Christian worldview, it is second nature to laugh at oneself and mankind in general, for this reason. Satire in particular is thoroughly Christian, and many of the great and greatest satirists have been Christians (More, Swift, Erasmus, Chesterton, C.S. Lewis, Muggeridge himself, Garrison Keillor, etc.). Jesus Himself utilized mild sarcasm on many occasions (e.g., "take the log out of your own eye"). I love satire myself, and utilize it in some of my writing.

I find that people without particularly strong faith, to the contrary, oftentimes take both themselves and human beings in general far too seriously, and hence are too often dour and humorless and too self-important and pompous to really have a humorous outlook. I know this is a very broad observation, but I have found it to be true in my own experience.

After I wittily responded on a (Protestant) list to a humorous piece about "666" and names (such as Barney the Dinosaur LOL) supposedly adding up to 666 in their Greek or Hebrew numeric values, I received a scolding from a Christian whom I would consider (after several lengthy interactions) overly dour and humorless (his words and those of another participant are in Bold). Here is how I replied:

This is NOT a laughing matter!!!

Is there anything you laugh about? No Christmas [he considers Christmas a pagan celebration] (like the Jehovah's Witnesses - do you hold that birthdays are idolatrous, as they do?), no poking fun at Christians' excess and folly . . . what a dreary life . . . . I suppose you would rebuke Elijah when he mocked the false prophets on Mt. Carmel (1 Kings 18:25-29 is one of the funniest passages in all of Scripture - especially v. 27 in the TEV), or Jesus when He sarcastically rebuked hypocrites by referring to a "log" in their eye . . . or how about Paul wishing that false teachers would "mutilate" (castrate) themselves (Gal 5:12 - a pun upon circumcision)? All of these were very serious matters, too, but the human folly is what was ironically humorous. Lighten up a bit . . . life is too short . . .

Besides, I think it is altogether proper and spiritually healthy to mock and make fun of the devil and his demons. They can't stand that, anymore than the Pharisees could. Proud creatures can't stand not being regarded with abject fear and respect. So we laugh at them; they have no power over us, as long as we are in Christ and faithful to our calling.

. . . The LORD laughs at the wicked, for he sees that their day is coming. (Ps 37:13)

Such a post is not worthy of this list.

Well, since the moderator [a Baptist] started this hilarious thread, I felt safe that it was permissible. I'm very glad that he has a sense of humor. Hell is the place where humor and laughter will die, not heaven, my Puritan friend.

For as the cackling of thorns under a pot, so is the laughter of the fool. This also is vanity. Eccl 7:6.

So I am a fool. Am I a fool because I laugh, or do I laugh because I am a fool? But wait! What did Jesus say?:

. . . if you say 'You fool,' you will be liable to the hell of fire.' (Mt 5:22)

If Paul and Jesus and Elijah could make fun of false teachers (and God the Father often mocks silly and disobedient men, too), certainly I can laugh about eschatological folly (which is legion, and now we have Y2K to add to it). As usual, I would rather follow my Lord than men's self-generated opinions. There are few things more ridiculous than "biblical numerology," which inspired [the moderator] to post his hilarious bit about Barney and 666 in the first place. :-))))))

Another Protestant Christian observed:

I also agree, and thought the joke was funny. But (and isn't there always a but LOL) I think we can go to far into making things funny, too. I'm not saying that is happening here, just an observation of other things.

Yes, I agree.

Some of the things we speak openly about now, joke about, and don't take seriously are the things not too many years ago, we would never speak of around children or in mixed company. I remember when divorce, adultery, etc, wasn't spoken of or discussed, and was seen as a terrible thing to have happen. How did these couple of examples become no-big-deal now? In my humble opinion, thru the stigma being removed thru humor, media brainwashing, etc.

I agree completely; this is a very good and insightful point. In fact, this is why I watch virtually no network TV - because sitcoms do (to sin) precisely what you observe, and I think it is an insidious, wicked thing. I have observed this very process through the years in many Christians. I can't believe what they sit and watch on TV. There are plenty of committed, "on-fire" Christians who show precious little perceptiveness about thoughtful and selective TV- or movie-watching, in my opinion. I also wrote two reviews on my website: on Ivanhoe and Titanic - emphasizing in both the anti-Christian propaganda and underlying themes in both. I was incensed by that because it unnecessarily marred otherwise great movies, and because I knew that added to the brainwashing of the American public.

So with something as serious as anti-Christ, etc, where we are the lights in the darkness to warn people, to be the watchmen so to speak for a nonbelieving world, maybe we need to be a bit careful that we don't desensitize (sp?) ourselves to the very things we should hold ourselves sensitive to......What do you all think? I very well could be totally wrong, I have been before )

I appreciate your thoughts. I would disagree (mildly) on a few points:

1) I would make a distinction between humor amongst Christians, and that in "mixed" company. I can't see myself making "666" jokes to a non-Christian, for the reasons you cite;

2) I also make a distinction between laughing about things which are sin, as if they are unimportant, and non-sinful (which I agree is wrong), and mocking the devil and his demons, which I think is spiritually healthy (because they long so much for us to respect them - just as prideful people do). Luther often mocked the devil when he came to tempt him - as you may be aware. The devil deserves no respect, so we need not (and should not) give him any;

3) One still has to account for the biblical "humorous" behavior I cited: Elijah taunting the prophets of Baal (who were soon to be executed); Jesus using the sarcastic "log in the eye" word-picture; and Paul saying he wished false teachers would "castrate" themselves.

It is indeed often a fine line where humor is concerned (and timing, too, is of the utmost importance). I think it is good for us to examine our use of it periodically. What we can never do, I think, is to frown upon humor altogether (pun half-intended). I think the so-called "Puritan" notion is at least equally as wrong and unbalanced as inappropriate use of humor. A life of Christian joy and peace simply won't permit that. Humor and laughter is too embedded in the human spirit - itself derived from the image of God. I can't believe that the saints in heaven will be walking around with long faces. I would consider that scenario completely absurd from a Christian viewpoint.

It looks like you and I would largely agree. I'm not so much disagreeing, as expanding a bit upon your comments, which I thought were excellent.

Poosh BaShlomo Lkhoolkhoon,
Yuhannon

Are some Orthodox this dry?

Go out more and enjoy! For starters, read Fr. Vasily's exploits at The Onion Dome!

Is outrage!

Amado

To Yuhannon, brother in Christ:

You begin saying this:

I only said that I deeply disagree this kind of jokes . I am not a person without humour. On the contrary, I like the fine jokes. With one amendment, no joke involving Our Risen Lord Jesus Christ.

The sarcasm is good sometimes, especially when it is about our own sins.

You say also this:

Unfortunately Luther left the Holy Romano-Catholic Church.

Here, in this part of the Orthodox world, we are taught that it is not good to try to laugh at the devil or so. The fight with the attacks is serious. See, please, about attacks and so in Philokalia.

I am not self-important, I am only a sinner and a shadow bearer. I prefer to be labeled in any way, but I cannot be silent when it is about the second Person of the Most Holy Trinity.

As my sister Elizabeth Maria said so well:

I repeat, I like the good humour, in fact we the Romanian people have a lot of humour, and I make jokes sometimes, but not involving the Lord Jesus Christ.

To Amadeus, brother in Christ,

You said this word 'dry'. Also you wrote I assure you I am not dry, but alive. I use to go out with friends to Church, sometimes to a good relaxing place, for eating and so, and having a great time. We use to make jokes and so. But no joke with Our Saviour Jesus Christ.

It seems that my sister in Christ, Elizabeth Maria, and this soul were labeled so easy.

Label me how you want, but let in peace my Orthodox sister. I only recall this:

For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. (John 3, 16, KJV)

Just some sincere thoughts, in peace.

May our Lord Jesus Christ, Son and Word of the Living God, have mercy on us. Many dry winds blow through this world nowadays.

And I am so sure that in Heaven the Saints have no long faces, but only joy because they are near Our Lord Jesus Christ.

We must be very aware of our own words. It will arrive a so special time when we will answer for every word.

Please, forgive me.

Marian

Dear Marian:

No doubt the Romanians are a humurous people. So are the Lebanese and many others.

Our sense of humor is a gift from God; but others seem to have a keener sense of what is and what is not humorous!

However, I heartily disagree with you that Yuhannon's post is NOT humorous and for you to imply that it reeks of blasphemy on the Second Person of the Trinity!

I dare say your admonition displays a "holier-than-thou" attitude, which I rather find funny!

Amado

Brother Amado,

Yuhannon began so: "Jesus and Satan were having an on-going argument..." There is no "AND" between Our Lord Jesus Christ and the evil one.

I am sorry, but I disagree profoundly this type of jokes. I disagree this joke, I did say no word regarding the person who said the joke. I am not called to judge. You know the Gospel.


Label me how you want. You are free.

Well, I said too many words on this topic.

May the Risen Lord Jesus Christ, Son of the Living God, have mercy on us and all the world. Amin.

Shlomo Marian,

I would tell you to never go to the Middle East then since we use humor as a way to teach about Jesus. I would also recommend that you do not attend any Antiochene Orthodox Church since the priest may use humor as a way to teach about Christ.

Further the Bible itself uses wordplay, riddles, subversive wit & bathroom jokes.

Those who can't take a joke, especially a joke about religion, or their particular brand of religion, are like the Pharisees of Jesus' day. They didn't understand, or did not appreciate the humor of Jesus' jokes. Jesus did tell jokes, you know. We call them parables today, but to the hearers of his day, I imagine many of them were downright hysterical.

Further you state: "Well Here, in this part of the Orthodox world, we are taught that it is not good to try to laugh at the devil or so. The fight with the attacks is serious. See, please, about attacks and so in Philokalia."

Well we of the Antiochene Churches laugh at the Devil since he has no power over us.

As for Elizabeth's point about us: "We are called to be sober and prayerful ... not dissipative." I would point out that we are also called to be "Fools for Christ."

Poosh BaShlomo,
Yuhannon

Shlomo Brother Yuhannon,

I apologize for my words. Please, do not say this: "I would also recommend that you do not attend any Antiochene Orthodox Church since the priest may use humor as a way to teach about Christ."

I lived in communism bitter years, it was a time when I did not attend the Church. Now the secular world tries to harm the Church. I mean here in Romania. Maybe in other parts it is better.

I feel home in any Orthodox Church. In the Catholic Church too. I use to attend sometimes the Mass at the local Catholic Cathedral and pray for all my Catholic friends. Almost all of them are in USA.

Surely that the humour can be used for teaching about many things. We may be different, brother in Christ, in many aspects, but the Risen Lord Jesus Christ is Our Saviour.

If I did prejudice any of you, please forgive me.

Peace, Marian