Knock knock. Who’s there?

Posted by admin on Nov 3, 2005 in Issues & Ideas | 0 comments

When was the last time YOU laughed during a sermon? While it may have been last Sunday for some of you, others are recoiling in shock after seeing the words “laugh” and “sermon” together in the same sentence. Is it appropriate to use humor in the context of Biblical studies, or (heaven forbid) in reference to the BIBLE? In answer to that question, let me direct you to a small sampling of quotes from some of TWU’s own Biblical Studies professors: Paul Hughes, on creation: “God makes man out of clay. It’s the first clay-mation. Wallace and Grommet eat your heart out.” On The Message translation: “It’s like, ‘Jesus and the boyz went to 7/11, got some slurpees.’” On prosperity theology: “I’m not telling you there’s a pink Cadillac parked outside for every one of you.” On the Garden of Eden: “God’s original plan was to hang out in a garden with a couple of naked vegetarians.”

Tony Cummins, on the ascension: “It’s not like Jesus on rocket-launch mode or something” [insert rocket sound effects]. On theology: “It won’t be surprising to you that most systematic theology is undertaken by males. White, Anglo-Saxon males wearing lederhosen.” Mike Goheen, on Gideon’s army: “I like to think he equipped these Rambos with party hats and kazoos.”

Kent Clarke, on Biblical pick-up lines: “Hey Baby, your nose is like the Tower of Babel, your breasts are like melons.” On verses out of context: “Women, shut up in church and wear head-coverings.” On false humility: [singing] “Oh I am a measly worm, so step on me God and watch me squirm.”

Now, before we rush to burn these Biblical scholars at the stake, let’s see what all this “irreverence” really amounts to. First of all, most of these quotes target incorrect interpretations of the Bible rather than the Bible itself. For example, Cummins’ comment does not call the account of the ascension itself into question, but rather the “rocket man” image that comes readily to some minds. Subjecting that incorrect image to a little ridicule is probably a healthy thing.

However, some of the quotes do seem to be directed at the text itself. Where is the reverence, the piety, the respect for the Holy Scriptures? I would venture to say that all of the professors in the Biblical studies department do esteem the Bible very highly. They believe in it, they pattern their lives after it, and they have built their careers upon the study of it.

Furthermore, it is precisely because they hold Scripture to be sacred and highly valuable that they (and we) feel comfortable comparing creation to clay-mation. It is because of the high value we place on Scripture that treating it lightly seems absurd and humourous.

Not convinced? Perhaps the best approach is by way of analogy. Think of your best friends, those you love, trust, and respect the most. These are likely the ones that you feel comfortable joking with and even teasing. In a healthy relationship, joking can be taken lightly, not as a sign of disrespect, but as a manner of endearment. In the same way, blending humour with the Bible can be a sign of a healthy interaction with it. The very fact that we find these jokes amusing testifies to our belief that the Scriptures are impervious to our wisecracks. The juxtaposition of what we hold to be divine (i.e. Jesus, the Bible) with what we hold to be mundane (i.e. slurpees) is an absurdity, so we laugh. Does this mean we are disrespecting Jesus or the Bible? Certainly not.