That is NOT Funny! -- No Humor without Humility

Why did the rooster always turn left? 

He was too chicken to let his crest mistake him as  a MAGA supporter. 

Let’s establish a current reality:  The world cries (literally) for some comic relief.   However, comedy isn’t what it used to be.   Entertainers no longer seek hearty laugher at human folly as much as  applause for what they think are witty zingers that are actually uncharitable stingers.  Some are better and more prudent than others, but even the best cross the line of attacking the inherent dignity of another person.  Some repeatedly and mercilessly  pound the same celebrity or public figure.

 
Overall, what is lacking in today’s sitcoms, stand ups, and late night shows is humility at our own shortcomings but also ignorance about Divine humor that uses wit to remind us of our fallible human nature  to propel us to holiness.  Pride is at the root of the most disdainful monologues that belittle in the name of being funny but are actually elevations of self over another.   A chief characteristic of such is that one person becomes the butt of the joke usually in a most humiliating way.   A nasty edge borders the jest.  The delivery puts down another, and a complementary audience may well join in shaming that person for whatever reason.  

 
Of course spotlighting missteps, misspeak, or  misinformation in funny ways is not only fair game, but much better that talking news heads and self important commentators raging against their opponents.  However, we may have gone too far.  What “passes” for comedy too often is nothing more than camouflaged bitterness, resentment, and even hatred of its target.  Late night shows clearly support this thesis, some more self effacing than others; some truly insightful but nonetheless tinged in arrogance and polarization.  Much is simply NOT funny!

 
There is a Christian way while being rightfully respectful of all God’s children. Studying God’s humor over time and the follies of human nature which we all experience should be our guide.  Some of God’s humor flows through such zany creatures as the duckbill platypus, but also Scripture is replete with moments of encountering Jesus Christ that elicit amusement, at the very least.  Some observers note that even his parables blended a lighter side to teach lessons.  In hyperbolic fashion Jesus  alluded to a log in the hypocrite’s eye —try imagining that—and not laughing.  My favorite is how I perceive Jesus “setting up” the woman at the well for a punchline when she admits to not having a husband (John 4: 6-18), Jesus replies that she is right.  Actually, she has had five, and the man she is with currently is not her husband.  Why are we amused?  For one, Jesus is addressing her one-on-one, not disrespecting her in a public forum.  Two,  He  quickly  inspires extraordinary conversion whereby this woman—likely scorned by her fellow villagers—will become the town heroine and later a much revered martyr.  Genuinely humble persons enjoy humor even when—perhaps especially when— it exposes their own shortcomings.  In other words, in some way, we are all the “woman at the well” with secrets and embarrassment about our weaknesses.   When someone jokes with us, we should discern when they are lightening the mood and fostering reformation or really dissing us and devaluing our worth.

 
Overall, virtuous humor—if one can prudently phrase this as such—pokes fun at that which reminds all of us of our imperfections, flaws, and faults without demeaning the inherent dignity to which each of us is entitled.  Admittedly, this is a fine line.  Lately intentionally watching reruns of the Carol Burnette Show, I have noticed that public figures were often spoofed.  Yet these were scripted with exceptional timing, hilariously accurate (though exaggerated) facial and body expressions, and ideally worded dialogue that reflected the times but, in a way, is timeless.   She and other comedians of the latter 20th century artfully characterized  all types of personalities, famous and not, rich and poor, of all walks of life and differing political views.  Indeed, I would imagine that some of those shows could not be aired without the dour comics of our era mocking them for racism, sexism, homophobia, and the like.

 
That is a shame and cynical when we cannot admit that those we dislike have redeeming qualities and those we favor stumble.  Worst of all is when we cannot laugh at ourselves.  I wonder if the woman at the well sometimes later smiled about the time Jesus “roasted” her.  All that mattered was that from there she grew wholly in truth and love.  Our humor should strive to achieve the same objective.