My question is...is there a reason why we joke about sin?

I personally have heard elders and a preacher at the front door of the church's building joking about buying a 12 pack and getting drunk. Why is someone playing a drunk always funny? We laugh at dirty or vulgar jokes.

Most of us have been taught that a white lie is still a lie just as bad as any other, but in our everyday teasing of one another we believe it is ok to lie. Why is a lie not considered a lie when we are fooling or joking, but you better not lie to spare the feelings of another!?

If Jesus was sent to die for our sin, is there ever a time we should joke about that sin?

My intention has not been to point a finger here, I am as quilty as any...would just like any thoughts you may have.

-- Anonymous, December 30, 1999

Answers

Maybe they joke about drinking because they are drinking and are sick and tired of the hypocrisy regarding doing so...

(Deu 14:25 KJV) "Then shalt thou turn it into money, and bind up the money in thine hand, and shalt go unto the place which the LORD thy God shall choose:"

(Deu 14:26 KJV) "And thou shalt bestow that money for whatsoever thy soul lusteth after, for oxen, or for sheep, or for wine, or for strong drink, or for whatsoever thy soul desireth: and thou shalt eat there before the LORD thy God, and thou shalt rejoice, thou, and thine household,"

Strong drink...7941. shekar, shay-kawr'; from H7937; an intoxicant, i.e. intensely alcoholic liquor:--strong drink, + drunkard, strong wine.

God allowed CELEBRATION! However He was not talking about becoming a Drunkard.

Think LIBERTY!

(Rom 8:21 KJV) "Because the creature itself also shall be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God."

(1 Cor 8:9 KJV) "But take heed lest by any means this liberty of yours become a stumblingblock to them that are weak."

But think about the weak first!

-- Anonymous, December 30, 1999

Mark,

Sorry I guess I didn't make myself clear...my intent was durnkenness not drink.

-- Anonymous, December 30, 1999

D. Lee,

Gotcha! I just remember the preachers telling us that Jesus took Bread and [welch's] grape juice... Guess they never understoood the idea that wine has spirit in it.

-- Anonymous, December 30, 1999

Exactly the point, I believe, why wine was used ... because it had spirit (Spirit) in it. And it symbolizes taking His Spirit into you. (Hmmmm this could become another thread ...)

But as far as the joking goes, I think its a reflex type of thing. Ever remember seeing M*A*S*H on television? In this one episode, some one (I think it was Hot Lips Houlihan) asked him why he was so flip all the time in the face of such overwhelming horrors, and he said that it was his way of dealing with what made him uncomfortable. I know I am no different than many people in that I also sometimes joke about those things that make me uncomfortable. Its just a coping mechanism of human nature. Perhaps not a *good* coping mechanism ...

-- Anonymous, December 30, 1999

"Him" in the previous post being Hawkeye Pierce. Sorry, I get ahead of myself sometimes. =)

-- Anonymous, December 30, 1999