PULPIT HUMOR AND SELF EXAMINATION

“Let us search and try our ways, and turn again to the Lord.”—Lam. 3:40

Pastors need to practice self-examination in the area of their use of pulpit humor in order to determine whether or not they are doing that which furthers the glory of God, the good of their congregation, and their own present and eternal good. Church members need to examine themselves too relative to their attitude towards, and what, in terms of humor, they are willing to allow into their pulpits. This self-examination must be conducted because inappropriate humor used during the delivery of a sermon militates against the fundamental purpose of preaching which is to bring glory to God and good to those who hear it.

The apostle Peter wrote, "For the time is come that judgment must begin at the house of God" (1 Pet. 4:17). This being the case, judgment at the house of God should begin with pastors themselves. Pastors need to take the examining of the humor they use in the pulpit very seriously for the sake of those who listen to them and in order to avoid rebuke and loss of reward at the Judgment Seat of Christ (1 Cor. 3:13-15; 2 John 1:8).

“My brethren, be not many masters, knowing that we shall receive the greater condemnation.”

— James 3:1

“Obey those who rule over you, and be submissive, for they watch out

for your souls, as those who must give account. Let them do so with joy and not with grief.”

— Heb. 13:17

The Bible says, “For if we would judge ourselves, we should not be judged” (1 Cor. 11:31). Pastors, by virtue of their calling, have a greater accountability, and will face a greater reckoning than non-pastors. It's important therefore that they examine themselves as to their use of humor, bearing in mind that the tendency of men is either to judge themselves too harshly or cut themselves too much slack. Paul expressed his understanding of this when he wrote,  “But with me it is a very small thing that I should be judged of you, or of man's judgment: yea, I judge not mine own self. For I know nothing by myself; yet am I not hereby justified: but he that judgeth me is the Lord” (1 Cor. 4:3, 4).

David prayed, “Search me, O God, and know my heart: try me, and know my thoughts: And see if there be any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting” (Ps. 139:23,24).  Men cannot solely trust what their hearts tell them about themselves. The Word of God makes this perfectly clear: “The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it? I the Lord search the heart, I try the reins, even to give every man according to his ways, and according to the fruit of his doings (Jer. 17:9, 10).’

The apostle Paul was keenly aware of and sensitive to the seriousness that preachers need to bring to their work, He knew that even the appearance of flippancy and foolishness must be avoided (1 Thess. 5:22). A spirit of seriousness greatly contributes to a man’s ministry. It cultivates a sense of dignity in it, and brings credibility to it. It is an indispensable part of what is involved in a preacher’s striving for “masteries,” and is essential to there being a spirit of excellence present in his preaching.

 “And if a man also strive for masteries, yet is he not crowned, except he strive lawfully.”

—2 Tim. 2:5

Pastors are commanded, “ “Take heed unto thyself, and unto the doctrine; continue in them: for in doing this thou shalt both save thyself, and them that hear thee” (1 Tim. 4:4:`16). Those who do this, “when the chief Shepherd shall appear … shall receive a crown of glory that fadeth not away” (1 Pet. 5:4). But there’ll be no crown of glory, no shepherd’s crown, for pastors who fail to “strive lawfully,” who fail to do God’s work according to the standards, the rules, and the laws that He has laid out in His Word for the doing of it. Carnal injections of humor or anything else into preaching constitutes a violation of standards, a breaching of the rules, and a breaking of the laws that should govern a man in the delivery of sermons.  

Many a pastor no doubt will forfeit the shepherd’s crown because of the inappropriate humor that he brought into the pulpit—the pulpit, often referred to as, the “sacred desk.” Preachers are gravely in error that think that their use of humor is a small thing or makes little difference in the work of the ministry (Num. 16:9; Zech. 4:10; Ezek. 22:6).  Those who think that humor in the pulpit is of little significance to God have not thought long enough or deeply enough on this subject.

There are questions that preachers would be wise to ask themselves.  One is, “What is more predominant in my sermons, the wisdom of God’s Word or my own wittiness and occasional wisecrack? Another is: What would the ratio be between what people find edifying in my sermons and what they find entertaining? Here’s one more: “How much of the element of seriousness in my preaching is offset by the element of silliness that is in it?” It would also be wise for preachers to put these questions and questions like them to spiritually mature people who have heard their preaching, remembering: (1) that “Where there is no counsel, the people fall; But in the multitude of counselors there is safety,” and (2) that “faithful are the wounds of a friend (Prov. 11:14; 27:6).”

The Bible says, “Even a child is known by his doings, whether his work be pure, and whether it be right” (Prov. 20:9).  Preachers are also known by their “doings.” their speech and behavior in the pulpit, reveals whether or not their work is “pure” and “right.” The psalmist wrote of the reflection and response he gave to his own “doings;” he said, “I thought on my ways, and turned my feet unto thy testimonies” (Ps. 119:59). Where pulpit humor is concerned, this is good policy for God’s people, especially preachers, to follow.