Upside Down

“These men who have turned the world upside down have come here also…” (Acts 17:6 ESV)

Upside Down

A sure way to make my grandchildren laugh while on a video call is to slowly turn the camera 180 degrees.  That makes me wonder if upside down is a funny thing.

But it is not, at least not in the book of Acts.

Rather, upside down means completely different.  From the foundation of ideas and principles up to the application of those ideas by our fingertips, Christ, through the Gospel, changes everything.

When the Gospel seems to be the same as the world, we aren’t understanding the gospel.  When the Gospel does not change our hearts, our thoughts, and our actions, we aren’t understanding the gospel.  When the Gospel does not make us as different as Christ Himself is, we aren’t understanding the gospel.

Upside down is not funny… it is substantively, obviously, completely different.

Different

And when they could not find them, they dragged Jason and some of the brothers before the city authorities, shouting, “These men who have turned the world upside down have come here also…” (Acts 17:6 ESV)

Different

Poor Jason (and some of the brothers).  Whatever they had done in other communities had been so upsetting that they had been followed to Thessalonica.  And now they were in trouble.  The were gospel-preachers.  So maybe they expected this kind of trouble.

But I have often considered what the angry Jews meant by “turned the world upside down.”  I am afraid it does not sound much like the church and the church’s message today. 

How much upside down turning are we doing?

Or do we try to fit in, as much as we can?

Or do we try to make the message of Jesus palatable, compatible, and comparable to the rest of the world?

Or do we try to be popular instead of accurate?  Mankind-acceptable instead of God-pleasing? Easy going instead of heaven bound?

For the next while, we will try to understand what about the message of God in Christ was so surprising that it turned the world upside down!

We should probably hold onto our hats….

LAUGHING at Danger

But you, O Lord, laugh at them; you hold all the nations in derision. (Psalm 59:8 ESV)

Laughing at Danger

God laughs at His enemies, not merely so that we can join Him in laughter… but so that we do not have to fear, worry, or distress.

But we need to follow three steps.

First, we need to acknowledge that His enemies are powerful.  They are laughable to God, but not to us.  They are dangerous.  And while Christ Himself is victorious over them, without HIS victory we would perish.  His enemies are sin itself (and all sins’ effects), rebellious worldviews, and Satan. God laughs at them because God knows that Christ wins.  But for us to join God in laughter at His enemies, we first must understand the power of them.

Second, we need to realize that Christ ALONE defeats God’s enemies. We are not even third string on His team.  He alone is the team.  God laughs at His enemies because God knows that no other warrior is needed.  Christ is that powerful.  Which is a good and necessary thing.  Because we don’t bring anything but faith in HIM to the battle.

Third, we get to embrace Christ as the victor on our behalf.  It is personal.  He fights for Himself, for all His Kingdom, for the groaning creation, and for YOU. 

God laughs so we don’t have to worry, to fear, to worry, and to remain in distress.  But in the end, so we CAN laugh with Him. 

Motivation

Let there be no filthiness nor foolish talk nor crude joking, which are out of place, but instead let there be thanksgiving. (Ephesians 5:4 ESV)

Motivation

Alfred Noble knew that nitroglycerin was terribly dangerous.  Mining and construction accidents were common.  And so, he experimented and developed a safer way to blow things up that he called dynamite.

But it wasn’t long before that well-intentioned invention was being used for bombs and other weaponry.

Dynamite was useful, helpful, and safe.  But it also was used for harm, hatred, and warfare.

Laughter, too, is useful, helpful, safe, and good.   But it can also be used to hurt, express hatred, deride, and be immature.

Just like our words, laughter can heal or hurt.  Just like most actions, laughter can heal or hurt.  Just like our daily activities, laughter can heal or hurt.  Just like our relationships, laughter can heal or hurt.

Laugh, but laugh well.

Shout for Joy

…the meadows clothe themselves with flocks, the valleys deck themselves with grain, they shout and sing together for joy. (Psalm 65:13 ESV)

Shout for Joy

Shouting for joy is not exactly laughter, but it is close enough, yes? This verse describes meadows and valleys actually shouting for joy… or laughing.

This is not an uncommon picture.  The hymn, “This Is My Father’s World” mentions all nature singing.  Other Biblical verses mention creation responding to God with song and joyful shout.  Psalm 96:12, for instance: let the field exult, and everything in it!    Then shall all the trees of the forest sing for joy!

The reasons that such inanimate things can display joy is not because of some New Age Spiritism.  But rather, because God’s real presence even causes things, objects, fields, and flowers to laugh! In some way, those things know their creator, and respond to His presence with unabashed enthusiasm.

We, on the other hand, are often cynics.  When God gives us reason to rejoice, we are skeptical.  Was it really Him?  Will the good continue? Is it as good as it seems?

The fields and trees believe it.  We can, too!

Jesus points out the connection when some nay-sayers demanded He silence crowds that seemed over-enthusiastic in response to the presence of the Messiah.  He said that if the people stopped crying out, the very stones would have the same response. (Luke 19:40)

Sing like a field! Laugh like a tree!  Rejoice like creation! 

Bursting Out

A glad heart makes a cheerful face, but by sorrow of heart the spirit is crushed. (Proverbs 15:13 ESV)

Bursting Out

I once played Mr. Spock in a very amateur elementary school drama based on the television show Star Trek.  I still remember how difficult it was not to smile when playing the emotion-restrained alien.  He was my favorite!

I was just so happy to be portraying Mr. Spock, that the ends of my mouth kept creeping up.  My eyes twinkled. My voice was cheery, and on the edge of laughter.

I was just so happy, content, and excited that I could not help it. 

When I remember Grace, Christ’s cross, God’s mercies, and God’s love, the same thing happens.  Yes, life is hard and we want to grieve.  Yes, we see darkness in the corner, and out of the corner, and we want to frown.  Yes, we know our pain, and the pain of others, and we want to weep.

And all of those responses are legitimate, understandable, and real.

But on TOP of them… we can have hearts that burst with laughter.  We get to believe God’s goodness is more forceful than evil.  We who know Christ… His love, His power, His plans, His end-plans… we get to smile.  Sometimes just a bit.  Sometimes unwillingly.  Sometimes shyly.

I portrayed a poor Mr. Spock because I was too happy.  Christians portray a poor Eeyore because God is with us.

Just Laughter

Just Laughter

Today’s laughter is not directly FROM the Bible… they are more accurately jokes about Biblical things.  (Don’t worry… this won’t be a repeated.  Maybe…)

Question: Who was the greatest financier in the Bible?

Answer: Noah -- he was floating his stock while everyone else was in liquidation.

Question: Who was the greatest female financier in the Bible?

Answer: Pharaoh's daughter -- she went down to the bank of the Nile and drew out a little profit. Oops. That should read "prophet".

Question: What kind of man was Boaz before he got married?

Answer: Ruth-less.

Question: What kind of motor vehicles are in the Bible?

Answers:

-          Yahweh drove Adam and Eve out of the Garden in a Fury (an automobile produced by Plymouth from 1955 to 1989).

-          Israel's Triumph (a British automobile produced from 1921 to 1984) could be heard after the death of Goliath (2 Samuel 17:52, New Living Translation).

-          Acts 2:12 says Jesus' followers "were all in one Accord," a car produced by Honda.

-          God may favor Dodge pickup trucks since the Israelites were warned not to follow Moses up on the mountain "until the Ram's horn sounds a long blast." -- Exodus 19:13

-          2 Corinthians 4:8 describes a group traveling in a classic Volkswagen Bug: "We are hard pressed on every side."

Ok… I’ll stop.

A Joke

And He said, “He who has ears to hear, let him hear.” (Mark 4:9 ESV)

A Joke

Jesus told a parable about a farmer who planted grain in various locations.  This grain produced crops in some places, and not in others.  The type of soil (from rocky to fertile) had different results. 

But Jesus made a pun at the end of the parable.  We see it (and ignore it) in English.  The farmer is planting grain, which is harvested as a large number of kernels, or ‘ears.’  Jesus then puns about receiving God’s Words in OUR ‘ears.’ 

Surprisingly, In Aramaic, the language Jesus was speaking, the same pun occurs.  “Ozen” is both the fruit of grain, and our hearing organ.

I admit it is not GREATLY profound.

But I smile realizing that Jesus used puns.

He likes to laugh.

And therefore He likes us to laugh.

Fairy Tales

Thus says the Lord: In this place of which you say, ‘It is a waste without man or beast,’ in the cities of Judah and the streets of Jerusalem that are desolate, without man or inhabitant or beast, there shall be heard again  the voice of mirth and the voice of gladness, the voice of the bridegroom and the voice of the bride, the voices of those who sing, as they bring thank offerings to the house of the Lord: (Jeremiah 33:11  ESV)

Fairy Tales

Modern fairy tales have happy endings.  But when folk first told those tales, the endings were not happy at all.  Grandma did not make it out of the Big Bad Wolf’s tummy.  Hansel and Gretal fought a cannibal.  And Cinderella is a story of revenge, with terrible merciless punishment, and Cindy being worse to her stepsisters than they were to her.

But readers and listeners need happy endings.  And so the stories changed.  The Grimm brothers would hardly recognize them today.

But God plans a happy ending for His people.  Jeremiah preached to people who had forgotten God, and therefore lost hope.  But Jeremiah does not just say, “hang in there… remember these things are in cycles.”  Jeremiah does not just say, “let’s choose a better King, THEN the economy will improve!”  Jeremiah does not just say, “some day, your Prince will come…”

Jeremiah promises a happy ending.  Because of God’s power, plans, and love.  HE will bring peace.  HE will bring prosperity.  HE will bring mercy. HE will bring a restoration of God’s people to Himself.

And He promises here, that in the end, God’s people will again have mirth.  Which is laughter… the right kind.

The end of our story is laughter. 

And while that end of course refers to eternity in heaven… it also gives us hope for today.

Christ has come.  And in the Church, there can be people, not empty pews.  Christ has come.  And in the Church, there can be thankful singing, not dirges. Christ has come.  And in the Church, there can be laughter… like at a fun wedding. 

When we focus on Christ, our happy ending has already begun. It’s better than a fairy tale.

Righteousness

Be glad in the Lord, and rejoice, O righteous, and shout for joy, all you upright in heart! (Psalm 32:11 ESV)

Righteousness

A few days ago, I backed up a trailer overfilled with miscellaneous junk, and it did not go very well.  I just could not get the angle right.  I felt unskilled and embarrassed.  But recently, the same task went surprisingly well.  It might have actually looked like I knew what I was doing.

I felt glad… and on the edge of laughing.

This Psalm connects gladness and joy, and perhaps the resulting laughter, with righteousness.  If this righteousness was the result of my actions, abilities, and skill, I would not laugh very often.  But the Psalmist is not instructing us to have a joyful celebration due to our Spiritual trailer-backing.

Because the source of Christians’ righteousness is Christ Himself.

Righteous-caused laughter is not the result of what we DO… but who we are becoming in Christ.  It is HIS righteousness that enables our righteousness.  It is HIS righteousness that gives us gladness resulting from it.  It is HIS righteousness that gives us joy resulting from it.

When we obey, it results in gladness, joy, and laughter because we see Christ Jesus in our lives!

When we are able to be righteous, it results in gladness, joy, and laughter because we see Christ Jesus in our lives!

When we do right, because Christ IS right in us, it results in gladness, joy, and laughter because we see Christ Jesus in our lives!

When we know who we ARE, gladness and joy result.

In that light, there are so many reasons to laugh!

Patronizing

He who sits in the heavens laughs; the Lord holds them in derision. (Psalm 2:4 ESV)

Patronizing?

We usually see patronizing as a bad thing.  Whether it is mansplaining, arrogant criticism, or belittling those around us, patronizing words are unkind.

But the word itself is potentially better than it seems.  Its roots lie in the idea of Fathers.  Those syllables, “Patro” refer to the authority and responsibility of a father.  A father teaches his children from his experience, his authority, and his hierarchy.  But when a Father continues to treat his adult children as if they were toddlers, he can be said to be “Over-Father”ing.  THAT is the meaning of patronizing.

But even when God’s Children grow up to be God’s Older Children… God is still as wonderfully above us as He was before we were born.

So, unlike most of us, He is never patronizing when He acknowledges (and shows us) His Sovereignty.  He will always be above His children, and above the world.

So, He can laugh at those who oppose Him.  Not in an earthly patronizing way, but because He sees His enemies’ foolishness as the foolishness it is.  He sees our rebellion as the rebellion it is.  He sees our opposition to Him as the opposition it is.

But unlike human patronization, God’s patronizing is not petty.  It is not cruel.  It is not arrogant.  It is not prideful.

He laughs at human schemes because He knows what they are… and loves His people anyway.  From His mighty and heavenly position, there is a lot that God might laugh at. 

But notice that in this verse God laughs.  He does not rant and yell.  Even as He shows His sovereignty, He chooses to do so with laughter.

In this way, laughter is a part of His patience.  Laughter is a part of His mercy.   Laughter is a part of His love.

Derision

He who sits in the heavens laughs; the Lord holds them in derision. (Psalm 2:4 ESV)

Derision

The Lord laughing with His children is a nice picture.  But the Lord’s laughter is not always nice. 

He laughs at those who rebel against Him.  That laughter is not mean-spirited or immature.  It is an acknowledgement that His enemies are powerless.

Cultures that claim God does not exist do not ‘think’ Him out of existence.  So He laughs at their thoughts.

Nations that legislate against God’s Laws do not change the Law of the Universe by their puny laws and rulings.  So He laughs at their efforts.

People in authority (any authority) who put themselves in God’s place of real authority rule over nothing.  So He laughs at them.

But while He laughs derisively at them, He continues to laugh comfortingly with us, His children.

So when we hear, see, and smell the rebels… remember God Himself is laughing.  We do not need to fear, worry, or lash out.

Remembering how BIG God is… let’s join Him in laughter.

Unity

Rejoice with those who rejoice, weep with those who weep. (Romans 12:15 ESV)

Unity

The opposite of selfishness is togetherness.

Obviously, one should not do something just because everyone else is doing it.  As my mother used to ask, “If everyone ELSE drove their tricycles off a cliff, would you do it, too?”

But some actions are meant to be followed.

When others are filled with sorrow, we follow, out of compassion and love.

When others are excited, we follow out of companionship and love.

When others are working, we follow out of community and love.

When others are quietly resting, we follow out of common decency and love.

And when others laugh… we get to laugh, too.

It works best when our unity is strong.  When we are bound together through our common faith in Christ, more than when we are bound together by trivial things.

It works best when our unity is the result of the one gospel in our lives, more than the result of age groupings, career groupings, or geographical groupings.

Rejoice together, weep together, and laugh together.

Medicine

A joyful heart is good medicine, but a crushed spirit dries up the bones. (Proverbs 17:22 ESV)

Medicine

A variety of medicines fill our medicine cabinet.  And most of them are useful medicine… for SOMEthing.  There are medicines that are good for headaches.  There are medicines that are good for tummy troubles.  There are medicines that are good for allergy symptoms.

The medicines are good for some things.  But the medicines are not good for all things.

Laughter works that way, too.

Certainly, laughter is not always the medicine we need.  But according to Proverbs 17:22, a joyful heart, perhaps displayed by laughter, is good for times when our spirits are crushed.

Perhaps such laughter is an action we can choose to pursue, in a sort of ‘fake it till you make it’ sort of situation.  We can choose to see the humorous in a dark situation.  We can choose joy, particularly the joy we find in union with Christ.  We can choose to laugh, in the hope of resulting joy.

Perhaps such laughter is something that comes upon us, and almost seems to happen TO us.  God’s Spirit can lift our hearts and bring laughter when we least expect it.  Maybe as a part of the peace that passes understanding (Philippians 4:7).  Our dry bones inexplicably find revival as we laugh in that way.  Maybe laughing in the face of trouble, maybe laughing through the trouble.  Maybe just laughing and finding joy from the Lord.  We can submit to laughter, the result of union with Christ.

Either way, such laughter is like medicine.

Take your medicine!  This kind does not even need a spoonful of sugar.

Laughter

Abraham fell flat on his face. And then he laughed, thinking, “Can a hundred-year-old man father a son? And can Sarah, at ninety years, have a baby?” Recovering, Abraham said to God, “Oh, keep Ishmael alive and well before you!” But God said, “That’s not what I mean. Your wife, Sarah, will have a baby, a son. Name him Isaac (Laughter). (Genesis 17:17-19 The Message)

Laughter

There is a lot of laughter in this paragraph! But the best part is not even in these verses.  God’s sense of humor is displayed here with His use of ironic wordplay.  First, Abram and Sara receive new names.  Abram became Abraham, Sara became Sarah.  And while we would be correct to particularly note the meanings of the changing names, there is also some humor displayed in the names themselves.  In Hebrew, just like in English, the Ha-hA of the name-changes mimics the sound of laughter.  And then later, Sarah laughs at the announcement of her pregnancy (Genesis 18:13)

So much laughter… some of it bitter, some of it pleased, some of it shocked, some of it ironic… but all of it funny.

God likes laughter.  We know the angels rejoice when the Redeemed come home.  And God Himself uses laughter here to display His joy… His pleasure… and His expectation that we will be laughing, too.

I agree that there is not a lot of deep theology in this idea of laughing.  It is simply good to laugh with God cheerfully about the saving work of our God!

Wonder

The heavens declare the glory of God, and the sky above proclaims his handiwork. (Psalm 19:1 ESV)

Wonder

Many parents create an art museum on our refrigerators.  When visiting friends, sometimes we can learn about their children’s personalities, characters, and likes/dislikes.  And we can do the same thing with our God’s refrigerator.

We learn about Him through His creation.  We see in creation His personality, character, and likes/dislikes.

We smile when a dog’s tail wags, because we know that the God who invented dogs’ tails likes to smile, too.  That dog’s loyalty, trust, and affection are displayed obviously and unabashedly.  And we smile.  God, and all of heaven, likewise rejoice at OUR loyalty, trust, and affection regarding Him.  My dog’s wagging tail teaches me about both God, and myself.

Birds teach us a lot about the God who invented and created them.  They also teach us about how God sees His people.  Birds are mentioned in the Bible nearly 300 times!  Depending on the context, the Biblical reference to birds symbolizes freedom, transcendence, divine providence, or occasionally even evil.  God’s lessons via birds are varied, wide, and sometimes a little cloudy.

But the lesson God taught when He invented and created the Platypus seems clear.

God has a sense of humor.

I can imagine Adam’s chortle when that platypus waddled up to be named.  And not a mocking laughter, but a simple laughter of humor.  How could Adam NOT laugh?  Joyfully, pleasantly, with affection and amusement?

Laugh the same way, sometimes.  Sometimes things are simply funny.  Laugh, because God made them.  Sometimes situations are simply funny.  Laugh, because God caused them.  Sometimes people are simply funny.  Laugh, because God guides them.

Plenty of things are not funny.  Do not laugh at them.

But when you find something funny… laugh in wonder with God.

Puns and Praise

But a Jew is one inwardly, and circumcision is a matter of the heart, by the Spirit, not by the letter. His praise is not from man but from God. (Romans 2:29 ESV)

Puns and Praise

While some might consider Puns the lowest form of humor, a pun is a play on words, and can be clever, insightful, and educational.

In our look at laughter in the Bible, here is a Biblical Pun.

In Hebrew, the word for “praise” is pronounced, “yaw-daw.”  The name Judah is pronounced, “YAW-hoo-DAW.”  Said rapidly, they are almost indistinguishable.

The Bible Puns this similarity repeatedly.  For instance, Leah proclaims in Genesis 29:35, “This time I will PRAISE the Lord.  Therefore, she called his name Judah.”

Similarly, as Jacob lay dying, he pronounces that, “JJUDAH, your brothers shall PRAISE you…” (Genesis 49:8 ESV)

But in the book of Romans, Paul writes with amazing Punniness. He points out that a Jew (the name derived from Judah) is not a Jew primarily by birth… but by what is inside their hearts.  Simply put, God’s children are determined not by genetics, or external actions… but by the PRAISE that is our foundation of thought, word, and deed.

God’s people are the ones who praise Him! In fact, we can’t help it.  We know His loving hand behind all things.  We know His loving grace towards us.

We are the ones who Praise God.  We are Judah!

Go ahead and chuckle. 

Understanding

You have turned for me my mourning into dancing; You have loosed my sackcloth and clothed me with gladness… (Psalm 30:11 ESV)

Understanding

It is said that a wise person laughs three times at a joke.  First, when it is told.  Second, when it is explained.  And finally, again, when the joke is understood.

While in the midst of mourning, laughter can come when we find ourselves in better circumstances, of course.

But we also find joy and laugh through understanding.  Understanding might come through a nudge from God’s Word.  Perhaps understanding comes through the words of a friend.  And maybe understanding comes through renewed awareness of the presence of God, EVEN in dark times.

But when we know Him anew, or perceive Him anew, or understand Him anew… we might laugh instead of mourn.

Naomi experienced this when Ruth remained with her.  The disciples experienced this in the upper room.  Saul experienced this on the road to Damascus. 

The more we know, the more we laugh.

Bad Laughter

For as the crackling of thorns under a pot, so is the laughter of the fools; this also is vanity. (Ecclesiastes 7:6 ESV)

Bad Laughter

Not all laughter is a blessing, a sign of awareness of blessings, or a result of joy.

The laughter of fools, says the Preacher, is merely fuel for fire, and worthless.

But what is foolish laughter?

Foolish laughter is laughter not coming from God, godliness, or God’s character in a Christian’s life.

In other words, the motivation of the laughter determines whether it is joyful or destructive… a blessing or a cause of pain… an act of love, or an act of self-love.

When I was very young, our pastor preached a sermon that I mocked.  He claimed that mocking was unrighteous. I agreed with that.  He claimed that laughing at suffering was hateful.  I agreed with that.  But then he went too far.

He claimed that teasing was unrighteous, unloving, and hateful.

I thought teasing was fun.  I thought teasing was a part of community.  I thought teasing was a sign of affection.

But that horrible sermon has since worked it’s way into my mind, heart, and soul.

I realize that I might not speak for you.  But I also realize that when I tease, even with a smile on my face, I am lifting myself up, and pushing another down.  When I tease, I am laughing at someone’s misfortune, error, or struggles.  When I tease, I am mocking small things that have strong connection to larger matters of the heart.

I have built bonfires with thorny branches.  They flare up, sometimes loudly.  But they do not heat, persist, or help the bonfire.

And foolish laughter is not necessary, useful, or good.

In fact, it is foolish.  Because laughing in THAT way is not acting like Christ.  It is acting like I am the choreographer.  Laughing in THAT way is not acting like Christ.  It is acting like I know others’ hearts more than they do.  Laughing in THAT way is not acting like Christ.  It is acting like I care more about my place in the spotlight, than I care about caring for the cares of someone else.

No more foolish laughter.

The good news is, that Christ died for our mocking laughter.  But it still hurt someone else.  Like the woman at the well, Jesus tells us, “Go, and sin no more.”

Laugh better.

It's Time

A time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance… (Ecclesiastes 3:4 ESV)

It’s Time

I recently attended a play at a local theater.  A man seated nearby laughed way too often. 

I recently told a hilarious joke.  The couple I was speaking to did not respond with laughter.

We have times to laugh… and times not to laugh.  And often they are internally determined.

These days we seem to be laughing less often.

Certainly, we have reasons to NOT laugh.

But God’s people have lots of reasons TO laugh that we ignore.

Beyond the obvious HUGE issues that Christians can rejoice about (salvation, forgiveness, hope, God’s sovereignty, love’s presence, smiles), there so many small, non-theological, often unnoticed things that God sends us.

And more often than not, we choose to miss those times to laugh.

Here are some insignificant things that have brought laughter.

My wife and I have a new inside joke.  My dog got lost in the living room.  I tried to write with a woodscrew.  A friend pointed out an error in a non-critical way.  A movie scene reminded me of a happy moment, our cat brought a bath-toy to the wrong part of the house, I sneezed in perfect rhythm with a song, I discovered that Mount Gloss, which I thought SHOUJD have been named Mount Glass, actually originally WAS named Mount Glass. 

Those things (and many more) gave rise to laughs, not because I was in a good mood, or because I analyzed carefully my overall situation, or because I was overly tired.

I was able to laugh because I worship and serve a God who I know gives me good things.  And sometimes I am on the lookout for them.

It’s time to laugh when we choose to realize that God gives us things to laugh about.