Jokes are an untrue stories or exaggerated events to make people laugh. Jesting (twisting stories) is not uncommon in the Christendom. Jokes had become so famous that there are many websites updating ‘online Christian jokes’. Does God support jokes as a form of fun for Christians?

I was a good jester from teenage, and I grew up to be an expert in formulating jokes to make people laugh. When I gave my life to Christ, I never heard a pastor preach against my clown lifestyle, so I thought jesting was a good talent for the congregation.

One day, I was meditating on ‘entrance to heaven’ when I read the book of Luke chapter 13 and verse 24: “Strive to enter through the narrow gate, for many, I say to you, will seek to enter and will not be able.” I prayed to God to give me the strength to survive the ‘rough road’ to heaven. God knew my jokes had sapped a lot of spiritual strength from me, so He referred me to read Ephesians chapter 5. When I read verse 4, I had the greatest shock of my life.

If you want to know how to live a good Christian life, I recommend the whole passage of Ephesians chapter 5 to you. Verse 4 says: “neither filthiness, nor foolish talking, nor coarse jesting, which are not fitting, but rather giving of thanks.” I read this verse which condemned jokes and jesting repeatedly, and I kept wondering about its less popularity on the pulpit.

I am not comfortable with the major acceptance of jokes and jesting in the Christendom of our generation. Some pastors make jokes on the pulpit, because they want the congregation to laugh. But jokes and jesting are not the right medium to achieve cheerfulness.

There is no scriptural basis for any act called clean jokes or holy lies. “Let’s call a spade a spade”… you cannot be a liar and a righteous child of God at the same time. 1John chapter 3 verse 10 says: “In this the children of God and the children of the devil are manifest: Whoever does not practice righteousness is not of God, nor is he who does not love his brother.”

Characteristics of Jokes

• False stories
• Unrealistic narration
• Exaggeration of true life incidence
• Offensive expressions
All these characteristics can make you laugh, but the origin of jokes is from the father of lies, beware! If you listen to a lot of jokes in the church or media, you will agree with me that jokes are bunch of funny lies. Thus, if you are a Christian who long to dwell in heaven where liars are not allowed, I want you to think deeply on this topic. Revelation chapter 21 verses 8 say: “But the cowardly …and all liars … shall have their part in the lake which burns with fire and brimstone, which is the second death.”

I am not giving an impression that it is wrong to laugh; there are lots of funny real-life incidence which occur every day. If you narrate a true-life incidence without the intention to mock the people involved in the story, then you are not playing jokes. But a true-life incidence played into joke is offensive and not scriptural.

I believe jokes are one of the Devil’s devices to baptize every one into the rivers of lies. Devil had been able to secure a date on the world calendar; April 1st is always a day of ‘fun’ filled with lies, and it’s celebrated across the world. Is it possible for Christians to have fun through the medium of lies? Jesus says in Mathew chapter 7 and verse 18: “A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a bad tree bear good fruit.”

Effect of Jokes

1. ‘Expensive’ jokes had crashed some happy marriages and relationships.
2. Respect for the Jester diminishes, because no one knows when he is lying (jesting) or when he is saying the truth.
3. Listening to jokes in the church or on the media does not edify your spirit, thus, it causes spiritual separation from God.
4. Anyone under the influence of jokes is possessed by spirit of lies.
5. Jokes causes hatred in the society- racism (ethnic jokes)

The Bible made it clear on how we can make ourselves happy through singing songs of praises to the Lord and not through jokes. (Ephesians 5:4)
Devil is the father of all liars, so do not participate in any form of joke anymore. Your new status as a Christian must show the Christ-like character everywhere you go. Have you read a verse in the Bible where Jesus makes jokes? There is none, because God does not joke, he respects every word that comes from his mouth.

Joke is an ancient practice, but Jesus never used jesting in His style of preaching when on earth. I remembered He warned us to be careful of joining the category of people who catch fun through jokes in the book of Matthew chapter 12 and verse 36: “But I say to you that for every idle word men may speak, they will give account of it in the Day of Judgment.”

Since the Lord had called you to be in His righteousness through the Holy Spirit, then frown at jokes or foolish talks because the content is filled with lies. Christian lifestyle is not a boring one, so be cheerful and catch fun by listening to wonderful gospel music and musical instrumentation. The grace of the Lord is enough to make you happy. So, do not gain pleasure in jokes anymore. It is full of lies and hell!!