Does God laugh? Can God laugh? If you don’t know the answer to those two questions then shame on you because you missed our first bible study on laughter. It was Biblical. It was edifying. And the critics hailed it an overwhelming success. One reviewer had this to say about it:

    “I laughed, I cried – it was better than a night in reading Leviticus.” 


Which brings us to our very next Bible study. No, not Leviticus. But whether anyone other than God can laugh. That is should Christians ever laugh? 

The short answer is Yes. Why? Because the Bible says that “there is a time for everything”. Pretty amazing huh? Says so right in the Bible – a time for everything. But I guess you’re wondering – does this include wearing socks and sandals? Putting a fish symbol on the back of your car? Twerking? Or [insert random activity] you are now wondering about. 


But before you think too deeply about [insert random activity] here is where it would be really useful, if you haven’t already, to read the rest of the Ecclesiastes Chapter 3, which is where the quote comes from. You can read it here (New International Version) or even listen (to most of it) here in a famous song by the Byrds – Turn, Turn, Turn


So, as you can see, it really does say there is a time for everything including a time to be born and a time to die, a time for peace and a time for war, a time to weep and yes, drum roll please, the Bible even says there is a “time to laugh”. 


But at what? Are you already Pharisaically trying to limit, restrict or define the ‘right’ times and the ‘wrong’ times to laugh. 


Well of course there are a whole range of situations where laughing would be a very inappropriate response, such as when you are around at your girlfriend’s house and the whole (adult) family joins hands to sing Grace and you think they are all playing a prank on you, when in fact they always sing Grace before eating while holding hands. Laughing at that point might not only be inappropriate and a little bit awkward, but quite possibly a ‘wrong’ time to laugh. 


But there are plenty of other situations where it would almost be wrong not to laugh, such as hearing a good joke (How does Moses make his tea? Hebrews it), a witty one-liner (If God is your Co-pilot – swap seats!), a corny pick up line (So last night I was reading in the book of Numbers, and I realized… I don’t have yours!) or watching a funny video like when a poor church musician is trying to sing Oceans only to be totally outplayed by a fantastically bad drummer.  It’s also not wrong to laugh at your own folly and foolishness, as “Blessed are we who can laugh at ourselves, for we shall never cease to be amused”. 


So, should Christians ever laugh? Definitely. Should Christians laugh all the time? Definitely not. Because while they say that laughter is the best medicine, if you’re laughing constantly or for no reason at all, then you might actually need some medicine. 


But whether you are laughing or not (and regardless of whether you need medicine), the Bible clearly says there is a time for everything and that includes a time to laugh.


Do you know someone who needs a laugh? Why not share this post with them, or perhaps you could make us all laugh by posting a funny comment below?