Does God have a sense of humor? You, or someone close to you, have probably asked that very question. This is a legit question, and a question worthy of answering WITHOUT using the proverbial punch line, “Well, He made you, didn’t he?”
One would think the answer has got to be “Yes” since mankind is funny and we are created in His image. But does God tell jokes? Are the Angels captivated by His one-liners, enthralled by God’s wit? Do they roll on the clouds laughing at His divine puns, their halos falling off? Perhaps ROTCLMHO was the precursor to ROTFLMHO. One thing I know for sure…God has PERFECT timing.
There is a perception that God is an angry God who, every morning, looks over His “pummel and whomp” list to see who He can strike down and destroy. Sodom & Gomorrah did NOTHING to debunk that reputation. Some see God as wrathful & vengeful, the ultimate thrower of lightning bolts. Zeus has nothing on God and Thor is a minor leaguer.
In the movie Bruce Almighty, Jim Carey’s character YELLS to the heavens in frustration, “Smite me, oh mighty smiter!” I have both heard, and uttered, the phrase, “Watch out for lightning!”, and QUICKLY moved a few steps away when somebody next to me said something bordering on the blasphemous. Taking no chances. God has REALLY good aim.
But SERIOUSLY…….holy humor??? In heaven, do the cherubs chuckle? Are angels amused? Do seraphs snicker? We have heard the Saints are marching in, but are they smiling or smirking mid-march? Perhaps as they pass thru the Pearly Gate, Saint Pete repeats a God one, I mean a good one, that His Holy Highness told at a recent Greeting Gate Committee meeting.
God is love, per 1 John 4:8. He is also a jealous God (Deut. 4:24), but I don’t recall a verse that lets us know that God is funny. HOWEVER….God did create the humerus bone, the long bone in the upper arm located between the elbow and shoulder. You know that funny feeling you get when you bump your elbow just right…or wrong? The “funny” bone. That bone, BTW, was removed successfully in the commercial for the Milton Bradley game, Operation. I hope that wasn’t an omen we are not going to need it in the hereafter! Who wants to be WITHOUT humor forever and ever? That would be HELL!!! Organic Chemistry all over again!
I personally believe laughter and spirituality can coexist. I think funniness and seriousness would make good roommates. An eternal Felix and Oscar. Preachers include funny stories in their sermons so why not their Boss? Laughter may be needed as a balance for the solemnity of souls.
Since the path to Heaven is no laughing matter, I realize this question is unorthodox and trivial, maybe even sacrilegious. Expecting cosmic comedy is truly unimportant in the BIG picture, but that doesn’t stop me from wondering. I want to pull up a cloud next to Gabriel, Michael and a whole host of other angels in anticipation of God on center stage delivering the perfect monologue. I am envisioning LOTS of wing-slapping and celestial laughter! I picture myself rolling on the cloud, laughing. As my halo falls off, I hear myself shout out, “OMG! You’re SOOO funny!!”