Comments on: Why Christians Aren’t Funny http://www.executingideas.com/2012/07/why-christians-arent-funny/ choosing & living the best ideas Fri, 15 Mar 2013 12:45:32 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.5.1 By: acjeske http://www.executingideas.com/2012/07/why-christians-arent-funny/comment-page-1/#comment-2727 acjeske Sat, 21 Jul 2012 11:54:06 +0000 http://www.executingideas.com/?p=894#comment-2727 I think that’s a good point, Steve. You get on the edge and people get skittish. You’re right on. I think your aversion to risk-taking is a serious issue for North Americans, generally, not just in sermon jokes.

]]> By: Steve http://www.executingideas.com/2012/07/why-christians-arent-funny/comment-page-1/#comment-2720 Steve Thu, 19 Jul 2012 19:38:37 +0000 http://www.executingideas.com/?p=894#comment-2720 Great post, Adam.

I had one more idea about our unfunniness … at least when it comes to preaching / sermon jokes.

Preaching is similar to stand-up comedy. And stand-up comedians have to take risks to be funny. Some might tell easily anticipated jokes for a chuckle, but great comics will surprise you (there’s actually a theory that says that surprise evokes laughter).

We don’t often encourage risk-taking in preachers. If they take a risk and fail, we grumble or judge or leave the church.

Sermon jokes are boring because they’re safe, impersonal and easily anticipated. And my guess is that, if a church has boring sermon jokes, it’s church life is also safe, impersonal and easily anticipated.

What do you think?

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