How often do we hear a joke that hits our “tickle bone”, causes a “belly ache”, or makes us “roll over” in laughter?
How about this racist joke:
While hiking down along the border this morning, I saw a Muslim extremist fall into the Rio Grande River . He was struggling to stay afloat because of all the guns and bombs he was carrying. Along with him was a Mexican who was also struggling to stay afloat because of the large backpack of drugs that was strapped to his back. If they didn’t get help, they’d surely drown. Being a responsible Texan and abiding by the law to help th
ose in distress, I informed the El Paso County Sheriff ‘s Office and Homeland Security.
It is now 4 PM, both have drowned, and neither authority has responded.
I’m starting to think I wasted two stamps.
It is said “many a true word is said in jest.” That is, a joke is like a brain scan. When we laugh, we reveal what’s inside us.
Yes I know our government is reading all my email but more importantly, God knows all my thoughts. So I probably shouldn’t forward all the jokes my friends send to me, especially the ones that make fun of someone, or another ethnic group, or some one’s religion. Why? Because my laughing at it proves I’m just like Jonah. Jonah was an Old Testament Prophet who never wanted to share God’s love with other people outside his own culture and comfort zone.
In other words, my laughter sometimes reveals I’m not really willing to love my neighbor. Nevertheless, jokes are still funny. And the government is still slow to respond. But why God is slow to anger is a wonderful mercy I wish I modeled to be more like Him.
I knew that you are a gracious and compassionate God, slow to anger and abounding in love, a God who relents from sending calamity. Jonah 4:2
