Jokester

Have you ever heard a yo' mamma joke? If you have, raise your hand. [And then smile because you know I won't see you do it.] What about the blonde jokes? The sexual jokes? Jokes directed towards other people? I'm sure there is not one person reading this that hasn't heard at least one of those kind of jokes in their lifetime. And if we're completely honest with ourselves, we've all said one of those kind of jokes in our lifetime.

Now, I love a good joke just about as much as anyone. My husband is always hearing (and retelling) new jokes. I especially love eating a good ol' popsicle with our daughter and then when you get to the end there is always a joke on the stick. (You know what kind I'm talking about.) The joke that was on the last popsicle that I had said... "Why did Susie eat her test paper? Her teacher said it was a piece of cake." -Que drums *ba dum chhh!- 

What's the difference between the jokes mentioned earlier and the joke from the popscicle stick? It was clean. There was nothing crude, rude, or filthiness about the joke. I know what most of you are thinking. That joke was also lame. Maybe. But let me get to the point. Just because it is a joke doesn't mean it has to be filled with harsh language or filthiness.

Ephesians 5:4 -

"Let there be no filthiness nor foolish talk nor crude joking, 

which are out of place, but instead let there be thanksgiving."

Did that hit a spot? Maybe you aren't the one telling the jokes but one of the ones laughing, hilariously, about it. Because you laughed and didn't stop the joke, you have just committed the same sin. James 3 talks about taming the tongue. It says that no human being can tame the tongue and it is full of deadly poison. James also talks about how blessing and cursing come out of the same mouth and this should not be happening. 

There are tons of comedians that are family friendly and easy on the ears. Chonda Pierce happens to be a gut wrenching, side splitting, hilarious, female Christian comedian. If you have never seen her you should definitely check her out.

Just think about this before you tell your next joke. Everyone is listening. The Christians and the non-Christians. 1 Corinthians 8:9 tells us to be careful what we say and do. To not be a stumbling block to the weak.