The Holiness of Laughter
Who doesn't love a good deep-belly laugh? One of those moments when you gather with friends or loved ones around a table, having just finished a home-cooked meal, sharing stories while kids playfully run around squealing. Someone says a punch line, and instantly a loud, boisterous ruckus erupts. Before you know it, your side is splitting, and tears are running down your face. The sound is loud, free, and pure joy. Moments like these make life beautiful and, might I even assert, holy.
Unity in Laughter
Laughter is a unifying expression. When we are gathered with others, and laughter erupts, there is a collective agreement about what has been said or witnessed. A bond is created as people feel connected to one another: "You thought that was funny too?" In moments like these, we feel less alone and more like a part of a community.
One of the core aspects of the Trinity is the unity between the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Scripture tells us how the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit are intertwined: "But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things, and will remind you of everything I have said to you" (John 14:26).
Each member works together to reveal the glory and majesty of the Godhead. No member is superior to another, yet all fulfill their roles with like-mindedness. When we laugh together, we acknowledge the like-mindedness we share at that moment. It is that shared unity that reflects the divine nature of God.
Embodiment of Joy
While unity can be found in many shared experiences, it is the complete embodiment of joy that makes laughter distinctive. Embodiment is something inherent to our nature as humans. Genesis 2:7 tells us, "Then the Lord God formed man from the dust of the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and the man became a living being."
Our bodies are not just shells that hold our spirits; they play an incredibly significant role in the human experience. Bodies enable us to connect through touch, to express deep emotion through tears, or to show someone we care with just a look into the eyes. The God-breathed life inside us works together with our bodies, allowing us to express our feelings and have tangible experiences.
When we laugh, we express joy, which is a core attribute of God. When Jesus speaks to the disciples about the connection they have to him and through him to the Father, Jesus says: "I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete" (John 15:11).
Laughter becomes the full embodiment of joy, as it is the final release of energy in the process of expressing joy. Joy begins with a warm feeling in the body; next, a smile emerges, and finally, when the joy becomes so powerful, laughter breaks free; sound penetrates the atmosphere, the body contracts, and the nostrils breathe in air. Laughter becomes the imaging of the joy of God.
Something to Laugh About
The first time laughter is mentioned in the Bible is in Genesis 17:17. As God is making the covenant of circumcision with Abraham, God both promises a son to the aged Abraham and Sarah and also tells of their generations to come. Upon hearing this unbelievable promise, Abraham falls facedown in laughter. But why? I could imagine that Abraham begins contemplating the juxtaposition of what is and what could be. And for one split second, Abraham ponders what it would mean if God's words were true: a son, not through human intervention, but divinely given to fulfill God's promise of generations. This son is a most joyous thought, and laughter becomes a most appropriate response.
When Laughter Hurts
Do you remember a time from your childhood when you were laughed at? It hurt, didn't it? Being laughed at often cuts deeper than harsh words or a punch to the gut. If one were to do a word study of "laughter" in scripture, there would be many instances of the negative connotations of laughter, often referring to someone's enemies laughing at them. I suggest that these experiences of laughter do not define another aspect of laughter but rather reflect the brokenness of our world. When laughter is used to ridicule and harm, it breaks the unity and joy for which it was created. The fallen nature of this world invades the God-ordained act and turns it into a malicious weapon. This kind of laughter comes from darkness connected to pride, jealousy, anger, revenge, and the like. When we are laughed at, we feel the brokenness of this world and long for the comfort of our loving God.
Holy Laughter
Religion is often so serious and somber. Heaven forbid it if we get a case of the giggles during a sermon! Out of reverence for God, we hang our heads low and humbly approach him in silence when we take communion or mutter a confessional prayer. What would happen if, in those moments, for just a split second, we let ourselves think about and then receive God's full grace and mercy? Would a joy so unexplainable fill our bodies and souls that it could no longer be contained? Would laughter erupt across the sanctuary as we came into unity and joy with the Lord God Almighty? What a moment that would be! Oh yes, that would be a holy experience.
