There was a point in my life where I spoke publicly several times a week to reasonably large audiences, and I recall going through a season where I struggled with laughter. I was pretty good on my feet, and quick with a quip, and on the days when I was “on” I could have them rolling in the aisles.

It was fun to make people laugh. It felt powerful to elicit such a pleasant emotion from people, and I remember thinking at one point “I could be Jay Leno.” That was the problem. I’d lost sight of my purpose. Whether what I taught had a point, or even was truth became secondary to the more important issue of whether they had a good time, and I was the most hip and cool speaker.

Laughter is important. We need it. The Bible says it does good like a medicine. Indeed! Someone said “Laughter is the lotion for the sunburn of the soul” and our souls need the soothing, cooling relief. However those who are preaching business ought never forget that their primary purpose is to communicate truth that changes life. Sometimes it seems that preachers get confused and have so much fun telling stories in their sermons that they forget the larger purpose of pointing people to the Giver of life.

There’s a lot of room for perspective and interpretation on this matter, so I want to be sure we leave space for grace and differing opinion. While listening to a sermon recently it occurred to me that it was heavy on humor, while being seasoned with truth.  That’s backwards. The sermon ought to be full of truth, and seasoned with just enough humor to lower the defenses of the listener so that the truth can soak in.

Laughter is wonderful. Life is so much more. And those whose job it is to communicate life, must guard against prostituting their message for the temporary high of a laugh. There’s too much at stake.

There’s a lot to laugh about in the Bible; even more when we seriously consider how to be and do all it calls us to. Sometimes our life even becomes “laugh so you don’t cry” and I’m all for that, too. But I used to make the mistake—and I think some preachers do today—of focusing on the lines that will draw the laugh. Instead, focus on the lines that deliver the truth, and just let the laughs leak in where they may.

I love you my brothers and sisters. It is a good and honorable thing you strive to do. We need the medicine entrusted to you. Give us enough laughter to ease our pain, and enough Truth to cure our disease.