How do Gospel and entertainment
go together??

by Qimmah Gillund (iamsanctuary1@aol.com)

Gospel - the message concerning Christ, the kingdom of God, and salvation. One of the first four New Testament books telling of the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. The message accepted as infallible truth or as the guiding principle.

Entertainment - Something that amuses, pleases, or diverts, especially a performance or show. A diversion that holds the attention.

So, my question this month is obvious, and I’ll try to keep it pleasant but, How do Gospel and entertainment go together? I must admit I’d much rather write about “Entertaining the Gospel”, but that just shows how backward the Christian walk is today. What’s so funny about the Gospel? And, do we really want to be diverted from it? Maybe we should call this current trend of promoting humor and comedy something else. And, maybe we should pick some other topics to make mockery of instead those as defined here:

Dignities-The quality or state of [someone] being worthy of esteem or respect. The respect and honor associated with an important position. [Such as Reverend, Bishop, Apostle, and anyone else in the Body of Christ.] As for our leaders, rather they are right or wrong, we are taught the following instruction in 1 Thessalonians 5:12-13:

 12 And we beseech you, brethren, to know them which labor among you, and are over you in the Lord, and admonish you;

 13 And to esteem them very highly in love for their work's sake. And be at peace among yourselves.

And as for the brethren, we are given the following directive in Philippians 2:2-3:

 2 Fulfill ye my joy, that ye be likeminded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind.

 3 Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves.

And what does this word vainglory mean? It simply means to be boastful, unwarranted pride in one's accomplishments or qualities.  Vain, ostentatious [showy or said to impress others], display.

The Bible defines such folks who indulge in these practices in the books of Jude and 2 Peter: 

Jude 1:8
Likewise also these filthy dreamers defile the flesh, despise dominion, and speak evil of dignities.

2 Peter 2:10
But chiefly them that walk after the flesh in the lust of uncleanness, and despise government. Presumptuous are they, self-willed, they are not afraid to speak evil of dignities.

On a lighter note, a merry heart is good for our health as Solomon taught in the book of Proverbs:

Proverbs 17:22
A merry heart doeth good like a medicine: but a broken spirit drieth the bones.

This is the most often used scripture for the justification of comedy in the church. But the Bible never indicated that a “merry heart” must come from comedy, humor, and laughter. In fact after all that Solomon experienced in his life, his take on laughter is revealed in these additional text:

Proverbs 14:12-13
 12 There is a way which seems right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death.
 13 Even in laughter the heart is sorrowful; and the end of that mirth is heaviness.

Ecclesiastes 2:2
I said of laughter, It is mad: and of mirth, What doeth it? 

Ecclesiastes 7:3
Sorrow is better than laughter: for by the sadness of the countenance the heart is made better.

I don’t mean to insinuate here that Christians should not laugh or have fun or joy! On the contrary, I believe that we should be the most happiest of all people in the Earth! But, I also believe that we should redefine what is “funny” to us, and be transformed by the renewing of our minds. I also feel that happiness depends on inner, and not outer stimulation. “Gospel Comedy” tends to deal mostly with the shortcomings of the people of God. And it makes mockery of the inability of people to live in accordance with the doctrine of Jesus Christ. What’s funny about that? No one has made it, but there is nothing funny about those trying.

This type of humor de-sensitizes its hearers to sin, and makes sin the norm and acceptable. How can we laugh at something that is displeasing to God? Cross-dressing might seem funny to you, but if you research the Bible you will learn that it is abominable [wicked] in the eyes of God. Some say that God has a sense of humor, but I doubt that he is laughing at our sin. Why is there so much effort on being entertained, and so little in leading the lost to Christ? When the lost leave the movie theaters and playhouses, and make a mass exodus to the church, then I’ll be impressed! Anything short of this is as Solomon said “vanity.”

Is anyone reading the Bible anymore? Is anybody teaching all of it? Is anyone really trying to live it? It’s funny to me that so much truth is so readily available, yet so many are misinformed. It’s funny how some call themselves Christians, but don’t want to be like Christ. It’s funny how we want the world to recognize and respect the church, but we in the church make mockery of it. It’s funny how some people vow themselves to Christianity, and then want to be diverted from it. Now I understand what Solomon meant in Proverbs 14:13, “Even in laughter the heart is sorrowful; and the end of that mirth is heaviness.” Some things are funny, but sorrowful still. When fire and brimstones begins to rain down on the inhabitants of the Earth, it won’t be anything left to laugh at then.

Qimmah D. Gillund

Iamsanctuary1@aol.com

Minister Qimmah Gillund is a Holy Ghost filled Intercessor, Minister, Teacher, Singer, Songwriter, Musician and Church Mother.  She served as an Adjutant for more than six years, traveled the U.S., and six countries, and has lived overseas. Prior to living abroad, she wrote a column for a Women’s Magazine, published out of Philadelphia.  She taught weekly etiquette classes, Bible Studies and currently ministers at a weekly ecumenical prayer group. She received her BA, in that she is a “Born Again” Christian and her MA, in that she is “Master Approved”.  Professionally, she is a Program Administrator in the Educational Assessment field.
 - “But by the grace of God I am what I am: and his grace which was bestowed upon me was not in vain; but I laboured more abundantly than they all: yet not I, but the grace of God which was with me.” 
1 Corinthians 15:10

Please direct all comments and questions to the author @ iamsanctuary1@aol.com