What Is Missing?

 What is missing in our churches? Is it revival, or souls saved, or miracles? Maybe. How about humor? When is the last time you heard something from the pulpit that made you LOL? Would is be wrong to actually laugh in church? How about at home? Is there ever any actual laughter and happiness in your home? How about on a date, can either one of you say or do something funny enough to make the other one laugh?

We used to laugh in church. We used to have preachers who could tell funny stories. We used to not take ourselves so seriously. What happened? Grief is hard on laughter. Happiness is a cruel slap in the face to a grieving person. But grief is not meant to be a permeant condition. Sin can ruin our sense of humor. It's hard to feel joy when you are dead inside. But how about the rest of us? Can't we find any reason to smile or laugh when we come to church?

I can remember things that pastor Wayman Mitchell preached because he was my pastor for so long. I can also remember the pastors and preachers who made me laugh. Laughter has that effect on us.

So while we beat ourselves up over our lack of zeal or our lack of fruitfulness may I suggest that what you need is not a 40 day fast but a few minutes of old fashioned laughter.

One added thought. If you are in a band and no one seems to be enjoying your music you are playing the wrong kind of music. If no one is smiling while you perform you need to rethink what you are doing. Public ministry has to have a dimension of entertainment to be effective. If no one enjoys your music no one will hear your message.