Is there humor in heaven?

I have thought over this for a while. I do not think there are any passages in the Scripture's where a joke is told. I know there is a chance that it can still be viable without being in the Bible. There is laughter but that is always connected to joy in the Lord. The only other time I see laughter in the Bible is mentioning how fools are mocked or God laughing at His enemies. I have tried to think over jokes that are told and it seems that all in one way or another are either coarse in a strongly negative sense or they are just silly and I am not sure that when we step into the Kingdom of God if we will be silly or even think of silly things. I could be wrong though and I am not making an emphatic claim I would just like to hear what others have to say. I could be wrong in that I missed something in Scripture, there are jokes that aren't based on foolishness or silliness, or there will be silliness in the Millenial Kingdom and so forth. The last thing I mentioned about the Millenial Kingdom is I think somewhat foreseeable to me. I mean we could be silly. We will be on the earth and were not just going to float around in heaven like these mindless spirits. We could act like clowns or something for fun? I don't know though. Lastly, that also brings up a point that we should have more joy I think in the Lord even to laughter and an overflowing cup.

Hmm. Yeah. Thanks for the comments. I didn't mean silly in that extreme sense but in a playful like a clown for children. But I can see that even that is not useful and sober. I do however think that the Lord unless specifically called otherwise allows us to have time for recreation. So, what I am saying is I don't think being sober would solely x it out in the sense of usefulness. But, I do think I agree with you about the use of laughter in scripture. So that would seem to x out jokes altogether at least in that sense?

I believe the Lord laughed at times with His disciples while He walked the earth; and that He smiled and chuckled during conversations at supper time. He couldn't have kept 12 men by his side for 3 years without engaging in good natured humor every now and then. Being Deity, He may have been able to do without it, but worldly guys like Peter and Andrew and James and the rest probably couldn't - nor would God expect them to. The most important thing we know was that Jesus knew when to be serious (and so should we) when presenting the gospel and warning about the consequences of eternity. He was deadly serious then. Literally.

As far as humor in Heaven - I know there'll be joy unexpressable there. Is humor found in joy? I don't know. Perhaps the bliss of transcending time in our glorified bodies will absolutely trump any kind of laugher that can can be identified as earthly. In fact, if you think about it, the fact that one can laugh at humor signifies that there may be times where humor is absent and one doesn't laugh. What will the prevailing emotion be during those times? I am of the persuasion that there will be no emotions in heaven, because emotions are soulish and fickle and circumstantial, but joy and love are not emotions: they are of a higher realm.

(edit) I remember something I once heard Zac Poonen say, and I think it may apply to this thread. A little boy once came to him and said that he was laughing and playing catch with Jesus in a dream the other night. Zac said that he believed the truth of that dream being from the Lord over all the others he hears from self-styled prophets speaking from the pulpits and on TV.

Paul,

I agree that we are allowed recreation in moderation. And yes there are different times. As for not having emotions I am not so sure about that in the fullest sense. I know we will have glorified bodies but they will have some similarities. I mean we will come back to the earth and that will be similar or else why would God create a new one and not just create something called something else. We will eat and I think that we will enjoy that and that is soulish in the sense of having senses. I do not believe that our bodies in themselves are sinful it is just the sin mixed and the corruption because Adam had the same body while he was not sinning. I am not trying to go to the extreme though where we will be on a roller coaster ride and other negative aspects of emotions. I believe emotions are good but are used wrongly.

Some Christians better hope there is laughter in Heaven or they may never get a chance to laugh or smile. I have seen some Christians that it could be the first time they laugh or smile will be in Heaven. By the way we only know about Jesus and his humor by whats in the Word and the word does not cover his whole existence while here, but my guess is that he laughed or smiled many,many times and is probably up in Heaven right now wondering why there are so many sad sacks down here on earth. :-P

Ben,

"clowns" thats interesting. Yeah I think you are right. So many jokes though they seem innocent have an underlining negative thing to them. One can say that they dont mean any harm but the truth is they are laughing at something wrong and because it is wrong this is what makes there sinful nature take pleasure in it. For instance one can allow oneself to be mocked as you said and say well your not actually laughing at me your laughing at the concept that I am dumb or something. But, why should we laugh at someone who is disabled or something are we laughing at their folly? And, yes, sarcasm is another thing. I remember having a cousin though not saved when you made fun of her she would say yeah you are doing it for fun but there is some truth in the you are saying from your heart.

I know we will have glorified bodies but they will have some similarities. I mean we will come back to the earth and that will be similar or else why would God create a new one and not just create something called something else. We will eat and I think that we will enjoy that and that is soulish in the sense of having senses.

We shouldn't deign to make ourselves wiser than what the Word reveals, and that's why I'll stop here :)

Brother Paul

MrBill,

I am not sure you read my post or at least comprehended it completely. I wasn't asking whether or not there was laughter in heaven but whether or not there was humor in heaven. I stated that I know there will be laughter in the joy of the Lord. However, I also was questioning whether or not there was joking in Heaven. I must agree with you though somewhat emphatically that many are so joyless all the time. And this would be from an extreme doctrine that we are never to have recreation or have even spiritual joy because we need to have brokeness. I agree that we are to have brokenness and have soberness but having joy is also a serious thing. The joy of the Lord is our strength. The joy of the Lord is our ministry. Paul said that he wept and laughed at the same time and that is what we do since we weep for the lost and yet joy in our salvation. So, yes we have time for recreation and joy especially since it is spiritual and central in the Christian faith.

edited.

Since we are made in God's image, that will not change in eternity, will it? Ever noticed the incidents in Scripture of the emotions God used? Since evil will not be present in heaven, seems to me that all the sinful emotions will not be there, like anger, frustrations, impatience....

Now about humor - When one reads Revelation about the beauty of heaven, the delight, the joy I get overwhelmed. (Ever tried to visualized John's description of heaven, especially that which is detailed in chapter 4?) and that God wants to surrounded by people who have the capability of expressing emotion, just like he is - oh my! where is the delight?

Now, anyone who will buy his child a pet mouse to play with ...:-? Oh, dear, this would test the humor for some females I know!!! :-o

ginnyrose

Ginny,

Yes I do believe we will have the image of God. I do question though whether we lost it after the fall since we were called sons of men after wards I don't know I haven't thought about it for a while. Not on that but we are partakers of the Divine nature God has made his home in us and given us His resurrected life. And not only that but we are sons of God. We once were called sons of God but have regained it in Christ and will more fully have it. We have become in an even more special sense sons of God. Adam and the angels were sons of God. Our title now is greater though in that God took on the form of a man and now calls us brothers and because Jesus is the son of the Father we also are the very family of God so it is much closer then before because before God did not take on the form of a man and actually become our family if you see what I am saying. Incidentally, anger is not sinful in and of itself it can be righteous, but you are right it will not be in heaven because it wont need to be as far as I am told. I think it would be great to have the same revelation as John in our day. haha "mouse".

davidt wrote:
MrBill,

I am not sure you read my post or at least comprehended it completely. I wasn't asking whether or not there was laughter in heaven but whether or not there was humor in heaven.

Just wondering here because I really don't understand, how do you laugh without humor? I can sometimes look at folks and laugh, but I feel like I am judging them, so please give me an example of how do you laugh without humor please. :-?
Most folks I have known in the past that just sit around and laugh without humor was on mind altering drugs. :-o

MrBill,

In the overwhelming presence and joy of God I believe. I think our paradigm has been so turned that only someones folly or foolishness excites us enough to laughter. I believe there is a righteous, pure, and holy laughter. It is when Gods joy touches you so much that you are excited to laughter but we are so lil in the joy of God and burdened down by life that this is non existent. Here are a couple verses that I looked up that pretty much back up what I am saying I was just trying to explain it. I believe that these are in context to the joy of the Lord and worshiping in His presence. I do have a hard time with this concept in a complete sense because if it is true then the whole Church has to radically change on a very wide scale and I am just not fully convinced in my conscience yet I still have to think a lot of it through.

Job 8:21 He will yet fill your mouth with laughter, and your lips with shouting.

Luk 6:21 "Blessed are you who are hungry now, for you shall be satisfied. "Blessed are you who weep now, for you shall laugh.

Psa 126:1-6 A Song of Ascents. When the LORD restored the fortunes of Zion, we were like those who dream. Then our mouth was filled with laughter, and our tongue with shouts of joy; then they said among the nations, "The LORD has done great things for them." The LORD has done great things for us; we are glad. Restore our fortunes, O LORD, like streams in the Negeb! Those who sow in tears shall reap with shouts of joy! He who goes out weeping, bearing the seed for sowing, shall come home with shouts of joy, bringing his sheaves with him.

davidt wrote:
MrBill,

Here are a couple verses that I looked up that pretty much back up what I am saying.

Dave, I was not disagreeing with you, so you did not need to say here is something to back up what your saying, I was just asking to learn here, I never said I doubted what you were saying, sorry if I sounded that way. I guess we all have a tendency to go into the defense mode when we are confronted about our reasons or beliefs, I know I have a few times in life, no problem, I am here to learn not to Preach, trust me I am no Preacher.

MrBill,

sorry man seriously I didn't mean it that way. It was my fault I should have found a better way to write it. One lacking thing in text is that emotions and such are often hard to get across and I have yet to master it. I just meant to prove it so that it wasnt just my logic or opinion. That is all I know that we as Christians want to see scripture on truths so we can be instructed and convinced on subjects that is all.

Brother David,

I have really enjoyed the thread you have here. I though I would add a few scriptures to the on going discussion

Eph 5:4 Neither filthiness, nor foolish talking, nor jesting, which are not convenient: but rather giving of thanks.

Proverbs 15:2 The tongue of the wise useth knowledge aright: but the mouth of fools poureth out foolishness.

Ephesians 4:29 Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearers.

I would also like to add that laughter is the manifestation of joy. Emotion is any strong feeling.

There are emotions that come from the flesh that can get out of control. The emotions that come from the spirit of man controlled by the Holy Spirit will be manifested properly and will not get out of control.

A good definition that I like for humor is to "put in a good mood". If one goes so far as to go over into silliness then he is activating the fleshly/carnal realm which will not edify the spiritual man.

Silliness tends to breed foolish and senseless behavior.

amen.