Is it wrong to tell jokes?
Question:
Please, I want to know the difference between jesting and comedy. Is being a comedian godly?
Answer:
Humor is an important part of communication. There is nothing wrong with telling jokes, so long as they are appropriate.
You would not make a joke that implied you would (or did) commit a sin. You would not want yourself connected even remotely to the idea of sin. No Christian should want to have his reputation tainted by sin. Such is what Paul said in Ephesians 5:3, "But fornication and all uncleanness or covetousness, let it not even be named among you, as is fitting for saints." People make judgments about what we think based on what comes out of our mouths. And it isn't an unjust judgment. Even in telling a joke, a person must be acquainted with the ideas expressed and have thought about them. "What comes out of a man, that defiles a man. For from within, out of the heart of men, proceed evil thoughts, adulteries, fornications, murders, thefts, covetousness, wickedness, deceit, lewdness, an evil eye, blasphemy, pride, foolishness. All these evil things come from within and defile a man" (Mark 7:20-23).
Therefore, Paul said, "But fornication and all uncleanness or covetousness, let it not even be named among you, as is fitting for saints; neither filthiness, nor foolish talking, nor coarse jesting, which are not fitting, but rather giving of thanks" (Ephesians 5:3-4). "Filthiness" is what we commonly call dirty talk today. It is talking about sex or sexual practices for the purpose of getting another person sexually aroused. "Foolish talk" is treating what should be a serious matter as if it was a joke. "Coarse jesting" is telling jokes where sex is involved in the punch line. All of these would be examples of uncleanness because they imply the person speaking is morally impure. Unfortunately, much of modern-day "comedy" is of this nature -- trash talk that should never have been presented on anyone's table.
Jokes also are not to be used to cover up lies or insults. "Like a madman who throws firebrands, arrows, and death, is the man who deceives his neighbor, and says, "I was only joking!"" (Proverbs 26:18-19).
