Laughter

Laughter is a convulsive physiological response to psychological stimuli, such as humorous material, or physical stimuli, such as tickling. The sudden release of tension during laughter causes a decrease in skeletal muscle tone, literally rendering the body “weak with laughter.” The diaphragm contracts and relaxes rapidly, often leading to hiccups or coughing. Some people double over and shake uncontrollably as though they were having seizures (“a fit of laughter”).

The Best Medicine?

Laughter has long been propounded as medicine—even in the Bible: “A cheerful heart is good medicine, but a crushed spirit dries up the bones” (Proverbs 17:22). A hearty laugh is a form of “internal jogging” that exercises the lungs and stimulates the circulatory system. Physicians have noted that laughter acts as an anesthetic by distracting the patient’s attention from pain—by reducing tension, by changing the patient’s expectations and by increasing the patient’s production of endorphins, which are natural painkillers (Peter and Dana, pp. 7-9). Psychologists note that clowns and their regressive form of humor can coax people out of a state of withdrawal (Moody, pp. 27, 111-15).

Kinds of Laughter

What makes us laugh? Comedian John Cleese (Monty Python, Fawlty Towers) claims that laughter is a socially sanctioned way to express disapproval, especially of egotism. In the Bible there are many references to scornful laughter, usually directed at one’s enemies: “[Jesus] said, `Go away. The girl is not dead but asleep.’ But they laughed at him” (Matthew 9:24). Such laughter does not stem from joy but from pride. The psalmist, in his limited understanding of the divine nature, ascribes to God human characteristics, making God appear callous: “The wicked plot against the righteous . . . but the Lord laughs at the wicked, for he knows their day is coming” (Psalm 37:12-13). Nevertheless, God, being omnipotent, will have “the last laugh.”

There is a lot of laughter on television, some of it phony, like the laugh tracks added to a sitcom. Because we do not know where to find true joy, this empty laughter symbolizes our culture’s pursuit of happiness through superficial means. We laugh because everyone else is laughing or because we are drinking alcohol, which removes our inhibitions, or because the material is so embarrassing we do not know what else to do. Taken out of the context of a relationship with God, “laughter is foolish,” as the teacher in Ecclesiastes points out (Eccles. 2:2). Laughter provides only a temporary relief from our troubles and is not a reliable anesthetic: “Even in laughter the heart may ache, and joy may end in grief” (Proverbs 14:13). Eugene Peterson points out that we cannot make ourselves happy—only God can: “Joy is not a requirement of Christian discipleship, it is a consequence” (Peterson, p. 92).

The purest laughter comes from the purest joy, which only God can provide: “Laughter is the delight that things are working together for good to them that love God” (Peterson, p. 96). Take, for example, the birth of Isaac to Abraham and Sarah (Genesis 18-21). Initially Sarah laughs sardonically at God and his promise to send her a son in her old age. Then, when God fulfills his promise, Abraham names their son Isaac (meaning “he laughs”), and Sarah laughs joyfully with God, saying, “God has brought me laughter, and everyone who hears about this will laugh with me” (Genesis 21:6).

Laughter and Tears

We might think that laughing and crying are opposites, but they are very closely connected because they both help release tension. Furthermore, one can lead to another, as when we belly laugh so hard that our eyes water or when tears of frustration and anger turn to chuckles when we realize how silly we are acting. For Christians and non-Christians alike, laughter is inevitably balanced with tears. As the Teacher notes, there is “a time to weep and a time to laugh” (Eccles. 3:4). The difference for Christians is that laughter ultimately triumphs: “One of the most interesting and remarkable things that Christians learn is that laughter does not exclude weeping. Christian joy is not an escape from sorrow. Pain and hardship still come, but they are unable to drive out the happiness of the redeemed” (Peterson, p. 96).

The Laughter of Children

Parents eagerly anticipate their baby’s first smiles and chuckles, which are major milestones in early childhood development. Such behavior reassures the parents that their child is fully human. Laughter comes easily to children—note that parents must teach their children when not to laugh. When Jesus calls us to be childlike (Matthew 18:1-10; Matthew 19:13-15), he is commanding us not only to be innocent, teachable and loving but to express our joy by laughing easily. But he is also asking us to laugh as children do, without ceasing to be serious. As J. I. Packer puts it, “Unsmiling seriousness is really no virtue” (p. 15).

Jesus Laughed

Jesus loved children; therefore, he must have loved to hear them laugh. Jesus himself had a wry sense of humor and must have made his followers laugh often. Since Jesus was divine, he would have the capacity to be infinitely happy, but his temporary humanity would mask the depth of his joy. Being sinless, Jesus could not laugh at his own defects, nor could he, being all-merciful, poke fun at the physical shortcomings of others. But Jesus had a well-developed sense of wit, irony and hyperbole that he readily used to criticize bad behavior, such as greed and pride.

Laughter as a Glimpse of Heaven

The joy experienced by those who walk with the Lord has both a past and a future (Peterson, p. 93). The past is the history of God’s great miracles. The future is the anticipation that God will continue to perform miracles and the promise that in heaven we will experience pure joy. The psalmist writes, “Those who sow in tears will reap with songs of joy” (Psalm 126:5). Luke quotes Jesus promising, “Blessed are you who weep now, for you will laugh” (Luke 6:21). That sense of freedom and release that we feel when we have a really good knee-slapping laugh is just a glimpse of the joy we will experience in heaven.

» See also: Humor

» See also: Pleasure

References and Resources

C. Hyers, And God Created Laughter: The Bible as Divine Comedy (Atlanta: John Knox, 1987); R. A. Moody Jr., Laugh After Laugh: The Healing Power of Humor (Jacksonville, Fla.: Headwaters Press, 1978); J. I. Packer, “Humor Is a Funny Thing,” Christianity Today, 22 October 1990, 15; L. J. Peter and B. Dana, The Laughter Prescription (New York: Ballantine, 1982); E. Peterson, A Long Obedience in the Same Direction (Downers Grove, Ill.: InterVarsity Press, 1980); C. Samra, The Joyful Christ: The Healing Power of Humor (San Francisco: Harper & Row, 1985); B. Sanders, Sudden Glory: Laughter as Subversive History (Boston: Beacon, 1995).

—Kathryn E. Lockhart