"The Bible is filled with hidden humor." That's the contention of Dr. Harry Tikk, a psychic para-archeologist who claims to have discovered The Whoopee Cushion Code. Written on a tanned sheep bladder—thought to be the world's first novelty item—the ancient writing fills in gaps of biblical history with holy humor.

For instance, the document reveals that it was Abraham, speaking to the Pharaoh, who first uttered the classic comedy line, "Take my wife . . . please."

Tikk's discoveries are somewhat controversial, however, in replacing the ten plagues of Egypt with his list of "Top Ten Practical Jokes of All Time" including fake blood, rubber snakes, and windup frogs. And, of course, the Hebrews were the inventors of the dribble flask, clay doodoo, and manna that turned your mouth blue.

Tikk also claims to have decoded Moses' long-lost opening to his great speech from Mount Sinai. (Good speakers always begin with a joke.) "Hey, how's everybody tonight? Well, ‘shofar,' so good (rim shock). So, how 'bout that Passover meal? Great menu if you have to be on the lamb (rim shock). Oy, tough room. I'm dying like firstborn in Egypt (rim shock). Holy smoke, have I got some news for you. . . ."

Prof. Tikk also reveals that Abimelech was not killed by a millstone landing on his head, but with an Acme anvil.

The secret inscriptions also reveal that angels used humor to ease into their pronouncements. For instance, before the angels appeared to the shepherds, Gabriel opened with this, until now, undiscovered monologue. "I just flew in from heaven, and are my arms tired. Hey, don't be sheep-ish, flock right up here. Ewe'll love the good news I have for you."

In addition to the three wisemen, Tikk argues there were three un-wisemen named Moeshak, Larryshak, and Shemp who brought gold, frankincense and mirth.

And according to The Whoopie Cushion Code, Jesus was a first century stand-up comedian.

Actually, I'm not making that last line up. Jesus used humor! I'm serious. Really! According to Elton Trueblood's The Humor of Christ, the hip humor in first century Palestine was hyperbole or intentional exaggeration. So when Jesus told the Pharisees, "You blind guides! You strain out a gnat but swallow a camel," he had the non-Pharisees rolling on the hillsides. He spoke of looking for a speck of sawdust in a person's eye, while having a log in your own. Jesus also pointed out that the rich getting into heaven was as challenging as pulling a camel through the eye of a needle.

Preachers have ruined the story by imagining a short, narrow gate called "the needle's eye" which required: point one, the camel had to get down on its knees; point two, all the baggage on its back had to be unloaded; and point three, we too must kneel and unload our sins to enter the narrow gate. No! Jesus was talking about real camels and real needle's eyes to get a laugh and make a powerful point.

Jesus also used ridiculous—and humorous—situations. Today, hiding a lamp under a bed doesn't seem the least bit funny, but in first century Palestine it did. A lamp was an open flame and a bed was a flat, dry grass mat. Try hiding that lamp under that bed!

Somehow, my homiletics professors never spent any class time on the effective use of humor. In fact, effective communicators have always used humor. When someone scolded Charles Spurgeon for using humor in his sermons, the late, great preacher answered, "This preacher think it less of a crime to cause a momentary laughter than a half hour of profound slumber."

Likewise, the famous Christian journalist, G.K. Chesterton wrote, "I am all in favor of laughing. Laughing has something in it in common with the ancient words of faith and inspiration; it unfreezes pride and unwinds secrecy; it makes men forget themselves in the presence of something greater than themselves."

And for those who object to joking about something as "serious" as faith, Flannery O'Connor wrote that Christianity is serious business that creates serious comedy. "Only if we are secure in our beliefs, can we see the comical side of the universe." There is a deep down joy—and confidence in God's control—that allows Christians a real reason to laugh. That's why Conrad Hyers writes, "Humor is not the opposite of seriousness. Humor is the opposite of despair."

And now back to our regularly-scheduled shtick from Tikk . . .

The Whoopee Cushion Code reveals its most controversial claim of all: the rapture is actually a hilarious practical joke. Tikk explains, "It's ‘Candid Camera,' ‘America's Funniest Home Videos' and ‘Punked' all rolled into one."

Copyright © 2007 James N. Watkins

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