COMEDIANS IN THE CHURCH
Recently , a friend sent a video of his Church programme to me via whatsapp. It is their Church convention.
Somewhere in the beginning of the programme, a well known comedian was brought in. He did his jokes for about ten minutes, the congregation laughed and he went. The invited pastor came in and preached.
Having watched the video, I responded with a comment on the appropriateness of his Church having a comedian to crack jokes during an important event like a convention. This is my comment, copied and paste.
“I hope some Pentecostal churches will not give Christianity a bad image by this value reducing practices that further erode our seriousness and spirituality. What is this emerging trend of comedy in the church? If it’s a seminar or party, understandable. But church CONVENTION, where the sick are expected to be loosed, blind to see, lame walk, it is a more serious sombre environment. People come to worship God, not to laugh and go home. Church should be serious place, not casino or theatre hall where we come to watch Baba Sala.”
Below is his response to me, copied and pasted:
‘Bola, stop being over religious. I used to have that same position long-ago until I realised that there is nothing wrong in keeping congregation in good mood for sermons. That we have a comedian speaking in the church does not violate any verse in the Bible. Their jokes have moral messages. The jokes they do in Churches are not horrid or lewd. Some help to propagate the gospel. If we are not careful about the way we try to spiritualise everything, we will miss it.
Moreover Bola, the comedian is a church member. Our own. We did not pay him a kobo. That was his own contribution to the convention. Should we not encourage our own?
Also, these jokes help to loosen up the stiffness in our people. Every one in the church laughs, no matter the pains you carried to the church. Different people are here with different moods. The prayers and songs, which they hear and sing everyday could bore them. The jokes did. And they are ready for the word. Has it not help us?
Bola, you were an entertainment reporter all your life as a journalist across the newspapers I knew you with. Encourage artistes. Musicians, comedians, dancers, acapela, they are all artistes. Once their performances have messages to impart, encourage them. They become ministers. You cannot win people to God by discouraging them. Don’t let this born again thing turn you into a zombie. Greet baby and Talo for me.”
I got this response on my whatsapp now. I am lost for words. I hope I am not over spiritualising issues sha. Or what do you think?
