A Bagatelle on the Virtue of Joy
by Phil Johnson
Don’t make the mistake of equating levity and humor with the fruit of the Spirit. They aren’t the same thing. Obviously, joy can produce laughter, but laughter is a fruit of joy, not the essence of joy.
In fact, modern society is filled with jokes but almost totally devoid of real joy. Have you noticed that some of the angriest people in the world are our best-known comedians?
Laughter is often used these days to mask the utter absence of genuine gladness. Postmodern culture has made mirth and merriment cheap substitutes for authentic joy. We in the church must not make that same mistake.
I enjoy humor as much as the next person. Perhaps even a little more. But just because something is funny doesn’t mean it’s good.
Just a thought.
