Should a Christian watch stand-up comedy

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timemeddler

Active member
Jul 13, 2023
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#21
I saw one the other day... some of them were okay, but there was more dirty jokes than i anticipated, one of the comedians was downright lousy.
 

Gideon300

Well-known member
Mar 18, 2021
5,300
3,129
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#22
Hi all,
I have been having a bit of a spring clean at home and I came across a lot of my old stand-up comedy DVD's. I was wondering should a Christian be watching this?

Is there anywhere in the Bible that speaks about this?
Many thanks 😊
Some stand up is disgusting. Some is entertaining and can be edifying. I tend to watch Christians such as Michael Jr, Tim Hawkins, John Crist (can be edgy), Jeff Allen (find his testimony, it's amazing). Ken Davis is a preacher as well as comedian. There are quite a few others. Humour is a personal thing. My wife and I laugh at different things.
 

SunshineGirl

Active member
Jan 6, 2024
288
191
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England
#24
Yeah that guy is one of the career complainers.

You gotta watch what you put into your mind. Once I found a nice cartoon comedian called Foamy. (Don't ask.) But his comedy was very sarcastic and insulting to, well, just about everyone.

After a few days watching that, I found myself always with a cutting, sarcastic comment. I mean... I can be sarcastic, but I try to avoid DAMAGING sarcasm, unless it's for a good cause. I stopped watching that and recovered my normal equanimity.
You are definitely right when you say you have to be careful with what you are watching. Many years back I got hooked on watching Mrs. Brown's Boys. One or his/her lines when she didn't care about someone would be "that's nice" I found myself saying that so much. My ex-friend would laugh and say another one of his/her lines.
It's kind of scary how quickly the evil one can get in my mind 😱😔
 

Genipher

Well-known member
Jan 6, 2019
2,283
1,687
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#26
No, but He did tell jokes. Two disciples asked him to call down fire from heaven on some hecklers. Later he referred to them as the sons of thunder.
Also, the creation of the platypus. Enough said. 😆
 

NotmebutHim

Senior Member
May 17, 2015
2,937
1,607
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#27
This also. There ain't a doggone thing in the Bible about cigarettes, cigars, vaping, chewing tobacco... But there are principles in the Bible that can shine light on such.
Ah, you said "doggone".

Some of the more, shall I say, "uptight" types might get you for that. :LOL:
 

Genipher

Well-known member
Jan 6, 2019
2,283
1,687
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#28
He was also in The Invention of Lying (<= link) which was pretty funny.

Had a hand in writing and directing that movie, also...
That was a pretty vulgar movie, from what I remember.

Eta: Didn't he invent the idea of God in that movie, to control people? Definitely used that movie to jab at the One true God.
 

AzureAfire

Senior Member
Apr 16, 2013
490
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#29
In this world, specially nowadays, it’s so easy to be exposed to the corruption and filth through what we watch and listen to in the media. And the level of vulgarity increases, as the world becomes more and more irreverent and rebellious, hating what is good and trading it for what is evil and dark.

I love to laugh. A great sense of humor is such a wonderful blessing to have, and to experience from others. But it falls on us to be wise and discerning, to know what we should be exposing ourselves to. We shouldn’t compromise, to the point of trading what is righteous and pure for fleeting moments of pleasure and entertainment. And we also should be setting a good example for those around us, especially children and those who are new to the faith, lest we cause them to stumble.

I find that, whenever I listen to a standup comic who’s fond of vulgarity and makes fun of issues that are serious, like abortion and genocide….I feel very icky after listening to them o.o; spare yourself the discomfort, pray for our LORD to purify your thoughts, and find someone decent and funny to make you laugh and undo the damage quick! XD
 

Joshua_Belyeu

Active member
Apr 11, 2024
133
57
28
#30
I think it depends on the type of comedy you want to watch. For example, I used to really enjoy George Carlin, but eventually his repeated swearing and attacks on religion got to me.

Thankfully, not all comics are like that now. All you have to do is look up phrases like "clean comedy" or "funny Christians" on YouTube, and you'll get results such as Brad Stine, Tim Hawkins, Jeff Allen, Michael Jr., John Branyan, Ron Pearson, and Anthony Griffith, plus many others. There's also ministers who often use humor in their presentations, like Mike Warnke and Mark Gungor. It takes some research, but alternatives to the more popular crass comics are out there - don't let the naysayers convince you otherwise.
 

Magenta

Senior Member
Jul 3, 2015
59,935
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#31
That was a pretty vulgar movie, from what I remember.

Eta: Didn't he invent the idea of God in that movie, to control people? Definitely used that movie to jab at the One true God.
True, some atheists love to take jabs at God. I don't remember a lot of the movie (from 15 years ago).
 

Joshua_Belyeu

Active member
Apr 11, 2024
133
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#32
True, some atheists love to take jabs at God.
This is where I draw a very important distinction, between the term "atheist", and "anti-theist". Generally speaking, most of your casual atheists are pretty peaceful; they just want to have their views and be left alone. I may not agree with them spiritually, but our conversations won't escalate into a vicious war.

By contrast, anti-theists are very different. They not only personally reject God, but they want everyone else to as well. The subject is extremely personal to them, and if they come across a devout Christian they react like a violent animal. They will resort to almost anything (baseless insults, false assumptions, character attacks, repeated swearing, etc.), just to make believers in Christ look like fools so they can appear smart or morally superior.
 

FRB72

Active member
Sep 27, 2023
122
59
28
England
#33
I think it depends on the type of comedy you want to watch. For example, I used to really enjoy George Carlin, but eventually his repeated swearing and attacks on religion got to me.

Thankfully, not all comics are like that now. All you have to do is look up phrases like "clean comedy" or "funny Christians" on YouTube, and you'll get results such as Brad Stine, Tim Hawkins, Jeff Allen, Michael Jr., John Branyan, Ron Pearson, and Anthony Griffith, plus many others. There's also ministers who often use humor in their presentations, like Mike Warnke and Mark Gungor. It takes some research, but alternatives to the more popular crass comics are out there - don't let the naysayers convince you otherwise.
This channel is actually really good (and often hilarious!)

Dry Bar Comedy;

https://youtube.com/@DryBarComedy?si=J--SgQcVvgG8IcEu
 

Magenta

Senior Member
Jul 3, 2015
59,935
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#34
This is where I draw a very important distinction, between the term "atheist", and "anti-theist". Generally speaking, most of your casual atheists are pretty peaceful; they just want to have their views and be left alone. I may not agree with them spiritually, but our conversations won't escalate into a vicious war.

By contrast, anti-theists are very different. They not only personally reject God, but they want everyone else to as well. The subject is extremely personal to them, and if they come across a devout Christian they react like a violent animal. They will resort to almost anything (baseless insults, false assumptions, character attacks, repeated swearing, etc.), just to make believers in Christ look like fools so they can appear smart or morally superior.
Even agnostics will behave like that...
 

Joshua_Belyeu

Active member
Apr 11, 2024
133
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#35
Even agnostics will behave like that...
Well from my limited experience, when asked if they believe in God, the more honest agnostics will simply reply, "I don't know", and leave it at that. A few may occasionally go psycho, but its far from the norm.
 
Apr 13, 2024
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#36
If it was Christian comedy I would sit and watch it with Jesus. I believe our Savior has a sense of humor. Just based on some personal experiences I've had.
 

Magenta

Senior Member
Jul 3, 2015
59,935
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#37
Well from my limited experience, when asked if they believe in God, the more honest agnostics will simply
reply, "I don't know", and leave it at that. A few may occasionally go psycho, but its far from the norm.
The definition of an agnostic is basically, "I don't know, and neither can you."

It's a neat little trick (in their minds, anyways) to negate the very reason why we believe.


John 17:2-3~ You granted Him authority over all people, so that He may give eternal life to all those You have given Him. Now this is eternal life, that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, Whom You have sent.:)
 

Joshua_Belyeu

Active member
Apr 11, 2024
133
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#38
If it was Christian comedy I would sit and watch it with Jesus. I believe our Savior has a sense of humor. Just based on some personal experiences I've had.
There's an evangelist from Louisiana that I've sometimes watched, named Jesse Duplantis; he's been in full-time ministry for 42 years. Anyway, I remember in one of his messages, he had this to offer...

"You know, the Lord has a sense of humor - look at some of the people He created. I've seen them myself, where I've told Him, 'You needed a day's rest, before You made that one.'" He also described the Apostles as being "Cajun Jews; they didn't go to ORU! Ignorant and unlearned men, who kept misunderstanding what Jesus was trying to tell them. Especially Peter - he'd slap you, stomp you, cuss you, then pray for you." :D
 

Magenta

Senior Member
Jul 3, 2015
59,935
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#39
Tim Hawkins - Hey There Delilah