JUNE + JULY 2018
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JUNE + JULY 2018
CONTENTS ARTICLES Questions of Faith DR. JOHN NEUFELD I've Got Questions BEN LOWELL We've Got Mail PHIL CALLAWAY The Challenge of Reaching Millennials with the Gospel ISAAC DAGNEAU The Culture(s) of Darkness ISAAC DAGNEAU Does the Bible Provide Answers to the Tough Questions I Have? RAY DUECK Carbonated Holiness CAROLYN ARENDS
FEATURES Bible Reading DR. JOHN NEUFELD I've Got Questions SERIES OFFER
QUESTIONS OF FAITH DR. JOHN NEUFELD is the Canadian Bible teacher of Back to the Bible Canada, and is well known both nationally and internationally for his excellence in expositional Bible teaching. Dr. Neufeld is passionate about bringing the truth of God’s Word to life across Canada and beyond.
In the past, almost every Christian went through a catechism. A catechism was a basic method of discipling new or young believers and was normally used in preparation for baptism or confirmation. Most catechisms consisted of a series of questions which were followed by memorized answers.
All that is good, but unfortunately this represents, simply, a pendulum swing. We have people giving their testimony but may have never been trained about the questions they have about the faith and the answers the Scripture provides.
For example, one of the most famous catechisms in history is called the “Westminster Confession.” The first of 107 questions in the shorter catechism is: “What is the chief end of man”? Using today’s language, we might say, “What is the purpose of life?” And the answer: “The chief end of man is to glorify God and enjoy Him forever.”
This can (and does) lead to an experiential faith. That is, we have had an experience we think to be an experience with Christ, but remain ignorant about the purpose of life, the reality of our sin, the atoning death of Christ and the necessity of justification by faith. In other words, we are in danger of raising up an experience-rich faith, but one that is empty of objective content rooted in the Word of God.
Now we live in a day where most evangelicals no longer use a memorized confession. One of the reasons for that is that you might have memorized all the right answers but have not been born again – your heart remaining unchanged by the Word of God. And so, in almost all evangelical traditions that I know of today, people desiring to be baptized are required to give their testimony.
And this is often reflected in the kinds of questions modern Christians ask. How can you teach that Jesus is the only way to God? How can I know my spiritual gifts and discover the unique purposes God has for me? What are we to make of the gender question? Why can’t someone have a different view of gender and sexuality and still love Jesus?
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Don’t misunderstand me. I am not saying that these questions are unimportant, nor that they shouldn’t be addressed – in fact, we’ll be answering them! But what is missing is the first question in the “Westminster Confession”: “What is the purpose of life?” And if that purpose is to glorify God in my exclusive enjoyment of only Him, then how can I discover what constitutes the glory of God and what constitutes pleasure in God? You see, having failed to establish the purpose of life, we flounder around trying to build a foundation on the sinking sand of human experience. Do you see what I mean about the pendulum? When we stress truth at the expense of experience, we stress knowledge. And as Paul tells us in 1 Corinthians 9, knowledge puffs up. But again, the pendulum. It’s easy to live on experience, until we don’t. We sense Jesus in everything. We testify to His miracles, we talk of His power, we proclaim that every knee will bow, and then, when cancer comes or when culture demands we give answers to what we weren’t prepared for, we end up confused. We wonder if there was anything there in the first place. Now, we don’t have to choose one at the exclusion of the other. We really can be trained to ask and answer the right questions, even while we enter deeply into what Paul spoke of in Philippians 3:10, “that I might know Him.” Indeed, the experience of Christ and the doctrines of Christ
ought not to be considered as one of two choices. Instead, we should argue that it is impossible to have one without the other. In my new “I’ve Got Questions” series, I’ll be addressing nine questions. 1) Why can’t God be satisfied if we are just happy? 2) Shouldn’t everyone have the right to choose life and death? 3) Is Jesus the only way to heaven? 4) Is the Bible really the only holy book? 5) How can a God of love send people to hell? 6) How can a God of love allow so much suffering in the world? 7) How can I know with certainty that I am saved? 8) How important is gender and sexuality? 9) What is heaven that I should desire it? Now, if you’ve been paying attention, you might have noticed that these are questions people ask. And when we start with the questions we have without the proper foundation upon which to ask them, we often end up with nothing more than more questions. But in the end, we must start somewhere. We might start with the questions people commonly have, and from there point to a foundation upon which the faith is built. You see, for many, they have gone for years with a foundationless Christian faith. I look forward to answering these questions. You should also know that I’ll be addressing some of the more foundational questions as part of our new TRUTH and LIFE Today program.
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THE BIBLE HAS ANSWERS We receive letters and emails daily from people searching for answers to the most fundamental questions of life and faith. They’re hungering for solid answers that provide a steadfast hope. At Back to the Bible Canada, our job is to answer those questions. We do this by providing real answers, answers that give hope and truth, and that are only found in God’s Word, the Bible. Your financial support helps us teach the Bible. We do that through:
WEBSITE SOCIAL MEDIA DIGITAL MARKETING RADIO PROGRAMS AUDIO STREAMING SERMON SERIES PODCASTS TRUTH + LIFE TODAY INDOUBT BIBLE STUDIES TRUTH + LIFE MAGAZINE MINISTRY LETTERS SCRIPTURE CALENDAR This June, help us reach our fiscal year-end goal of $300,000. Donate by calling 1.800.663.2425 or give online at www.ivegotquestions.ca
DR. NEUFELD’S DAILY BIBLE READING PLAN JULY 2018
AUGUST 2018
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31
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Psalms 57-59; Acts 21:18-40 Psalms 60-62; Acts 22 Psalms 63-65; Acts 23:1-15 Psalms 66-67; Acts 23:16-35 Psalms 68-69; Acts 24 Psalms 70-71; Acts 25 Psalms 72-73; Acts 26 Psalms 74-76; Acts 27:1-26 Psalms 77-78; Acts 27:27-44 Psalms 79-80; Acts 28 Psalms 81-83; 1 Peter 1 Psalms 84-86; 1 Peter 2 Psalms 87-88; 1 Peter 3 Psalms 89-90; 1 Peter 4 Psalms 91-93; 1 Peter 5 Psalms 94-96; Galatians 1 Psalms 97-99; Galatians 2 Psalms 100-102; Galatians 3 Psalms 103-104; Galatians 4 Psalms 105-106; Galatians 5 Psalms 107-109; Galatians 6 Psalms 110-112; 2 Corinthians 1 Psalms 113-115; 2 Corinthians 2 Psalms 116-118; 2 Corinthians 3 Psalms 119:1-88; 2 Corinthians 4 Psalm 119:89-176; 2 Corinthians 5 Psalms 120-122; 2 Corinthians 6 Psalms 123-125; 2 Corinthians 7 Psalms 126-128; 2 Corinthians 8 Psams 129-131; 2 Corinthians 9 Psalms 132-134; 2 Corinthians 10
GOD IS OUR REFUGE AND STRENGTH, A VERY PRESENT HELP IN TROUBLE. PSALM 46:1
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Deuteronomy 13-15; Acts 4:1-22 Deuteronomy 16-18; Acts 4:23-37 Deuteronomy 19-21; Acts 5:1-21 Deuteronomy 22-24; Acts 5:22-42 Deuteronomy 25-27; Acts 6 Deuteronomy 28-29; Acts 7:1-21 Deuteronomy 30-31; Acts 7:22-43 Deuteronomy 32-34; Acts 7:44-60 Obadiah; Acts 8:1-25 Ruth 1-4; Acts 8:26-40 Psalms 1-3; Acts 9:1-21 Psalms 4-6; Acts 9:22-43 Psalms 7-9; Acts 10:1-23 Psalms 10-12; Acts 10:24-48 Psalms 13-15; Acts 11 Psalms 16-17; Acts 12 Psalms 18-19; Acts 13:1-25 Psalms 20-22; Acts 13:26-52 Psalms 23-25; Acts 14 Psalms 26-28; Acts 15:1-21 Psalms 29-30; Acts 15:22-41 Psalms 31-32; Acts 16:1-21 Psalms 33-34; Acts 16:22-40 Psalms 35-36; Acts 17:1-15 Psalms 37-39; Acts 17:16-34 Psalms 40-42; Acts 18 Psalms 43-45; Acts 19:1-20 Psalms 46-48; Acts 19:21-41 Psalms 49-50; Acts 20:1-16 Psalms 51-53; Acts 20:17-38 Psalms 54-56; Acts 21:1-17
Behind the
CAROLS BEN LOWELL is the CEO of the Good News Broadcasting Association of Canada
Is gender a faith issue? Isn’t it enough just to love and accept others? Shouldn’t people just be allowed the right to choose life or death? Can I be certain I’m saved? How can a loving God send people to hell? Life conjures up all kinds of questions, some mundane, others life-defining. We receive daily correspondence from people searching for answers to fundamental life and faith questions, people hungering for solid truth they can hold on to. Dr. Neufeld wrote, “Everyone has questions. NonChristians might ask how the Christian faith is unique. Christians ask how God allows suffering. Not only do we all have 8 | JUNE + JULY 2018
questions, but everyone needs a safe forum to ask those questions. It’s been said that the heart cannot delight in what the mind rejects as false. But, it has also been said that the heart cannot delight in what it does not understand. There are some things which honestly surpass our understanding, but many more, like, ‘How a God of love can send anyone to hell?’ or, ‘Is Jesus really the only way to get to heaven?’ where certain answers are available and ready to be discovered in the Bible. In Matthew 7:7, Jesus says, “Ask and it shall be given to you.” In context, Jesus is not referring to the practical material things we need from God. But still, we can be delighted to know that God also invites us to ask questions of our faith. Only in asking and in answering does the heart finally find reasons for delight. The questions we receive reflect a wide
cross section of life circumstances, experiences, personal tragedy, conflict. Many reflect uncertainty about life, truth and the future. “Is it possible for a Christian to live a sinless life? I’ve been struggling with a sin which has become a habit. I get victory, and then fall again.” “My 10-year-old son was very discouraged because he prays every night to keep the world safe. He said with tears in his eyes, 'I am praying really hard every night and why are people and children still being killed? Why doesn't God do something about it, why doesn't He stop it?'” “What happens to the non-believer after death?” “How should we as Christians address the issue of hate?” “Help us. Our daughter who is 17 has come to me stating she believes she is bisexual. She has strong love for God. How do we deal with this?” “I have so much guilt... I don't know where to turn. Can you help me understand?” The response to these questions is not simply an intellectual undertaking; it’s real, it’s critical, it meets the need of those searching, struggling and overwhelmed.
You offer hope for the woman mourning the loss of her husband and finding the loneliness overwhelming. The elderly lady who has attended church her entire life but is reeling from guilt and can’t imagine God could love her. The man constantly falling to temptation and is losing hope. The young man struggling with the mental stress of a what he describes as a “huge trial in life.” Parents wrestling to know how to talk to their teen children about issues of gender. But the faithful teaching of God’s Word makes a difference. Jillian wrote, “I came across Back to the Bible Canada by accident as it was one of the first sites that flashed up in my desperation to find food for my spirit. Since May of last year, my spiritual walk has never been the same. The teaching of Dr. Neufeld has opened up Scripture for me in a way that I have longed for for years but until now never experienced. I cannot wait to get in my car in the morning and drive to work listening to the podcast.” What a blessing and privilege it is to be a part of a ministry that is sharing the life changing truth of the Gospel! What a blessing to know we have partners like you who journey with us.
Why do I share this? Because we want you to know that your gifts, prayers and commitment to Back to the Bible Canada make a real, tangible difference in the lives of people every day!
BACKTOTHEBIBLE.CA | 9
WE'VE GOT MAIL
PHIL CALLAWAY is an author and host of Laugh Again radio. He has five grandchildren. They wear name tags.
We get all sorts of interesting letters in response to the Laugh Again program. This is from a sevenyear-old in Honolulu who asks her dad every day if she can hear from Mr. Phil. "You are really funny," she says. "Who are you?" Well, I’m just a Canadian guy who would love to visit Honolulu in January. This question is from Laura in Manitoba, Canada: "I heard you talk about fear. I am afraid of sharks and crocodiles. Should I be?" Well Laura, if you just stay in Manitoba, you don’t have 10 | JUNE + JULY 2018
a thing to worry about. The truth is, more people die from jellyfish bites than shark bites. In fact, sharks killed just three people last year. And none of the attacks happened in Manitoba. Here’s another question. It comes from Jason somewhere in Idaho: "I love to laugh. Why do we laugh? Does anyone know?" Well, scientists who study this say that you laugh 30 times more when you’re with others, so they believe that laughing evolved
to promote social group activity. I believe God made us to laugh because He knew we would need to and He loves us that much. We love receiving mail. The truth is, many of our listeners are asking much bigger questions about life and pain. One wrote to tell me of her fear of losing a child. Our friends Nelson and Linda faced that fear head on. They said goodbye to their son Stephen, one day before his 30th birthday. A while ago, his mom wrote these words to me: "God is so good and all His ways are good, yes even in this! We are seeing God’s sweetness in all the details concerning our son’s sudden death. God is taking me through my deepest fear—the sudden, violent death of my child, but He is walking with me through
it. He did not leave me to go through it alone and is exchanging my fear for acceptance, peace and even joy!" What an amazing family! None of us know what lies ahead, but we have a God who is for us and with us and in us, so there’s no need to fear. He will give enough light for the next step. I’ll close with the best advice I could possibly offer. Philippians 4 in The Message says, "Don’t fret or worry. Instead of worrying, pray. Let petitions and praises shape your worries into prayers, letting God know your concerns. Before you know it, a sense of God’s wholeness, everything coming together for good, will come and settle you down." Thanks for reading. We’d love to hear from you.
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THE CHALLENGE OF REACHING
MILLENNIALS WITH THE GOSPEL ISAAC DAGNEAU is the ministry manager of indoubt, the young adult ministry of Back to the Bible Canada. indoubt discusses relevant issues of life and faith with a biblical perspective through a weekly audio program, articles and Bible studies.
There’s a new challenge among reaching Canadian young adults for the Gospel today. I want to share with you what that challenge is and how we can effectively engage it. First, let’s consider where young adults are today in their faith habits. The narrative we’ve heard for the last decade was that young people are leaving the church in droves. Although that isn’t completely false in our day, it doesn’t accurately describe today’s young adults. In fact, what we’re seeing is quite surprising. A recent Angus Reid poll records that roughly 20% of young people in Canada are public about their faith (whether it’s Christianity, Sikhism, etc.). The report continues to show that 30% are more private in their beliefs, with another 30% skeptical – leaving 20% confident in their atheism. This is quite telling in terms of the general beliefs of young adults today in Canada. We’re seeing about 50% of young people who are either publicly or privately holding a faith, with another 30% who are skeptical. That’s 80% who aren’t opposed to the supernatural. 12 | JUNE + JULY 2018
Now, that rough percentage is definitely encouraging, but there’s so much more to consider (which we can’t dig into in this article). But I will mention another piece of the puzzle that alludes to today’s new challenge. A recent guest we had on indoubt was Christian apologist Abdu Murray. In his new book, Saving Truth, he enlightens us with the fact that today’s culture deems confusion as a virtue and clarity as a sin. In other words, being unsure, uncertain and confused about God, faith, Jesus, religion, identity, etc., is looked on as a good and even mature thing. But as soon as you mention that you’re sure, certain, and clear on any one or more of those aspects, you’re seen as close-minded and irresponsible. So, the (very) general climate of Canadian young adults today is that the vast majority are at least open to a spiritual reality but cautious of anything that claims certainty. And therein lies the new challenge. How do we reach young adults with the Gospel in that arena? Here are three ways (and feel free to add
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more!): 1. Don’t just talk it, live it. Yes, talking about the historical facts of the Bible are important. Yes, explaining the logic of the Gospel is important. And yes, giving lip service to God on Sunday is important. However, if our talking, explaining and lip service never transform our lives, then it’s meaningless! Young adults want to see truth that seriously changes people. So, read the letter of James and go live your faith! 2. Reject the “it’s impossible” mindset. It’s tempting to think reaching young adults in this challenging spiritual climate is an impossible task, but it isn’t. Spiritual conversations are still taking place and people are still being saved. Like the housing market that’s set by the buyers, evangelism today is (in one sense) set by the believers. If more believers rejected the “impossibility” mindset, then we’d see more spiritual conversations and more salvations! For clarity’s sake, I will point out that I fully believe in the Holy Spirit’s full and complete action in saving a soul. Yet often times He does this through us. 3. Unashamedly emphasize biblical truth and biblical mystery, awe and
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wonder. Here’s what a skeptical young adult needs to know: Though God, through His special revelation (the Bible) and general revelation (nature, history, etc.), has clearly and definitely given us all we need to know about Him, us, our world and salvation, He hasn’t given us a knowledge of everything. Young adults want to hear pastors say, “I don’t know,” and I believe if they are faithful to the Bible that they should. You see, there is mystery in the certainty. We shouldn’t be afraid of that. In fact, young adults want mystery! They want awe! They want wonder! So, let’s give it to them. There is a lot of work to be done, and it’s not just the job of a few. Reaching Canadian young adults with the Gospel is the work of grandmothers, uncles, friends, bus drivers, cashiers, nephews, children and farmers. So in light of this new challenge, will you live your faith? Will you reject the “it’s impossible” mindset? And will you share the mysteries in the certainties? I hope so. Trust God for your strength, and remember, the Holy Spirit does the saving.
I'VE GOT QUESTIONS
BY DR. JOHN NEUFELD
"I’ve Got Questions" is the name of Dr. John Neufeld’s new Bible teaching series that speaks into nine critical questions of life and faith. What about pain and suffering? Isn’t it an individual right to choose life and death? Is Jesus really the only way to Heaven? And much more! A FIVE-MESSAGE SERIES. ADDITIONAL COPIES: $8 (S+H & TAXES INCLUDED!)
BACKTOTHEBIBLE.CA
THE CULTURE(S) OF DARKNESS ISAAC DAGNEAU is the ministry manager of indoubt, the young adult ministry of Back to the Bible Canada. indoubt discusses relevant issues of life and faith with a biblical perspective through a weekly audio program, articles and Bible studies.
The culture of every generation is infested with sin. Sometimes the brokenness is more apparent in one culture than another, but it’s always there. Sometimes it’s hidden, sometimes exposed. Sometimes disguised as right, other times blatantly evil. Unfortunately, “back in the day” was just as broken as today as it will be tomorrow. Humanity has a problem with loving the darkness rather than loving the light. We not only take part in sinful acts, but we think up and promote wrong solutions to problems around us. Sadly, many of us who call ourselves Christians get caught up in the darkness as well. Consider topics like sexuality, family, addiction, Islam, euthanasia, immigration, etc. I think it’s safe to say that there is a lot of darkness in each one of these – in both the culture and the church. But, what about our questions? How do we not only think well on these issues, 14 | JUNE + JULY 2018
but also act well? We often forget that
SCRIPTURE SPEAKS TO THE FOUNDATIONAL ISSUE OF EVERY KNOWN ACT – GOOD OR BAD. Too many of us ask the wrong questions to wrong people at the wrong times. No wonder we get answers that don’t seem legit! Consider these two missing steps the next time you’re overwhelmed by an issue in culture and want answers:
1. LISTEN TO GOD’S VOICE For too many Christians, the first impulse is to ask unhelpful questions to popular voices. We ask “What does (insert popular Christian leader/ organization) think?” without even considering first what God thinks. The accessibility of the Internet and
the incredible media distribution of the church in the last 50 years has definitely played a role in building up the body of Christ. But I fear that too many people have lost interest and motivation to attempt to listen to God’s voice in the quiet of their heart and mind, based on the fact that they can easily access anyone at anytime on any subject. We think “studying the Bible” is synonymous with “watching someone study the Bible,” or “reading someone’s study of the Bible.” My encouragement is to go to the Bible and read everything that God says about the issues that are overwhelming you, and write down questions based on what you’re reading. I’m not lying when I say that many issues can be resolved, in at least your mind, after doing this first step. It’s also vital in listening to God’s voice that you pray. Ask the Holy Spirit to open your eyes to the power of His
Word.
2. LISTEN TO YOUR PASTOR If after reading the relative Bible passages (listening to God’s voice) you still have unanswered biblical questions, then go to your local church pastor for answers. If they refer you to an online resource/organization/ leader, then go ahead and access it! The key is to learn to ask your pastor questions and then to trust them for spiritual guidance. That’s what God has called for them to be – leaders in the church who help “equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ” (Ephesians 4:12). I believe these two steps will dramatically help you in your questions of engaging culture.
Dr. John Neufeld Bible Teacher
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BY RAY DUECK I have had to face several tough questions in my life, and the toughest questions have come from things that have happened at random times, and events, with no explanations as to “why.” Why did this happen and why at this time? In grade 10, while at boarding school, my dad had a brain bleed from an aneurysm, lapsed into a coma and died a week later. My mom, with two young children still at home, went back to work to make ends meet, and I struggled with "Why, God?" When I was 35 years old, I was diagnosed with IgA Nephropathy p46, an autoimmune kidney disease that after three years' time resulted in both 16 | JUNE + JULY 2018
of my kidneys failing. I was placed on a kidney hemodialysis machine three times a week for four long months before a kidney transplant became available from my brother, which lasted four years, but then back on CAPD dialysis for one and a half years. Another kidney transplant from an unknown donor became available also lasted for four years, but then back on dialysis for three months. I really didn’t know how long my life could last; desperation was setting in. Fortunately, I qualified for another kidney transplant, my third, which unbelievably came from my wife, and now has lasted for more than 15 years with no sign of rejection or
"I don't know why." They desperately need to hear from God during this dark time; mumbling platitudes that don't comfort or provide a satisfactory answer just leaves them cold and distant.
DOES THE BIBLE PROVIDE ANSWERS TO THE TOUGH QUESTIONS I HAVE? complications. The question of "why" however is not far from my mind. I don't know why I've been deathly sick with kidney disease, but I can honestly say that I trust Him with the "why" and that has been enough. As a pastor, I have heard many ask the same question as I visit with someone who has been diagnosed with stage four colon cancer or as I seek to comfort a young couple who are overcome with grief as their child is stillborn – perfect in every way, but with no breath. They want you to explain why God would allow their son to die for no apparent reason. And the truthful answer is,
When we struggle with the tough questions of life, we need to move from asking "why" to asking "Now that this has happened, how will I respond?" How I answer will either move me closer to God in trust, or will push Him away with bitterness and anger, concluding that God does not care. Scripture tells us that He does care. For example, Psalm 34:18-19 says, "The LORD is near to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit. Many are the afflictions of the righteous, but the LORD delivers him out of them all." Or Psalm 147:3, "He heals the brokenhearted, and binds up their wounds." As we share God's answers to the tough questions of life, we need to visibly wrap our arms of love around those who are struggling by dropping off meals, baby sitting kids, providing money for parking, providing counselling, mowing lawns, etc, and in this way bind up their spiritual, mental and physical wounds in the name of Jesus. Yes, the Bible does provide answers to life’s tough questions, but it often comes wrapped in human skin. RAY DUECK has been in pastoral ministries for over 35 years. As a graduate of Talbot, School of Theology, Pastor Ray is passionate about teaching the Word of God and caring for His people.
CARBONATED HOLINESS: Laughter is Serious Business BY CAROLYN ARENDS Recently, I threw out three boxes worth of my kids’ Sunday school crafts. I felt heartless and vaguely evil. But really, one can only store so much Fun Foam in a single house. Still, there was one piece of art I was compelled to save. My daughter had cut out and coloured pictures of children engaged in different acts of worship, and glued them onto a sheet. (She was three; you were expecting decoupage?) Bethany had been particularly proud of this assignment because of the gluing part. (I think she may have a future in adhesives.) The day she brought it home, I acknowledged the excellence of the glue-work and then asked her to tell me what the pictures represented. “Praying! Giving! Reading the Bible!” she shouted as I pointed to each scene. I saved the best picture for last—a boy with his mouth open wide in song. 18 | JUNE + JULY 2018
Singing is my favourite form of worship. I knew it would be Bethany’s too, what with her mother being a singer and all. “Laughing,” said Bethany, when I pointed to the boy with the open mouth. I stood corrected. Laughing is my favourite form of worship. I’ve been backing up my laughteras-worship theory for a while now, collecting various quotes on the matter. I was recently compelled to stop reading Anne Lamott’s Plan B long enough to shout “Yes!” (complete with fist-pump) and scribble this line on an airplane napkin: “Laughter is carbonated holiness.” Anyone who knows me will understand why I give a hearty “amen” to this bit of wisdom from Woody Allen: “I am thankful for laughter, except when milk comes out of my nose.” (In my case, there was an unfortunate incident involving Diet Coke, and the memory of it gives poignancy to the
idea of laughter as carbonated holiness.) But my favourite quote may be this one from Karl Barth: “Laughter is the closest thing to the grace of God.” Of course, Barth must have meant the good kind of laughter, born from joy or relief or the sweet surprise of community. There is also derisive laughter, rooted in pettiness or vulgarity or cruelty. It’s not hard to tell the redemptive kind—laughter that is reflexive, even involuntary worship—from the destructive kind. Laughter can change and grow, and sometimes it changes and grows us. Consider the laughter of Abraham’s Sarah, blossoming from incredulity into incredible joy. When Sarah had a baby at long, impossible last, she named him Isaac—which means, of course, “laughter.” A good laugh is a release—even if only for a moment—from worry, strife and self. It is a sudden, often unbidden confession that someway, somehow, all is well, or at least there is a hope that it can be. It’s telling that we talk about “gales” of laughter. We instinctively recognize that laughter belongs to the world of wind or Spirit—unexpected joy arrives on the gust of a fresh current and carries us to a different place from the one where it found us. That is why I suspect that Lamott is right—that laughter is holiness, that it is part of the life of God, and that to laugh from your belly is to worship the Giver of all good gifts. Trinitarian theologians use the word “perichoresis” to describe the happy
fellowship of the Father, Son and Spirit. Their relationship is often pictured as a tireless and joyful divine dance. I can’t think about that holy dance without remembering certain jigs that have been known to take place in our family room. (For shy, repressed, reserved, uncoordinated, Canadian Baptists, we can really cut a rug.) When our kids were toddlers, my husband, Mark, and I would twirl and spin them until they were helpless with laughter so hard it was soundless, and then we would laugh at them laughing until we were all worn out with gladness. If we’d have thought of it, we could have quoted the psalmist as we held our aching sides on the family room floor: “Our mouths were filled with laughter, our tongues with songs of joy. … The LORD has done great things for us, and we are filled with joy.” (Ps. 126:2–3) It’s serious business, laughter. It’s the kind of sacrifice of praise that puts our insides right. The old cliché is true: Laughter is a medicine that reminds us that our sickness will one day be healed and we shall be whole and holy. Until then, laughter is the Elmer’s Glue that attaches us to the goodness that inhabits this world, and to the gladness that hints at the world to come. Excerpted from Theology in Aisle Seven by Carolyn Arends. CAROLYN ARENDS has released 12 albums and is the author of three critically-acclaimed books. She lives in Surrey, BC with her husband, Mark, and their children Benjamin and Bethany.
Featuring Laugh Again’s Phil Callaway + Musical guest Rika Siewert and indoubt’s Isaac Dagneau Enjoy a great week of unforgettable fun, laughter, good food, God’s Word and special music. To register, call Christian Cruises at 1.877.229.6155 or visit laughagain.ca. ** PRICES START FROM $1,393.04 CAD BASED ON DOUBLE OCCUPANCY
TRUTH + LIFE Magazine is published bi-monthly by The Good News Broadcasting Association of Canada, Box 246, STN A Abbotsford, BC V2T 6Z6. All content is copyright © The Good News Broadcasting Association of Canada unless otherwise indicated. BACKTOTHEBIBLE.CA