FAITH
magine an uncharacteristically hot July up comedy develops new networks of friends, night in Carrick-on-Shannon. The pub suggests new ways of living your life for Jesus, is heaving. Behind the laughter and breaks moulds and creates new possibilities. conversation, there’s an expectant buzz in the air. Tobacco smoke drifts lazily in through the CAN CHRISTIANS DO COMEDY? open doors from patio and then a blast of trad Irish Some professional comedians seem to have music. a Christian faith “on the side” (no disrespect An unlikely figure bursts in and thread-dances intended) - think of Cannon and Ball or Tim his way through the crowd. He finds the spotlight, Vine. Their faith is a turns, and the private affair and its banter begins. It’s only impact on their well-rehearsed performance is in the and confidently JESUS’S PARABLES WERE PROBABLY NOT JUST choice of material delivered: think SEEN AS CLEVER BUT AS HILLARIOUS. and the language Jimmy Cricket used. meets Eddie Braben. Others – like The audience love Adrian Plass and Jeff Lucas focus on “init and the laughter rolls in waves around the room. house” comedy: Christians pointing out their Twenty…thirty minutes later and the music starts off own absurdities to other Christians. again. In reverse, he dances out of the room and the The problem – if it is a problem - in the first applause erupts. case, is that of a split personality. It’s something It’s an unlikely context for a church planter, but we all do, like splitting a work persona from somehow Noel pulls it off. And every piece of standhome life.
I
26
VOX OCT - DEC 2013