<> Ask the Pastor Rev. Walter Snyder Several people commented about last week's look at humor from the pulpit. Most agreed that a good balance is preferred, although hard to find. One writer's response stood out in particular, and I offer it for your consideration this week. "Your [column] on pastoral humor covered most of the bases. I don't know if they teach you this at [seminary], but they should. I have not a good joke for you, just observations about the 'not so good.' "1) Jokes (frequent) at the expense of the Pastor's wife. Only the men appreciate them, and I am not sure about that. (Our ladies' circle threatened not to invite the offending Pastor to our annual Christmas buffet, and that buried those.) "2) Jokes told in first person that by other evidence are 'canned'--the first business in the pulpit is honesty. If it's unclear whether the Pastor is telling the truth, or clear that he's not, is he (otherwise) telling the Truth? How is a newbie Christian to know? "3) Jokes about cultures you don't understand. Someone in the pew may. A (nameless) Pastor once talked about putting a Coke can on the knees of a seated Buddha, in Thailand. (I don't remember why; he lost me there.) I was in Thailand when a group of visiting (European) Scouts decided sitting on Buddha's lap would make a memorable picture, and anyway they were on a mountain out in the boonies so who was to care? Scouts are honored in Thailand, (the King is an Eagle) but well after Buddha. The offenders narrowly escaped a Thai jail, which would truly have been a memorable experience, but not a happy one! "4) Afraid I can't remember the sermon, and a joke should illustrate, not obliterate. "The aforementioned Pastor has grown. Where you could previously depend on a 10 minute froth with at least six laughs, he now preaches a Christ centered message with real meat, and if it runs 'overtime,' nobody notices. The jokes are fewer but they support the message. Which is as it should be." People have already turned in some preacher/priest/rabbi jokes (it's not too late to submit more), and I thank them. I also thank those who not only appreciate humor, but who have enough good humor to "laugh off" my own shortcomings, who encourage my pastoral and personal development, and who are able to help me focus on Christ in my life and my preaching. The writer also touches on something that Christians should be more aware of, especially as both population movements and the explosion of the computer age are bringing us in contact with other people and cultures. That is, all of us need to be more aware of those around us, respecting differences and striving to not alienate those who are "different." We don't have to be unfaithful to our own beliefs, religious heritage, or culture in order to reach out with understanding to others. The only difference God uses in sorting people out for judgment is, "Do you know and believe in My Son as your Savior from sin?" Stereotyping can have a limited positive value. Unfortunately, it's rarely used this way. Instead, the focus is too often on negatives. In the U. S., this has been going on for years in race relations. Then I find out from a pastor who has visited overseas mission fields how reality gets in the way of my nice opinions. Example: Here in America, we often hear variations on the theme, "Blacks and whites just worship differently, and there's nothing we can do about it." Really? Have we tried honest dialogue and dedicated efforts at education and learning? The pastor I mentioned was involved in several different services while inspecting Lutheran World Relief sites in Africa. Worship styles varied widely from place to place, the result of both different missionaries and different peoples being involved. Essentially, he said that some of the black, African congregations sounded (though in different languages) more like "real" German Lutherans than do many of the "German" Lutheran congregations here in the States. Remember to send your preacher jokes or any religion questions you might have to: "Ask the Pastor," P.O. Box 1080, Jasper, Texas, 75951; e-mail xrysostom@aol.com; or stop me on the street to chat. Walter Snyder is the pastor of St. Paul Lutheran Church, Jasper and Faith Lutheran Church, Woodville and coauthor of the book "What Do Lutherans Believe? A Study Guide in Christian Teachings for Adults." Copyright (c) 1996 by Walter P. Snyder Permission is granted by author to reproduce or retransmit this by any means, provided that its content is not altered, that this notice of copyright and permission is included, and that no financial gain is realized.