This weekend we had a great experience at church. I was able to lead worship at NNHS, and the daunting topic of "who God is" within the context of The Story of Everything was very moving. The big idea came down to the realization that GOD IS LOVE. The Sufjan Steven's version of "Holy Holy Holy" was used to great effect.
I spoke to a new attender who was deeply moved by the service, and was in tears when describing how she had never been to a place like this and was so moved by the music and the topic.
But here's the thing: This service also contained some great laughs, and while they may go unnoticed in the framework of an attender's description of the "moving experience," THEY ARE INTEGRAL in creating the moving experience.
You see, many times new attenders walk in with a truckload of defenses. Believe it or not, many unchurched people are convinced that based on their own assessment of how they live their life, God will strike them down with lightning should they ever step foot in a church. When someone seems really receptive to an invite but then never takes you up on it, chances are they are living in that particular fear.
But comedy, and the willingness to laugh and poke fun is one of the fastest ways to break down those defenses. When the unchurched come to church and realize that it's okay to laugh, and even when faced with the daunting topic of the trinity (for example), they can know that they are not alone and that we are all friends here, laughing and joking at the same things.
It's why we at Community Christian take comedy so seriously. And why we work so hard to perfect it, as best we can. Because if you can laugh with someone, they're much more likely to cry with you too.
Here's the video we made to begin the series "The Story of Everything." I think it will make you laugh, and maybe even cry. You be the judge.
