Can a Christian Enjoy Dark Comedy?

all of this writing is purely the author's personal views or opinions and not a principle or the views of certain groups of people.

At one moment in 2018, the Indonesian Youtube homepage recommended me a Youtube channel called “Majelis Lucu Indonesia” or the Indonesian Funny Council.

https://www.youtube.com/@MajelisLucu

One of the programs called “Domba Tersesat” or The Lost Lamb has a concept featuring one Christian pastor with 1 or 2 hosts then the host will read the absurd and funny questions related to Christianity from the audience and the Christian pastor will respond to it. Even though the questions asked by the audience sometimes seemed to be joking, the pastor will respond well and can even use some Christian values to answer the questions.

No one was offended even though the topic was Religion, a very sensitive topic in Indonesia. At that moment, I fell in love with dark comedy.

I see that not everyone can accept jokes like that, especially among Christians themselves. I personally as a Disciple of Jesus see there is nothing wrong with this type of joke, so why do many Christians take it too seriously?

Can’t Christians find humor in the brokenness of the world without compromising their faith?

What is Dark Comedy?

Black comedy, also known as dark comedy, morbid humor, gallows humor, or dark humor, is a style of comedy that makes light of subject matter that is generally considered taboo, particularly subjects that are normally considered serious or painful to discuss. Writers and comedians often use it as a tool for exploring vulgar issues by provoking discomfort, serious thought, and amusement for their audience.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Black_comedy

What makes it different?

Dark comedy often deals with serious or taboo subjects, such as death, violence, religion, ethnicity, or tragedy so that why Dark comedy can be polarizing, some people find it funny, while others find it offensive.

Why some people enjoy it?

There are many reasons why people enjoy & love dark comedy. Here are a few at least in my personal opinion:

• When we are faced with difficult experiences, dark comedy can help us to laugh at them and to find some relief.
• Dark comedy can help us to see the absurdity of our life. This can be a good way to open our minds to new possibilities.
• Dark comedy allows us to confront uncomfortable truths of the world.
• Dark comedy allows us to explore these taboo areas in a way that is both entertaining and thought-provoking.
• Dark comedy can be used to raise awareness of important issues.

How should a Christian view comedy?

Let’s look at these verses:

¹When the Lord  restored the fortunes of Zion,

we were like those who dream.

²Then our mouth was filled with laughter,

and our tongue with shouts of joy;

Psalm 126:1-2 ESV

²²A joyful heart is good medicine, but a crushed spirit dries up the bones.

Proverbs 17:22 ESV

These verses say that laughter can be a response to experiencing life under the grace of God and also that proverb acknowledges the value of a joyful heart and the positive effects of laughter. It encourages Christians to find humor.

⁴a time to weep, and a time to laugh;

a time to mourn, and a time to dance;

Ecclesiastes 3:4 ESV

This verse also say that humor is a normal part of life.

Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for building up, as fits the occasion, that it may give grace to those who hear.

Ephesians 4:29 ESV

The Bible teaches that we should use our words to build up others, not tear them down. This means that comedy should not be used to hurt others. Instead, it should be used to bring delight, laughter, and compassion.

Laughter can help us to see the lighter side of life, and it can give us a much-needed break from the stresses of everyday life. Comedy can help us to connect with others. Shared laughter can build relationships and create a sense of togetherness.

What about dark comedy?

Some Christians argue that dark comedy are never appropriate, while others believe they can be used to honor God in exhilarating and unique ways.

Let your speech always be gracious, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how you ought to answer each person.

Colossians 4:6 ESV

This verse teaches that we should be wise in the way we use our words. This means that in the context of dark comedy, it should be used in a way that is appropriate for the setting and the audience. It should not be used to mock or offend other people.

Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things.

Philippians 4:8 ESV

This verse reminds us to focus our minds on things that are true, noble, right, pure, lovely, admirable, excellent, and praiseworthy. It encourages us to intentionally direct our thoughts towards that which aligns with Godly values. In the context of dark comedy, we are encouraged to seek out entertainment that uplifts, enlightens, and reflects God’s truth.

Conclusion

There is no explicit answer in the Bible of how a Christian should view dark comedy so the way a Christian views dark comedy can vary depending on personal convictions and understanding. Then should Christians not enjoy dark comedy at all? There are several principles that we can use to guide our thinking and decide whether or not a particular piece of dark comedy is appropriate:

• Context: Make sure when we do comedy, we are in the right situation, circumstance and moment so that we don’t become a stumbling block for others
• Intent: Some dark comedy may seek to highlight societal issues, provoke thought, or challenge norms through satire and irony. However, if the intent is solely to shock or offend, we should avoid it. So, understanding the intent of dark comedy is necessary.
• Wisdom: It’s crucial to evaluate the content of dark comedy and consider whether it aligns with biblical principles or not.
• Influence: Christians should consider the impact of their type of jokes on others, especially those who may be more vulnerable. With its potentially offensive or disturbing content, dark comedy may not be suitable for all audiences or appropriate in certain contexts and also if we finds that dark comedy negatively affects our spiritual well-being, we should avoid it.
• Content: Dark comedy often contains sensitive or taboo subjects. Christians should be more mindful about engaging with content that glorifies or promotes sinful behavior, mocks sacred beliefs, or damages Christianity and moral values.

Dark comedy can be offensive to some people so it is important to be discerning about the dark comedy we can enjoy, and to avoid anything that would violate our morality or our value as disciple of Jesus Christ.

If we can use it wisely, dark comedy also can be a tool for good. It can help us to confront difficult issues in a way that we might not otherwise do, to express our emotions, to laugh at our pain and suffering, and to connect with others and create a sense of belonging and togetherness.