Keep it clean

Good morning, everyone,

Our theme for this month: “Lighten up a little”

Our Bible verse for today: “No foul language should come from your mouth, but only what is good for building up someone in need, so that it gives grace to those who hear.” Ephesians 4:29 (CSB)

Our thought for today: “Keep it clean”

As I was writing this devotional my thoughts went to a movie I saw a few years ago. The name of the movie was “Stan and Ollie”, and it is about the real-life story of the famous comedy team Laurel and Hardy. Stan Laurel and Oliver Hardy were the most popular slapstick comedy act for much of the 1930s, 40s, and 50s. They were hilariously funny, but in an innocent and clean way. The movie was a heartwarming behind-the-scenes look at their personal relationship as close friends and partners.

So much of what passes for “humor” in our day is dark and dirty and mean. It doesn’t uplift, edify, or enrich the minds and lives of the audience. Instead, it has the opposite effect. It plants dark, dirty, and mean thoughts in the minds of those who listen to it. Worse, getting enjoyment from that kind of filth poisons a person’s personality. Fill your mind with dark, dirty, and mean thoughts and soon you will become a dark, dirty, and mean person. Comedy shouldn’t have that effect on people.

Ephesians 4:29 is one of several passages found in the New Testament which reminds us that as the people of God we should not use foul language. That would include telling or listening to dirty jokes. As a child of the 50s and 60s, I grew up on the comedy of Laurel and Hardy, Abbott and Costello, The Three Stooges, The Little Rascals, The Bowery Boys, Leave it to Beaver, and the Andy Griffith Show. I’m so glad I did because it conditioned me to appreciate and enjoy good clean comedy.

The good news is that there is still plenty of clean comedy around today that will help us to laugh at life and to enjoy ourselves. Chonda Pierce, Jeff Foxworthy, and Louie Allen are just a few examples. In our region of the country, we also have The Comedy Barn in Pigeon Forge, TN. A few months ago, Aimee and I went to the Bridgestone Arena in Nashville to see the Christian comedian Nate Bargatze. It was a sold-out show, and it was hilarious. 20,000 people jammed the arena and enjoyed two hours of great clean comedy.

There are more choices for clean comedy than you might realize. The reason is because many people prefer it to the dark, dirty, and mean-spirited stuff that passes for comedy in our day.

By-the-way, did you hear about the 17-year-old boy who was in rebellion to his father? He insisted on wearing his hair shoulder length. His father wanted him to get a haircut. One day the boy came to his father and asked to borrow the car. The father said, “You can borrow the car when you get a haircut.” The boy replied, “You know Dad, Moses had long hair, Noah had long hair, the Apostle Paul had long hair, and even Jesus had long hair.” To which the father replied, “Yes, and they WALKED everywhere they went!”

I hope you have a great day today and that you get to enjoy some good clean fun.

God bless,
Pastor Jim

(If you like what you are reading in these daily devotionals and if you would like more content from Oak Hill Baptist Church, join us on Sundays at 10:00 – in-person if you are nearby or, if you are geographically distant or if you just can’t make it, online at www.YouTube.com/@oakhillbaptistcrossville

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