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What is Christian Comedy?

Or stated differently…

What is a Christian Comedian?

It seems the name or label would be definable by taking the words one at a time. Christian comes for the root word, Christus, Which means "follower of Christ". Comedian is a person that "makes people laugh." So then, a Christian comedian is a follower of Christ that makes people laugh. Simple enough? Not for some.

Comedy is a “vehicle” for most Christian Comedians

I once called on a pastor whom had received material on my ministry. He berated me and blurted out, "We have enough people laughing at Christ and Christians." He misunderstood my ministry by becoming confused when he saw two words in the same sentence: Christian, and comedy. Let me clarify, for myself and all the Christian comedians I have met, comedy is simply a vehicle employed to deliver an uplifting message. I cannot vouch for every individual who calls himself or herself a "Christian Comedian." I can, however, tell you that all whom I have personally met or whose shows I have watched are conscientious Christians who use their gifts in a positive manner.

Christian Comedians are an eclectic bunch

Christian comedy has made tremendous gains due to the pioneering work of such artists as Ken Davis, Mike Williams, and Mark Lowry. The variance between artists is a mirror of the variance of the body of Christ. The styles vary from the outrageous musical comedy of Paul Aldrich to the smooth urban delivery of Coy Lesard. How much Christ is in their comedy? Once again, it varies by artist. Some present a clean show with a testimony at the end, some may mention their faith in the beginning of their show and then let the fact that they are clean and edifying (something utterly rare in the secular comedy world) speak to their purpose, and still others will have scripture and teaching throughout their presentation.

Christian Comedy bears fruit

If one were to examine the worth of Christian Comedy to the cause of Christ, it would make sense to examine what Christian comedy is used for. Though this may seem counter intuitive, Christian comedy is rarely used for its entertainment value alone. Event organizers have used Christian comedy as a tool for outreach, fundraisers, gospel presentations, youth events and to deal with specific issues that are important to the body of Christ. A short list of these issues would include sexual abstinence, overcoming drug and alcohol abuse, strengthening marriage, singles issues, and scriptural inerrancy and apologetics. The list is as long as the topics that challenge us all.

Christian Comedy can be serious

Or, one could look at the fruit of Christian Comedy to determine if it is a valid and God honoring evangelistic tool. I have witnessed, as have many others, thousands come forward at the end of a comedic presentation. (The presenting comedian is more serious during the conclusion of a gospel presentation.)  Am I a comedian or a funny Christian youth speaker?  Can I be both? Many Christian comedians have used their abilities to raise funds for Crises Pregnancy Centers throughout the country. Bringing in a comedian to speak at a black tie fundraiser for a cause as serious and urgent may seem counter productive. However, the positive results have proven otherwise.

I hope you have enjoyed my "brief" on Christian comedy. The opinions above are my own but doubtless shared by many. This essay has not been reviewed or endorsed by any other artist or organization