When Martin Luther began the Protestant Reformation nearly 500 years ago, he compared his work as a reformer to that of a court jester.
In 1520, he wrote to the German nobility and emperor asking for them to take up the work of reform. He said to these powerful leaders, “I shall for the time being become a court jester.” And he compared the hat he wore as a monk to a jester’s cap with bells. Why would Luther pick such a foolish image for himself?
There is a deep humor and profound mischief in the Christian message that is often overlooked.
Part of what makes a joke work is an element of surprise. First, we are given a premise or set-up. For example, “Why did the nose stop going to school?” Then, the punchline takes us in an unexpected direction: “He was tired of getting picked on.” The premise sets up our expectations and the punchline subverts them.
In 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18, the Apostle Paul writes: “Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.”
How can we rejoice always? Personally, I do not always feel joyful. I don’t know anyone who feels happy 100% of the time. How can we rejoice when children die of starvation or veterans sleep on the street without a home? It sounds impossible.
Since the very beginning, the pursuit of happiness has been a part of our American cultural DNA. At the heart of the Declaration of Independence are the famous words: “We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their creator with certain unalienable rights, that among these are life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.”
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