Is America Laughing Itself to Death?

There seems to be an emphasis on laughter in our society. Consider how many television sitcoms there are on TV. Think about the number of reality shows there are currently available to watch. Why do people flock to these? I suggest it is because we want to laugh at regular people trying to do something that will end in their making a fool of themselves. However, there are a number of comedies that portray sin as funny. There is nothing funny about sin. Now I am not against humor because the Bible does tell us about the medicinal effects of a merry heart. However, I want you to consider what you are laughing at. Again, I am not opposed to having a good clean time and we need entertainment; I am only asking you to consider what you are laughing at? Are you laughing at sin?

Consider an excerpt from a book called "Tips to Christian" written many years ago by Fairy Chism:


"Anything for a laugh. On television, radio and in the newspapers, we see people knocking themselves out trying to entertain us.

Everywhere you go, billboards shout at you: 'Hilarious funniest comedy of the year.' Entertainers seem to feel that if America would only collapse in a paroxysm of mirth, all our problems would be solved. But frankly, I see American ideals and heritage's dying before our eyes. I believe America is laughing itself into hell.

Whether we believe it or not, America finds sin hilariously funny. But we are not the first nation. Babylon saw it that way, and the handwriting came on the wall. Rome saw it that way, and faded from power. France followed suit and the moral decay became a cancer. Now America laughs at sin, and I see the handwriting on the wall.

Today all around us there seems to be an absolute absence of heartfelt sorrow for sin. We need a real recognition of sin and a genuine heart sorrow combined with a turning away from sin, if we are to survive. To a nation of old, God said in II Chronicles 7:14: 'If My people, which are called by My name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.'

What is so funny? Are atomic bombs and broken bodies and full sanitariums funny? Are drinking leaders and shady business deals and open gambling causes for mirth? Are dirty books and immorality causes for hilarity? Why laugh when the fiber of a whole nation is being wrenched apart by godlessness?"

The next time you look for something to make you laugh, ask yourself is this show and content pleasing to God? There seems to be something operating here more than just a desire to make you laugh. May I suggest that this is another attempt to redefine sin so that it will be more palatable. Once that happens we know longer stand against something that we have been laughing at. Sin is still sin and we need to stand in opposition to it in all forms.