Brad Stine’s not a preacher who sneaks jokes into his sermon, he’s a comedian who sneaks preaching into his jokes. He says that his new DVD project, God’s Comic, coming out in May, “. I and”
He has opinions on what Christianity is supposed to be like, and it includes efforts like The Morning Center, Samaritan Ministries’ charitable maternity hospital project.
To back up his talk, Brad will perform at two upcoming Morning Center fundraisers: one in Charlotte, North Carolina, on May 15 and one in Memphis, Tennessee, on June 14.
“This is what Christianity should be, coming out and supporting these things, giving money, time and effort to saving lives, sacrificing for something much grander and more important than you,” Brad says. “It’s about really taking care of culture as believers.”
And the comedian doesn’t just want you to be there.
“Bring a nonbelieving friend to this event and see what they say,” he says.
Here’s an interview with Brad, in which he explains why he’s doing the fundraisers and how Christian comedy can impact culture.
Why did you say yes to taking part in the Morning Center fundraisers?
When I heard of this Morning Center I saw pro-active Christianity, which is what I love—people that aren’t talking about Jesus, they’re being Jesus, they’re giving people what they need. They’re not just pointing fingers and saying, “Don’t do something.” They’re saying God wants you to be able to honor this life and we are going to facilitate that and help you accomplish that. That is so beautiful, that is so beautiful. The pro-life movement is so much about being consistent with our faith but also actually helping and assisting people in productive ways, in a loving way, to accomplish this mission. The truth is they’re in some very difficult situations sometimes financially or physically or emotionally, and we need to do more than just say, “No, don’t kill that baby.” We need to give them love and grace and support and dignity and realize that they’re loved and that they too are made in the image of God and that we are not going to just expect something but we’re going to help you accomplish it so that you see what love looks like and what you should have had all along and it didn’t come your way, let us give it to ya. That’s beautiful man, that’s Christianity and that’s when it’s just something that I can just sink my teeth into.
Why should Christians lighten up and laugh more?
If I were to ask the average Christian in America, what is worship? “Oh, it’s when we sing.” No, it isn’t. That’s one way. You know how else we worship? We laugh together. That’s worship in joy. You know the other way we worship? Community, talking together. You know how else we worship? We eat together. You know how else we worship? We create centers where women who have children they weren’t expecting can have them in dignity and that child lives and they feel good about themselves and loved and cared about. That’s worshipping God, by giving people life, and joy.
So let’s go show the world the joy that’s supposed to come from those who say no matter what happens in my life, I’m free. The Creator of the universe knows me, loves me, called me and I called him and I will see him in His dimension one day face to Face. Let’s find the shadows and echoes of God here in these three dimensions to show people there’s something else here they haven’t seen before, that they’ve taken for granted. Like laughter, like music, like art, like all the beautiful things God gave us to find Him. It’s a tragedy to think that those who laugh the most wouldn’t be Christians.
Where do you draw the line with your comedy? What’s not available to make fun of?
Every time I’ve ever done a joke that was even on the edge in the Christian realm, it always came with a caveat: “Here’s what I’m saying. Here’s what I’m referring to. This is what I’m getting at. Here’s what we’re to learn from this thing.” And that was really where I think comedy can be great is when it teaches us something, when it helps us see something in a context that we’re not used to. So it helps to broaden our thinking and our perception. I’ve always tried to do that.
My point is what they really don’t want to see is their sin. They want darkness. So comedy can expose darkness because it sheds light on it, but it does it in a way that they don’t realize they’re drinking their own poison. They don’t realize they’re being exposed for what they are. They’re laughing. Suddenly we’re coming face to face with reality and objectivity and going, “Maybe I need to change, maybe I’m wrong.” Boy, if comedy can do that, it’s done a marvelous thing .
That’s what good preaching does. It forces you to face yourself: who you are and how you see the world and how you behave. Comedy does that with a spoonful of sugar, and that’s what makes it so important in culture.
You can watch Brad every Monday morning on Fox & Friends.
Also performing at the Charlotte fundraiser will be Christian musicians Lara Landon, Faith Gilmore and Sean Michel.
Both Brad and Lara will perform at the Memphis fundraiser.
