Don’t mess with the grannies!
Ever heard of Smash Up? It’s a crazy card game that assigns two categories of individuals-like rock-stars and zombies, for example- special powers appropriate to them, then smashes them up together on a team to play against your opponent’s two smashed-up categories of people! One of my favorite smash-ups are the steam-punk grannies, of course. It’s an entertaining way to add some LOL variety to what could otherwise become a more mundane experience.
Well, sometimes it can be fun to add some LOL to reading the Bible too. Let’s be honest, even the most pious Presbyterian, committed Catholic, liturgical Lutheran, or refined Reformed Christian is sooner or later faced with a sermon or reading of Scripture that simply doesn’t excite. And for the rest of us, doctrine can seem dull quite a bit more frequently. I’m pretty sure that’s part of the reason God sprinkles some pretty off-the-wall stuff throughout his words! He knows we’re human, he created humor, and he doesn’t hesitate to offer some laughs in the midst of his great drama (Click to tweet!). Read Judges 3:16-17, 20-22, Acts 20:7-11, and Galatians 5:11-12 if you don’t believe me!
One fun way I’ve found to break up the occasionally dense and somber subject matter is actually to put it back together, smashing it up in hilarious ways. Simply find two verses that have nothing to do with each other, put ’em next to each other, and have a good chuckle! Now this of course is not an acceptable way to interpret or teach Scripture, but it is a good way to forge fun and familiarity with God’s great book! And to remember that God has a lighter side too…”a cheerful heart is good medicine” (Proverbs 17:22)! 🙂
Enjoy a few examples below…what would yours be?
1. “Paul spoke to the people and, because he intended to leave the next day, kept on talking until midnight….Seated in a window was a young man named Eutychus, who was sinking into a deep sleep as Paul talked on and on” (Acts 20:7-9). “This is what the Lord, the God of Israel says, ‘Let my people go!'” (Exodus 5:1).
2. “Whatever you ask I will give you, up to half my kingdom” (Mark 6:23). “‘Pick me up and throw me into the sea,’ he replied” (Jonah 1:12).
3. “I do not understand what I do. For what I want to do I do not do, but what I hate I do. And if I do what I do not want to do, I agree that the law is good. As it is, it is no longer I myself who do it, but it is sin living in me…for I do not do the good I want to do, but the evil I do not want to do—this I keep on doing. Now if I do what I do not want to do, it is no longer I who do it, but it is sin living in me that does it” (Romans 7:15-20). “[Paul’s] letters contain some things that are hard to understand” (2 Peter 3:16).
4. “I know a man in Christ who fourteen years ago was caught up to the third heaven…and heard inexpressible things, things that no one is permitted to tell” (2 Corinthians 12:2-4). “He was in high spirits and very drunk” (1 Samuel 25:36).
5. “As the Philistine moved closer to attack him, David ran quickly toward the battle line to meet him. Reaching into his bag and taking out a stone, he slung it and struck the Philistine on the forehead. The stone sank into his forehead, and he fell facedown on the ground” (1 Samuel 17:48-49). “Then Nathan said to David, ‘You are the man!'” (2 Samuel 12:7).
Although we’re just having fun here, it’s also important to smash up biblical passages that do have quite a bit to do with each other, especially in ways that answer so many difficult faith questions raised in the Bible. To explore whatever ones you might be wondering about, check out the different Healing Hereafter e-booklets free and instantly here!
