Holy Laughter

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Question: A friend of mine went to a church service where several people broke out in "holy laughter." Is holy laughter biblical?

Based upon all that I can find in scripture, it is not. When I look at the ministry of Jesus, I don't find a single recorded case of people breaking into uncontrolled laughter. Further, I find none in the ministry of Paul or in the ministries of any of the Apostles.  I don't find a single verse of Scripture that says that when the Holy Spirit comes upon a person he or she breaks out in uncontrollable laughter. I do however find Scripture that indicates this phenomenon is not of the Holy Spirit. Lets start with the one above, Galatians 5:22,23. How do we reconcile uncontrolled laughter with the fruit of self-control? In the holy laughter phenomenon, people laugh uncontrollably even when there is nothing funny to laugh about. That is not self-control! 1 Corinthians 14:40 says "But everything should be done in a fitting and orderly way."  It is hardly fitting or orderly when people laugh uncontrollably in church. For God is not a God of disorder but of peace. 1 Corinthians 14:33  No, I don't find anything in Scripture that even remotely resembles holy laughter. Since we are told to test all things against Scripture (1 Thessalonians 5:21)  I must conclude the phenomenon of holy laughter is not biblical.


RELEVANT SCRIPTURE:
But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.
Galatians 5:22,23


Be blessed,
Wayne
http://www.Capstone-Ministries.org

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