I don’t know about you, but for some reason I feel quite a bit of pressure to be funny when I’m teaching, leading a game, etc. I’m fairly certain nobody else really cares whether I’m funny or not so the pressure is most likely completely self imposed. But because I believe that when we can get students laughing we open their hearts and minds to more serious issues, humor seems like a very strategicarrow in a junior high pastor’s quiver.

But over the years I’ve seen, and been responsible for, quite a bit of humor that really isn’t funny. In fact, humor can be a really dangerous weapon. I’m sure there are more examples of when something isn’t funny, but here is my short list.

Kurt’s Philosophy of “Not Funny”:

- It’s not funny if the humor is at the expense of an individual student.

- It’s not funny if it’s degrading.

- It’s not funny if it’s for “shock value”.

- It’s not funny if it undermines authority.

- It’s not funny if someone gets hurt.

- It’s not funny if you’ve overkilled it (less is more).

- It’s not funny if nobody’s laughing (although there are times when I think I’m hilarious but apparently nobody else does…).

I would love to add to the list. What would your list include?