Popular comedians, Still Ringing mounted the House On The Rock church’s pulpit at the recently held concert, The African Praise Experience(TAPE), and said:” Something will fall on you,
Banana will fall on you,
Enu Ose enu Ose,
Ariwo Ko ni music ooh”.
The humorous duo got many wondering If they had not crossed the limits, in the delivery of their jokes on a pulpit which is supposed to be a sacred place to perform on. Still Ringing’s brand of comedy thrives on using secular songs and statements to make people laugh in the house of God.
An article published in Herald Magazine titled Uphold Holiness of the Pulpit opines that:” The pulpit must be a sacred place, a place where believers must use as a place of contact with their God should they choose to come forward to it and cast their burdens unto him.”
The deployment of stand-up comedians in churches and Christian events has become a trend in Christendom these days. While some Pastors see nothing wrong with it, other clerics see it as the pathway to defiling the altar of God. There are many choruses that echo the same sentiments about comedians performing in the church. Questions like’ How can an “entertainer” be invited to minister to “the people of God?” always comes up in such conversations.
Ace comedian and actor, Owen Gee in a chat with TheNewsGuru says:” This question I think has been over flogged, why do people complain about comedians performing in church? Are there musicians who perform in church? Yes! Are there stage plays being done in church? Yes! So why not comedy? I started my career performing in church and was amongst one of the first Christian comedians in the country.
“The church gave me my platform. Performance within the church environs is another way of communicating God’s word with the Christian audience using humour.If there are gospel musicians, then we should have gospel comedians.The opinion of a few people cannot stop the spread of the gospel via humour, God is a God of laughter”.
Revered Nigerian dramatist and founder of Mount Zion Drama Ministry, Mike Bamiloye condemns Nigerian clergies who invite comedians to perform at their church events. He affirms that making the mockery of the scriptures and the name of Jesus is unacceptable.
Hear him:” For a long while I have questioned the inclusion of comedy in church events. What do I question? The fact that the comedians brought in are allowed to make jokes of scriptures, the blood of Jesus, speaking in tongues, the throne of grace etc And we sit there laughing? What are we laughing at? What is funny? Mocking God, Christ, the Holy Spirit and the word of God is funny? We hear of other religions where they are obsessed with protecting the image of their leader and we gleefully allow people to mock our leader Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit and thereby indirectly mocking God? They look at us with disdain because we are bad ambassadors of our faith!”.
In the same vein, a former member of popular gospel music group, Infinity Kenny K’ore wrote on Facebook:” I have never seen anybody that God ordained and he is a comedian. I am told that pastors now invite comedians to joke with the word of God. This is an abomination in the sanctuary. I would not have worried if it was in a market. For you as a man of God to go and hire comedians means you have nothing to offer. If you have nothing to do in the ministry, please get out!”.
Josh2Funny, a renowned social media comedian in a chat with TheNewsGuru, says that the church is the best platform for stand-up comedy.
In his words:” The church is the best place to exhibit any talent because the talent was given to you by God.You should use it to worship him in his house. I won’t pretend that I don’t know that some comedians say some jokes that shouldn’t be said in the church. The important thing is for you to identify the comedians that are good enough to perform in your church. I believe the people of God deserve happiness in the presence of their father”.
Asiri, another comedian popular for his hilarious skits on Instagram affirms that the language used in communication is germane to the overall acceptance of comedy in the house of God.
Hear him:” Every community has its language. Every organization has its dynamics. If you know the language of the elites you will communicate well there. If you know the language of the streets, the streets will respond to you. If you know the language of the church, there is nothing wrong in communicating comedy there.
“The church just has to be sure of the pedigree of any personality gracing their platforms. Comedy in my own understanding is a game of dynamics and you can’t be a master of all dynamics. If you have what it takes to craft your joke without crossing the line as pertaining to a church audience, then you understand the dynamics. But if you don’t have the capacity to appeal to the church dynamics, there are several other platforms you can grace” he reveals to TheNewsGuru.
Nigerian broadcaster and on-air-personality, Olayemi Ogunwole a.k.a Honey Pot in an Interview with TheNewsGuru says: “The activities have to be interesting for people to be attracted. Yes, I love to worship God and I work six days a week. If churches have drama groups and choir departments, I think there is nothing wrong when comedians come to liven up the atmosphere. As long as the joke is not blaspheming or dragging the name of God in the mud. I have met comedians before who crack ethical and clean jokes and when they attend secular events they still share clean jokes. I think it’s not bad when people listen to clean jokes in church” she concludes.
Adedayo Aderombi popularly known as Deeone Comedian believes comedians should not be stopped from performing in churches because, in the presence of God, there is fullness of Joy.
“In the presence of God, there is fullness of Joy. In my view, comedy in the church is a good thing and should be encouraged as long as it is ethical.
“Ecclesiastes 3:4 says:” There is a time to laugh”. I think churches should encourage more gospel and ethical comedy, it is like medicine to the body” he reveals
Watch Akporo’s performance in church
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zq6SGxiFGpA&t=1s
Watch Still Ringing’s perfromance below
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UqDU7b46bWc