Observation: In one of the shortest books of the bible, Jude, a Christian leader, finishes up his letter by encouraging believers to stay faithful even in the face of scoffers, and to have mercy on people who waver in faith or succumb to fear.
Application: I watch a fair amount of standup comedy on Netflix and other streaming services. One big difference I've noticed that there seem to be two categories of comedians. Some use their comedy as a way to tell the truth, and to process their own lives, and maybe help us all process experiences we hold in common. Others use comedy as a shield from the truth: as a barb to point out the foibles of others, and as an escape from looking inward at their own lives.
It's the second kind of comedy that I think of when Jude mentions "scoffers." Scoffers laugh at others because they are afraid to look inside themselves. They "punch down," at safe targets for ridicule, rather than reveal too much about themselves. Not only is this bad for our spirits, but in fact, it tends to be less funny. If you use your laughter to escape truth, you'll end up with tired tropes that are just one more step removed from reality.
I'm not a comedian, of course. I speak only as an audience member. But in this lesson from Jude, I hear a lesson about life. Jude says to be aware that there will be scoffers in the end times--really, there will always be scoffers, but maybe more so as our world cries out with more and more pain--but believers don't scoff back. We pray, and we have mercy on the fearful. After all, scoffing is a defense mechanism. We poke fun at others when we lack the courage to look inside ourselves. But mercy is for the brave. Mercy comes only from the Spirit of God.
Prayer: God, have mercy on me when I scoff at others. Help me to be brave, rely on your spirit, and be changed from the inside out. Amen.
