No Laughing Matter

Have you ever thought about the role of humor while living out our faith?

Obviously God created us with a sense of humor, but sometimes I don't feel like humor and church or faith or Jesus mix. But they should!

Case in point #1: on Easter we took pictures of Pineapple and Mango with some nice stuffed animals.

The stuffed animals were a lamb and a bunny. I find this quite amusing, but at the same time bordering on sacrilege. It was actually a near accident; I was choosing the props for the photo and I picked the softest, most adorable stuffed creatures that I liked. I really hope God finds it amusing as well and not disrespectful.

Case in point #2: Easter really is quite a serious holiday for Christians. Jesus Christ conquering death is the foundation for our faith. But does that make it serious, as in humorless? Luke 24:5b. Does anyone besides me find it amusing that a pair of angels appear in a cemetery to ask the women, "Why do you seek the living among the dead?" What if in a moment of wit and clarity and revelation of prophecy, Mary asked in response, "Why do you proclaim the living among the dead? You ask this question, but indeed, here you are, standing in a cemetery!" If nobody else gets it, at least I think that the Creator has a pretty satirical streak.

Free Will and a Chosen People

I've been reading the Old Testament. It suddently occurred to me; what role does a chosen people have within the context of free will?

Lately I've taken the concept of free will for granted because it was a theological issue that I contemplated and accepted early in my Christian life. When it comes to free will, I am certain that none of my ideas are my own, only fragments of what others have said and speculated about God's plan for humanity. While the Word doesn't specifically say we have "free will," we can generically say Love cannot exist without free will.

Anyway, a thought which I'm certain I haven't studied in a Bible Study or heard in church or read in a book is the recurring theme of God's chosen as it applies specifically to free will - or vice versa.

What I'm wondering is whether having a segment of society be God's "chosen people" is a critical or non-critical element of free will. If critical, then how is being chosen resolve against free will [ok, yes this touches on pre-destination, certainly not an original thought]. If non-critical, then why is it a continuous theme in God's framework for this world?

This is only one example, and certainly not the best example of God's wrath on His chosen should they sway from Him. Nonetheless it is recurring: God's people suffering, crying out, being saved, laws given, rebellion, God's wrath, God's people suffering... I guess I am trying to figure out how this loop fits into the concept of free will. Perhaps it is the very concept of free will that causes the loop to occur. The only way to exit the loop is to choose to accept being chosen and thus accept the plan of salvation, rather than God's wrath...

I wrote this in like, 9 minutes, but looking forward to much discussion and research. Your thoughts please...