Is it a bad thing to have fun? Is it wrong to have a party? Some severe strands of the Christian tradition frown upon anything frolicsome. For the grim victims of these traditions, pleasure is associated with sin and making merry with superficiality. To see the people of God whoop it up is too much for their sensibilities.

People with solid roots in a Scriptural worldview don’t have this problem. They know that everything made by God is good. His gifts are to be received with thanksgiving (1 Timothy 4:4-5). Even in a world so deeply impacted by human wrongdoing, there are plenty of reasons to celebrate. To be always grave when the Lord of glory saves us would be ungrateful indeed. To be gloomy when we receive his gracious gifts is no evidence of godliness but rather of infiltrating demons.

Christians should have fun. They should know better than others how to really throw a party. Celebration is a natural part of living in fellowship with God through Christ. Naturally, the festivities of the saints will be animated by the values of the Kingdom of God. Led by the Spirit of God who gives us gladdened hearts, the people of God will make merry in a way of their own. Even in their revelry, they remain God’s own possession – called to imitate Him in a life of holiness.

So what would a party look like? What kind of things would be happening at, say, the wedding feast of a Christian couple? Just a few hours ago, they stood before friend and family in a church building, pledging their lifelong troth to each other. The Name of God was invoked over their marriage. Joyful songs of praise were sung by all the guests. Who of their family and friends fails to rejoice at what God has done for the new couple?

But what’s happening now? The M.C. introduces himself as well as out-of-town guests. Everyone is welcomed. A prayer is offered. Soon the meal begins. When everyone is satisfied, the entertainment starts. It turns out to be a real variety show. Somebody stands up and tells a few coarse jokes – aiming for the cheap laugh of television sitcoms. Next thing you know, everyone is asked to sing Hymn 48 while dessert is served. There follows a silly skit with vulgar gestures and sexually suggestive remarks. Before you even have time to mutter a complaint to your neighbour, some young children (relatives of the bride, no doubt) are singing Psalm 116:1 and 10. The M.C. considers this an appropriate moment to let everyone know that the bar is now open. Well, now that quite a few folks are into the liquor, wouldn’t this be a great time for some pals of the groom to come to the microphone? They do and we are treated to a tawdry tale about some un-godly escapade of the groom when he was still covered, it would seem, by the young offender’s act of the church. After this choice offering, we are requested to sing “Holy, holy, holy, is the LORD God Almighty” to the accompaniment of an accordion which really needs some help. Without missing a beat, the M.C. informs us that we again have opportunity to again attend the bar. Next, the family of the bride will no doubt have opportunity to perform a poorly-practiced skit which seems even poorer than it is because there is no sound system. No worries, the M.C. will divert us with a few more off-colour jokes. All right, isn’t it time now for the father of the bride to close the evening with thanksgiving? He pronounces the expected words: “Thank you for coming.” Without a trace of embarrassment, he adds, “I’m glad that we could celebrate in such a Christian manner.” No sooner has he finished than the M.C. declares, “For those who wish to dance, the floor will be cleared. The bar is still open.”

I think you get the drift. The essentially pagan character of such an evening can’t be hidden with a nod to God in the form of a few songs and a prayer or two. Due to the constant, illogical interchange of pious songs and words with pagan revelry, the whole evening takes on a surreal quality. As a result, nobody really has a good time. Pagan guests can’t really have fun because of the religious undertones (just enough to remind everyone that there is a different way to do this) while the gladness of true Christians is dampened by the weird and painful inconsistencies.

Obviously, the above description is something of a caricature. It cannot be denied, however, that wedding celebrations do often lack the aroma of godliness. Perhaps it would be good for the community to rethink the art of celebrating. We need to ensure that our times of celebrating reflect the style of the Kingdom. Kingdom style means that we don’t get drunk with wine or other liquor (Ephesians 5:18). It also means that we avoid “obscenity, foolish talk and coarse joking, which are out of place” (Ephesians 5:4). Nor do the people of the Kingdom delight in evil – as if past sin is in any way a reason for laughter instead of shame and sorrow. Kingdom style also means that we strive for quality in our entertainment. We need to shake off our aesthetic stupor and work past the deadening influence of entertainment culture. Can we not become more creative and authentically Christian in the way we celebrate?

Allow some suggestions in that direction. Could we not have some original songs for the occasion? Are there perhaps family members or friends able to compose lyrics set to familiar tunes? Is it not possible to have capable musicians to lead the singing and to create a festive atmosphere throughout the evening? And can’t we have jokes that are genuinely funny without descending into the scatological or ribald? After all, a joke is a very serious thing! This request doesn’t imply, by the way, a prudish avoidance of all references to the joys of the marriage bed – as if the evening was not the celebration of vows surrounding the sexual relationship of one man and one woman! Wholesome references to the joys of sexual life are entirely appropriate at a wedding reception (wholesome being the operative word). Funny (but not degrading) stories about the bride and/or groom are certainly a welcome offering at any such event. Amusing the guests with accounts of past and sinful behaviour of the groom or bride is, however, not fitting for Christians. We have no pleasure in sin and certainly don’t want to trivialize it by presenting it in the form of so-called entertainment. People who attempt such things at a wedding should not be rewarded with snickering and hooting from the guests but rather with sustained silence. Then, too, isn’t a wedding reception a great place for the talents of amateur dramatists to shine? However, let’s please have the skit well-rehearsed so that the guests can properly enjoy it! Otherwise, why do it at all? Well-told stories about incidents of family history can also be a great treat at a wedding ceremony. Everyone enjoys a slide show or a video highlighting key moments in the life of bride and/or groom. Besides the above, may I make a plea for some more free time during a wedding reception – time to mingle freely with other guests? It’s frustrating to see other guests you haven’t met for a long time but to have no time to chat with them.

Perhaps I could end with the words of Philippians 4:8.

Finally, brethren, whatever is true, whatever is honourable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is gracious, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things.