Recently a high school senior was talking with me and he said, "You have taught me that I can enjoy life and still be a Christian."  I suppose he could not have given me a finer compliment.  I, also, have known some wonderful Christians whose good lives were overlaid with happiness and laughter.  Truly the Bible states, "A merry heart doeth good like a medicine"  (Proverbs 17:22).
    Certainly, we should be careful when we laugh, for it is not always appropriate.  During the worship, as we concentrate on the cross while partaking the Lord's Supper, it is not a time to laugh.  Nor should we laugh at the trials, mistakes, or misfortunes of another.  Sometimes people laugh at sin and this is always sad.  Yet, there is a time to laugh (Ecclesiastes 3:4).
    There are those who subscribe to a view called asceticism.  Those who hold to this idea believe that a Christian must always be suffering and enduring hardship and never have pleasure in life.  However, this idea is not taught in scripture.  Jesus said, "These things have I spoken unto you, and that your joy might be full"  (John 15:11).  So joy that often brings laughter is not sinful, but needful.  Brother Ira Rice, longtime missionary and good friend, is often criticized severely for his bold defense of the truth.  Before I knew him well, I often wondered how he endured such hurtful comments.  I think I now know.  First, he is unswerving in his loyalty to the Lord, and secondly, he knows how to laugh.
    Why is it good to laugh, particularly with young people?  First, it shows them Christianity is not a burden to bear, but a priviledge to enjoy.  I can imagine Paul and Silas as they were singing in the Philippian jail, also sharing laughter together (Acts 16:25).  Secondly, young people will feel more comfortable talking with you about serious things when they can laugh with you about lighter things.  Thirdly, laughter lightens the load which teenagerscarry.  We can neither laugh our problems away, nor should we try, but when we do laugh it can help a person evaluate and solve his problems more easily.  Fourthly, laughter is healthy (Proverbs 17:22).  Doctors have also shown in studies that those who laugh live longer.  We ought to do everything possible to make our bodies better for the Lord's service.  Fifthly, if a youth worker can learn to laugh, he will earn respect.  Many young people never respect their youth leader because they always feel he is berating them and never willing to have a good time.  When youth can see their leader laugh, they will also learn how to respect him when he means business.
    How should we laugh?  We should be able to laugh at ourselves.  It is important that we do not become so egotistical or self conscious that we cannot laugh when we make a mistake or do something silly.  When we can laugh at ourselves, it shows our young people that we are also human.
    We should laugh with our young people.  Never laugh at them, but with them.  I have seen some teens pushed out of the group because other teens and the youth worker constantly made fun of them.  A youth worker must realize that most teens ar very sensitive and sometimes even fragile.  Study your teens well and know their personalities.  Most of them are always ready to laugh with you, but if you laugh at them in a way that brings shame and degradation, you will lose a good friend and harm a soul.
    If you want good communication to exist between you and your youth, know how and when to laugh and do it heartly and often.  Young people will never want to communicate with someone who is always sour, dour, and negative.  Demonstrate through laughter that you treasure them.  Teach them that one can be a pure and faithful Christian, yet enjoy life to the fullest.