Laughing With
I’m still chewing on Regina Spektor’s “Laughing With.” See what you think. What do you think she’s saying about God, humor, faith, etc.?
No one laughs at God in a hospital
No one laughs at God in a war
No one’s laughing at God
When they’re starving or freezing or so very poor
No one laughs at God
When the doctor calls after some routine tests
No one’s laughing at God
When it’s gotten real late
And their kid’s not back from the party yet
No one laughs at God
When their airplane start to uncontrollably shake
No one’s laughing at God
When they see the one they love, hand in hand with someone else
And they hope that they’re mistaken
No one laughs at God
When the cops knock on their door
And they say we got some bad news, sir
No one’s laughing at God
When there’s a famine or fire or flood
*Chorus*
But God can be funny
At a cocktail party when listening to a good God-themed joke, or
Or when the crazies say He hates us
And they get so red in the head you think they’re ‘bout to choke
God can be funny,
When told he’ll give you money if you just pray the right way
And when presented like a genie who does magic like Houdini
Or grants wishes like Jiminy Cricket and Santa Claus
God can be so hilarious
Ha ha
Ha ha
No one laughs at God in a hospital
No one laughs at God in a war
No one’s laughing at God
When they’ve lost all they’ve got
And they don’t know what for
No one laughs at God on the day they realize
That the last sight they’ll ever see is a pair of hateful eyes
No one’s laughing at God when they’re saying their goodbyes
But God can be funny
At a cocktail party when listening to a good God-themed joke, or
Or when the crazies say He hates us
And they get so red in the head you think they’re ‘bout to choke
God can be funny,
When told he’ll give you money if you just pray the right way
And when presented like a genie who does magic like Houdini
Or grants wishes like Jiminy Cricket and Santa Claus
God can be so hilarious
No one laughs at God in a hospital
No one laughs at God in a war
No one laughs at God in a hospital
No one laughs at God in a war
No one laughing at God in hospital
No one’s laughing at God in a war
No one’s laughing at God when they’re starving or freezing or so very
poor
No one’s laughing at God
No one’s laughing at God
No one’s laughing at God
We’re all laughing with God
Mike, I think that I feel exactly like she does…we should talk about it sometime. And I love Regina Spektor. Mary Kate introduced me to her. Great having kids who love music and introduce you to new stuff.
qb thinks Spektor is mocking the self-evident artificiality and superficiality in much of what passes for mainstream “gospel” these days. Spektor knows, and we suspect, that we haven’t the foggiest clue what we mean when we say that Jesus’ message is “good news of great joy which shall be unto all people.” And if we don’t understand it ourselves, all we have to commend ourselves is profession of – perhaps as much as commitment to, but not true belief in, and certainly not true knowledge of Christ (cf. Willard’s latest masterpiece).
She’s ridiculing us, too, because we are complicit to some extent in creating the very conditions that mock our profession that Christ is the great physician and that his kingdom is actually breaking in.
That’s not to say that Spektor’s critique is wholly on the mark. One could argue that what she is mocking is the caricature of discipleship and ambassadorship that some have drawn on behalf of the rest of the church. But perhaps we should heed whatever ideas appear to resonate.
qb
stunning………what she said she said well
I think she’s saying the true God can’t be laughed at. The true God meets us where the bone is exposed (No one laughing at God in a hospital / No one’s laughing at God in a war / No one’s laughing at God when they’re starving or freezing or so very poor). So if we are laughing at “God” what we are really laughing at is a false image of God. Her examples:
The trivialization of God:
But God can be funny
At a cocktail party when listening to a good God-themed joke
God sanctioned hate:
Or when the crazies say He hates us
And they get so red in the head you think they’re ‘bout to choke
The self-centered nature of American Christianity:
God can be funny,
When told he’ll give you money if you just pray the right way
And when presented like a genie who does magic like Houdini
Or grants wishes like Jiminy Cricket and Santa Claus
When we laugh at these things it appears that we are laughing at God when, in fact, we are laughing with God over against these things. It’s a prophetic move: Standing with God over against a false image of God. Thus:
No one’s laughing at God
No one’s laughing at God
No one’s laughing at God
We’re all laughing with God
I’m not sure what to make of it–maybe the good Dr. Richard can develop this more–but she uses the themes of sight, vision, and illusion in her video. It begins with her looking through an optometrists instrument suggesting that her eyes are damaged, and throughout the video things happen to her eyes (like wearing a mask that she takes off) and also to our eyes (like the illusion of the staircase and picture frame, etc).
On the surface she seems to be saying first that our eyes are in need of something to help us see clearly (the Holy Spirit?); but then there are illusions or “tricks” that leave us wondering what else is to come, and, more importantly I think, whether it is real or not. Interesting song and video.
Love it!
I interpret this as commentary on the ways that we conveniently use God and attempt to marginalize what God really is. That he is an almighty, all-powerful, jealous Father from Heaven who loves all people with a heart of mercy. It is an indictment of the way that many of us in this society want the easy part of Christianity and hope to not have to endure the suffering.
(Romans 5:3) Not only so, but we rejoice in our suffering, for we know that suffering produces perseverance, perseverance produces character and character produces hope. And hope does not disappoint.
It would be funny, if you were a 2,000 year old Greek person, to replace “God” with “Zeus”! Ha! But of course, all of us moderns know that Zeus has been dead for about 1,500 years. Those crazy Greeks with their dreamed-up gods!
Thanks for the post.
No one’s laughing at God
But many are laughing at God’s kids!
I doubt He’s laughing with them
I doubt He’s laughing with them
I doubt He’s laughing with them
But without doubt …. He’s angry with them!!
How great it is to have a Heavenly Father that not only loves us, but takes care of those that hate us or chide us, or laugh at our belief…. our trust in Him! Praise His Holy Name!!
Matthew 25:34-40 … with some liberties
34″Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world. 35For I was hungry and (you did not LAUGH at me) you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and (you did not LAUGH at me) you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and (you did not LAUGH at me) you invited me in, 36I needed clothes and (you did not LAUGH at me) you clothed me, I was sick and (you did not LAUGH at me) you looked after me, I was in prison and (you did not LAUGH at me) you came to visit me.’ 37″Then the righteous will answer him, ‘Lord, when did we (not LAUGH at you) see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? 38When did we (not LAUGH at or) see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? 39When did we (not LAUGH at you or) see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?’ 40″The King will reply, ‘I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.’
I shutter to think about the things I have laughed at over the years…
It’s not funny when God is markedly absent during our times of suffering but present during our times of not needing him. Some of the comments above seem to wholesale believe God is merciful, full of love and real.
Hey, what’s with all the rain here in Abilene? qb came down here to enjoy some dry heat, but this is neither.
Soggy qb
Enjoy, qb. I’m just surprised my flight left this morning for DFW . . . just in time to arrive and find out that my DFW-Nashville flight has been cancelled. No one seems to know why. I think it’s the mysterious “mechanical problem” (which, since it was discovered 3 hours before the flight, makes me wonder why they didn’t get another plane).
I like Spektor’s music. The students I teach love her music.
This one is profound. Just when I think I’ve finally understood it . . . another line throws me. I do think it’s a helpful intro into a discussion about God, suffering, theodicy, idolatry, etc.
This is a thought-provoking song, but to be fair: no one is laughing at anything when “…in a hospital” or “…in a war”, etc. I know, I know: the point for many here is that “there are no atheists in foxholes”. But there are. Not everyone relies on divinities or crutches or grasps for other-worldly help in time of need. Some do the difficult thing and find the strength within or in a community. When using this song as an “intro into a discussion”, please don’t be offended by those who can’t believe you actually believe what you do.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tggZlm8zv4I
This is how I in vision our discussion with God sounds like to God. Is he laughing with us or at us?
L.
When are our times of “not needing” God?
Martin – I’m not offended at all, and I doubt that she’s making the “no atheists in a foxhole” argument. More that our graven images (e.g., God The Great Giver of tv evangelism) are exposed in those moments. I do think we’d agree that those are the moments when one has to reflect as deeply as possible on the big questions.
C
If he were real (as Christians describe:Mercy, Love,etc…) we would need him all the time. But right now we just need a few more people to believe in the goodness of mankind to solve his/her problems. We are waiting for the “God” stimulus package to restore us to some preconceived ideal state. As a humanity, we need to get off the holy crapper or poop.
Mike,
I understand what you are saying and do agree with you that there are certain times when one reflects more deeply on one’s mortality than others. Thankfully, in my opinion, fewer and fewer people are thinking of “God” or “Zeus” or whoever else might live in the sky during those times and more and more people are accepting their mortality and humble place in this vast, mysterious universe. Thanks for thought-provoking blog entries and for treating those who disagree with you with respect. That helps people like me (one who disagrees with you the majority of the time) continue to come back.
Martin
Martin – Please hang around. My new work with Landon Saunders is going to try to communicate with people all over the faith map — but especially those for whom faith isn’t exactly working. Obviously, we’re going to be doing it as believers. But we don’t want to stereotype; we don’t want to make false claims; we want to be honest to the core. Even when there are disagreements! We’ll need people like you who can speak openly and honestly. Thanks.
L
If someone doesn’t believe God is real, then how would they know if He is present or not? If no belief in the reality of God, they won’t even be looking.
Might it be reliance on mankind that is creating the problems/sufferings?
I read the lyrics yesterday and I listened to the song today. For what it is worth, I liked the song both/either way.
Peace,
Geezer
Wow … that is very good. Reposting.
She’s right. My Grandfather was in the trenches during the Battle of the Somme, and believe me no one was laughing at God then.
Mike,
I think the point she is making is this: in real life tragedy – no one thinks the idea of god is trivial. It’s only when people talk about god theoretically and unintentionally reduce him to a joke that it gets hilarious.
Why? Because they, in the very process of trying to take him seriously, do so much to trivialize him. So it’s only when we are powerless that we find out how much we need God, and not just any god, but a God who cares and responds and shares in our suffering – like our Lord Jesus.
To those who mourn… who hunger… who are persecuted… to the least of these… to the last… to the hurting… to those who take up their cross and follow him….
Thanks for this song!