I cannot cite a verse or a study, but I honestly believe that the healthiest churches are churches that laugh the most. I’d also add cry the most to that. They are churches that feel deeply, feel freely. The gospel isn’t just in their heads. It’s in their hearts.

Had a great time at the University of Virginia last night. Spoke to a few hundred college students who are part of Chi Alpha. Afterward, I was talking with the campus pastor, Pete Bullette, and he commented on how much the students laughed last night. I noticed that as well. Pete mentioned something that a mutual friend, Doug Oss, told him years ago. He wasn’t sure if it was based on a “study” per se, but Doug said that “growing churches are laughing churches.” I found that intriguing. Can’t get it out of my mind.

I’ve always believed that the healthiest and holiest people on the planet are people who laugh at themselves the most. And I’ve written about how God wants to sanctify our medial ventral prefrontal cortex, the seat of humor, in Primal. But I hadn’t really thought about the corporate implications for churches.

May we laugh more. May we cry more.