Today is April 1, the world-famous April fool’s day, and I’m seated here fighting the urge to play just one tiny prank on my friends. What exactly is my apprehension?

Well, the thing is, I’m a christian, and growing up in Sunday School, I was made to believe that April fools — heck, pranking generally — is wrong.

Earlier, I was in an argument with a colleague as to whether participating in April fools’ day is right or wrong for a Christian. Being stubborn heads, neither of us conceded defeat, however, I left with one burning question: How can something that is supposed to be pure harmless fun be considered a sin -evil?

I set out to find answers for myself. What, really, does the Bible- the Christian’s guide – say about pranking? After all “the Bible is complete,” right.

During the course of my search, I found that this topic has been debated for quite a while. Addressing this topic, someone wrote on a public forum, “if you are doing it as a funny joke that you know a friend will take lightly and laugh off, I think it might be OK. If it’s a mean or malicious or hurtful prank that someone might even secretly dislike (even if they don’t say it), then yeah it’s definitely sinful. Jesus says to “love thy neighbour as thyself”, so unless you would be 100% cool and happy with the prank being done to you, you shouldn’t be doing it.”

While this makes some sense, I was still not satisfied. I needed something more convincing, more practical. So I searched on.

After a while of research and scripture searching, I found this:Proverbs 26:18-19 New International Version (NIV)
18 Like a maniac shooting flaming arrows of death
19 is one who deceives their neighbor and says, “I was only joking!”

Spot on. This hit the nail on the head for me.Playing a prank always entails ‘deceit’ and ‘lies’, no matter how little or well-intended it is, and every Bible-believing christian knows that a lie/deceit –no matter how small or well-meaning — is still a lie.

I am not claiming to be a saint, I’ve had my fair share of April fools pranks, however, Proverbs 26 has opened my eyes to a new understanding.

I have also learned that whatever one will do that may cause another, pain (physical or emotional), or will make another backslide, one should try as much to avoid. While I know many may not agree with my point of view, and will still go on with pranking, I would advise, however, that you validate your actions with this question: What would Jesus do?

This now opens a new discourse on whether even comedy is okay for christians, after all doesn’t it also entail lies?