Lack of Joy II: A False Solution
At this point the logical step for Christians tends to be a statement like:
"This is because people aren't living in relationship with God the way that they are created to. Once they come to know God through Jesus, they will find true joy."
However, I don't think that this is totally convincing. It makes a mockery of those who truly believe and strive for a relationship with God, but don't feel joy. Some people then tack on:
"As God changes you to be more like Jesus, you'll be living the way he wants and then you will find true joy."
However, this also doesn't gel completely. Our sinful nature constantly strives for what is evil. A person who is trying to lead a righteous life can still not be happy when they see something sinful and think "I want a part of that." People who have been living good lives can still fall away because they get trapped into a life of sin (even Paul's two companions mentioned in 2 Timothy) while looking for happiness.
I think the answer is something deeper.
posted by Phil @ 11:41 AM
3 comments
3 Comments:
Interesting that you bring that up.
The Kidz Bizz lesson last Sunday was on John 14:6 - I am the way the truth and the life, etc.
The teaching from the book was that being a Christian was living life to the max - comparing it to extreme sports, etc. That's all well and good, but I think it suffers the same fate as the "Christian Joy" issue that you have just outlined.
As a result, I wrote a little spiel and used that instead... hopefully it was meaty...
Thanks for the thoughts - I think it's kind of a general attitude at the moment in some places that if you live a good Christian life everything falls into place. Judging by the glum faces I see on Sunday mornings this probably isn't the case.
Anyway, stay tuned for part 3!
Sometimes cookies crumble and the five second rule expires...
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