I have spent the last two years being extremely unhappy. If being a Christian doesn't change any of that, why should I bother? To be completely honest with myself (which took me quite a while to do), I just want to be happy. I don't want to be afraid that I'm sinning all the time any more! I don't want to be weighed down by guilt! Where is the liberty that supposedly comes with the "spirit of the Lord" (2 Cor. 3:17)?
Tuesday, May 17, 2011
Pursuit of Happiness
I remember once hearing a quote from C. S. Lewis that "God doesn't much care if we are happy." (Though I may have made that up... I can't find it online...) This thought has continued to haunt me since I first encountered it my freshman year of college. Does following God mean I will have to live with unhappiness? Are Christians doomed to fight through a life of sadness? Are we simply to "consider it pure joy" when we "face trials of many kinds" (James 1:2)?
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I think God wants us to be happy. Why would design us for a life of misery? Makes no sense. If CS Lewis said that, he's wrong. (Horrors!) If Christianity is making you unhappy, then I think that's a sign that Christianity doesn't work -- or that the approach you are taking to Christianity doesn't work. As far as I'm concerned, I've taken the second tack. I've decided to follow joyful Christianity, which, it turns out, is liberal Christianity. (This coindcides with a general shift to the "left" in my entire life, except for the issue of abortion.) I've found that following hard-line, conservative Christianity FORCES one to assume a false facade -- you pretend to be righteous and happy whnen all the time you know that you're quite imperfect and kind of making up life as you you along. Look at all the televangelists who ended up having sexual scandals! Holiness doesn't work. Being human works. I choose to be real. Let's go out an have a beer and talk about it this weekend. Okay?
ReplyDelete"Delight yourself in the Lord, and he will give you the desires of your heart" (Psalm 37:4).
ReplyDeleteI strongly doubt Lewis ever said that. In fact, his writings have been instrumental for many Christians in pursuing happiness in God. Have you heard of John Piper? I recommend you read his book "Desiring God: Meditations of a Christian Hedonist" or listen to some of his sermons online. His journey for the pursuit of happiness in college sound a lot similar to yours in many respects.
What you're going through is something that many Christians (including myself) who come out of fundamentalists & legalistic churches experience. What's unfortunate is that growing up in such an environment obscures one's view of Christianity as a whole. *All* Christians aren't legalists!
Fatigue is inevitable where legalism reigns. It's also a sign that the gospel isn't understood. If legalism is *the way* then Jesus is superfluous. I'll share my story with you some other time. My advice to you is to pursue happiness. God wants you to be happy. It's all over the bible. And that all encompassing happiness is found in him. God is first and foremost, a happy God.
I've gone too long. God bless you.