“Joyless Christians”
by brian rushing
The Word: Oxymoron.
It means: A combination of words that seemingly contradict each other.
There are some great ones we hear and use:
Jumbo shrimp.
Paid volunteers.
An Exact Estimate.
A Rolling Stop.
An Original Copy.
Seriously Funny.
Pretty Ugly.
But how about… Joyless Christian.
Too many people have indicated that they have no interest in Christianity because Christians seem negative and unkind and joyless. They wonder how we can call our God a good God if He turns His followers into such sour individuals.
“We need frankly to face ourselves at this point. We are, perhaps, orthodox evangelicals. We can state the gospel clearly; we can smell unsound doctrine a mile away. If asked how one may know God, we can at once produce the right formula: that we come to know God through Jesus Christ the Lord, in virtue of his cross and mediation, on the basis of his word of promise, by the power of the Holy Spirit, via a personal exercise of faith. Yet the joy, goodness, and celebratory spirit which are the marks of those who have known God are rare among us.”
How can this be?
How can we who have been given the greatest gift of all time ever be considered miserable?
Paul indicated that he had learned contentment in every circumstance. How could he have joy in the midst of the difficulties he encountered in life – including suffering and pain? Because he knew that he was loved… in spite of himself.
We all want love, and yet we all worry that if anyone knew the real me, that love would be taken away. But Jesus loved me at my worst. And so I do not have to have any fear that his love will ever be taken away. And that should fill me with such unbelievable joy that the world can never accuse me of being sour or joyless.
“There is tremendous relief in knowing that his love to me is utterly realistic, based at every point on prior knowledge of the worst about me, so that no discovery now can disillusion him about me, in the way I am so often disillusioned about myself, and quench his determination to bless me.”
As you consider that you are loved immensely by the Great King of this Universe, let it fill you up with joy. Ask God to remind you of His love today.
How well are you doing at keeping people from labeling you as that oxymoron of a Joyless Christian?
Strive to wear a smile throughout the day. Be quick to laugh with others. Have an attitude of joy. It is the right attitude for a child of God.
(Quotes in today’s post are from Knowing God by J. I. Packer)
