The Sin of Being Too Serious
“The Christians that I know have to be among the unhappiest of people in the world!”
Think about the prune-faced, Puritan stereotype– severe, unloving, killjoys. And if you call to mind a Fundamentalist of the twentieth century, the picture is a preacher pounding a pulpit, dripping with sweat, shouting out fierce words to the faithful. Or worse — someone using a megaphone on a street corner.
How did we become so serious? Does this hardened spirit reflect Jesus? I think not.
Whatever else we might say about Jesus, he is completely at peace and full of joy. Jesus our risen Lord is not sullen or bitter about life. John Piper’s explains this idea beautifully in Desiring God (Multnomah, 2nd Edition, 1996):
Can you imagine what it would be like if the God who ruled the world were not happy? What if God were given to grumbling and pouting and depression like some Jack-and-the-beanstalk giant in the sky? What if God were frustrated and despondent and gloomy and dismal and discontented and dejected? Could we with David say, “Oh God, thou art my God, I seek thee; my soul thirsts for thee; my flesh faints for thee, as in a dry and weary land where no water is” (Psalm 63:1)?
I don’t think so. We would all relate to God like little children who have a frustrated, gloomy, dismal, and discontented father. They can’t enjoy him. They can only try not to bother him, and maybe try to work for him to earn some little favor (John Piper, 34).
Years ago when I was studying the gospels, I noticed that Jesus majored in defying the stereotypes of the religious establishment. Instead of settling for quiet dinner conversation with spiritual leaders, Jesus parties with people like Levi. Instead of fasting, he took up feasting.
I think that if Jesus came in the flesh to dwell among us today, he would continue the same practice. His laughter would surprise, his attendance at parties would shock; his closest friends and greatest followers would be drawn from the edges of society.
WWJD? (What Would Jesus Do?) Whatever he did, it would be filled with the joy of the Lord. And if his track record is any indication of his choices, Jesus would be sociable and in the middle of a party.
So as you celebrate and spend time others this weekend (be it at a party or not), remember the one who was not too serious. Remember Jesus.
Jason,
This is so great and so true and so awesome to be read in print! There IS so much joy in Jesus and I am going to remember that even better, thanks to your blog!
I think people are still unhappy because they are concerned about their past sins. They do not truly believe God has forgiven them and forgotten these sins. this is the human brain thinking. We must forget our past sins and serve him.
Once again we can learn from the children. Just try to interest a child in the person who has the scowling face and the sound of a grump in their voice. On the other hand just watch them as they flock to the person with a smile and open arms. Children weren’t attracted to Jesus because of His status as a great pedagogue, they were attracted to the loving and caring that apparently oozed from His every pore.
It’s not that His teachings are not important because they certainly are our path to eternal life and a more spiritual present. Throughout the Gospels people came to Jesus by ATTRACTION. The best model is the only one He gave us, “They will know you are my disciples by the way you love each other.”