An adjunct professor at my school was talking to me about his church. He told me that one of his children asked him "why everyone at church looks so sad when they sing." I was really struck by that. I started thinking about what message I'm sending when I worship my Father in public. What do people see? I must honestly confess that - as far as I can tell - I am one of the "sad people." Joy is not a reoccurring theme of my internal praise. My deepest emotions are all reminiscent of remorse, regret, or melancholy-gratefulness; and even these are stirred up but rarely.
This really appears to be a fundamental dilemma for this generation of believers. what are we doing wrong that our faith brings no fresh aspect of joy to our praise - and our daily interactions? There is a spirit of emotional apathy afoot. I can see it in my heart and sense it in the church youth group, the college dorm, and the family gathering. But look at the church fathers; observe their lives; consider their words: isn't their example the we are striving to recreate in our own lives? Then why, when it comes to this issue of joy, is there such a glaring difference between us and them? The Apostle Paul's letters are virtually overflowing with doxology. It's like he can't contain himself. As he speaks of the truths of God's word and the depths of His being and the power of His work it all just spills over into praise. Why is this not the case with us? If this "sadness" the child spoke of is a persisting characteristic of our Christian walks, perhaps it is time to consider whether we are actually praising the same God as Paul. Maybe we are believing a different gospel. Maybe our sorrow - our "repentance" - is not God-honoring after all.
"Godly sorrow brings repentance that leads to salvation and leaves no regret, but worldly sorrow brings . See what this godly sorrow has produced in you: what earnestness...what longing, what concern, what readiness to see justice done" (2 Cor. 7.10-11).
Godly sorrow is but one small step on the ladder of sanctification. There is so much to follow; so much intended to bring honor to our Lord and draw others to His light. Even if you're a happy person, is yours the kind of happiness that overflows? Certainly I have met many happy Christians my age. But often as not it was happiness made possible through willful blindness to resident sin, rather than joy born of God's forgivness of sin. I am sure that many times sin is the cause of depressed emotions in the justified soul. This is fitting. What good does a happy Christian who speaks naught of Christ do the world? Better to be silent and purged than silent and proud. But to remain so - to remain gloomy and despondent in the face of our own weakness is not evidence of godly sorrow. Christ has sent his comforter, "who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves have received from God. for just as the sufferings of Christ overflow into our lives, so also through Christ our comfort overflows" (2 Cor. 1.4-5). Godly sorrow should lead to godly happiness; the kind that overflows into the lives of those around us. After speaking of this sorrow, Paul goes on to tell the Corinthians:
"In addition to our own encouragement, we were especially delighted to see how happy Titus was, because his spirit had been refreshed by all of you" (2 Cor. 7.13).
Is this not the kind of people we are to be - the kind who bring refreshment to those we come in contact with?
Perhaps Christianity no longer packs a punch for you. Maybe the spark is gone (or never existed) and you feel no real drive to express the truth to those around you. I know for me, sometimes I can practically feel my presence in a room draining the energy from the atmosphere, rather than bringing a sense of life and excitement. All that I can say - if this is the consistent pattern - is to scrutinize the working doctrinal statement of your soul. There must be some misunderstanding, because the God we read of in scripture is the God of all comfort, the God who is life, the God who gives joy. If we are not experiencing this fruit of the Spirit, maybe we're plugged into the wrong vine.
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I met someone like Titus' encouragers while I was in Iowa- her name is Erika, and she's the daughter of the music minister at a church we visited. She cannot help but express her joy in Christ! My parents repeated to me stories that she had told them- stories of God's remarkable power and faithfulness. I had the privilage of spending an afternoon at Erika's parents house; and every picture I saw of her displayed her big smile that didn't dare betray this woman's Joy! That is, except for one picture, in which her mouth isn't smiling, but her eyes are. She's playing her violin, and it's almost like her eyes are beckoning-- "Come, come share in this Joy which I have found."
After being around her, I sort of knew that feeling that you were describing- that I was "draining the energy."
During this time with family, my uncle (another person who emanates the joy of the Lord) encouraged me several times to get back into the Word of God. It gives purpose- and therefore joy - to not only life as a whole, but also to the activities of daily life. Ha ha--that's something I've heard so many times. We humans forget too quickly. Thank you for reminding me again, Jordan.
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