Don’t Worry, Be Happy?  Part 1

It is my belief that the most joyful people on the planet should be Christians.  God’s people.  His believers.  His followers.  Most of us know that the last thing Jesus said before leaving this earth was, essentially, “Get going, and as you go, make disciples of all nations.” But do you remember his first recorded message when he started his earthly ministry?  He quoted Isaiah 61 in the temple.  His introductory remarks spoke of freedom, favor, joy!! 

[My Father] has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted,

to proclaim freedom for the captives and release from darkness for the prisoners,

to proclaim the year of the Lord's favor and the day of vengeance of our God,

to comfort all who mourn, and provide for those who grieve in Zion--

to bestow on them a crown of beauty instead of ashes, the oil of joy instead of mourning,

and a garment of praise instead of a spirit of despair.

They will be called oaks of righteousness, a planting of the LORD for the display of his splendor.

                                                                                         

At face value, it appears that this upstart rabbi from Nazareth had a pretty high view of himself, but was a bit out of touch with reality—an off-the-charts optimist at best.  Freedom for which captives?  Who are these prisoners who are about to be released? And where is this Godly vengeance on all the oppressors we’ve been waiting for?  Was this the first century version of “Don’t Worry, Be Happy”? 

The fact is, upon His arrival, Jesus expected to encounter bondage, sadness, and despair.  But the radically good news He was announcing was: “Here I am—the picture of what God is like, and what life is intended to look like in relationship with God.”  After teaching and modeling the arrival of His kingdom, His intended outcome was to leave us in just the opposite state He found us.  What should characterize Christianity?  Freedom, favor, joy. 

Don’t get me wrong.  I’m not suggesting life isn’t hard.  Nor would I advise a prayer life that holds back our raw emotions or is characterized by disingenuous over-spiritualization. That’s not how the Psalmists prayed.  That’s not how Abraham or Job or Moses or Jeremiah prayed.  They trusted God could hear them at their worst, most desperate moments.  Remember the classic line from “A Few Good Men”, when Tom Cruise shouted at Jack Nicholson’s character, “I want the truth!”, to which Nicholson retorted, “You can’t handle the truth!”  Well, hear me, beloved.  God can handle your truth.  Be honest. Be specific. But then trust him to act. It is in the trusting, not merely the asking, where the shift in attitude appears.  That’s where the joy comes from.

Jesus said our lives were to be a “display of His splendor.” Where the joy part of that often gets tested is in our attitude toward serving and following Him. One of the first psalms I learned as a child was actually in the form of a song, a hymn actually.  It was Psalm 100, and it began, “All people that on earth do dwell.”  Most of it made sense to my micro-brain until I got to the line, “Him serve with mirth, His praise forthtell.” 

Not exactly elementary age street slang!  I had not a clue what mirth was...thought it might be a derivative of ‘mercy’, but requiring a lisp.  When I found out it actually means great joy, it made more sense, even if the preponderance of stoic, German ancestors around me seemed a bit lacking in it!  From my trusty Thesaurus, I learned that synonyms for ‘mirth’ are even more intriguing: everything from cheerfulness, hilarity, hysteria, kicks, revelry—all the way to my personal favorite—whoopee!

Think of it—Him serve with whoopee!  When was the last time you were asked to serve in some capacity and your response was whoopee!???  But that is exactly the goal of the Christian life…not only to follow Christ and serve one another, but to get to the point where it is our joy!!!  It becomes a “get to”, rather than a “have to.”

As a worship community, let’s encourage each other to enjoy the ride and display God’s splendor with joyful, positive lives.  And when an opportunity to serve another presents itself, remember that the spirit in which you complete that task says as much about the life of God in you as the act itself.

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