Peace

This is the third installment in my “10 Reasons to Believe” series. In the introduction to the series I mentioned that the Bible talks about peace in a very broad and holistic way using the word “shalom” which covers more than just physical safety from harm, or the lack of fighting. Rather than unpacking why we all seek this kind of peace, here are some lines I wrote to try and convey it:

Peace 

Against the wars and fighting, give us peace
Against anger and violence, give us peace
From oppression and fear, free us
Give us peace 

Against an uncertain future, give us peace
Against the unknown, give us peace
From worry and fear, free us
Give us peace 

Against quarrels and strife, give us peace
Against hurtful accusations, give us peace
From misunderstanding, free us
Give us peace 

Against my selfish pride and greed, give us peace
Against my own destruction, give us peace
From my scarlet red sins, free us
Give us peace 

Oh Prince of Peace, give us peace
Precious Lord Jesus, give me peace.

“Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid.”

Peace with God and peace with those around you are very good reasons to believe. That’s what Jesus offers if you’ll accept it.

Joy

The United States Declaration of Independence includes this very famous sentence:

We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.

I’m not sure if it needs to be stated, then, that pretty much everyone wants to be happy and that it’s natural to seek happiness. Unless you’ve had a truly terrible life with a messed-up perspective on reality, happiness is something we all want. Indeed when life is beating us down and it feels like the world is on our shoulders, we might cry out “I just want to be happy.”

Happiness and joy are closely linked, but in Christian circles we make the distinction that joy is something that comes from within and is not necessarily predicated on external circumstances. It’s a fruit and a feeling that comes from who you are, and not what is being done to you.  Now you can for sure feel joy and happiness when good things are happening, but when things turn bad, happiness disappears in a moment. Joy remains. Joy endures.

Another way to think about joy versus happiness is in your perspective on life based on what you give versus what you can get out of it.

Get the Most out of Life

The modern philosophy of life is pretty self-focused and all about how you as an individual can feel the best you can.  There are many self-help books and articles providing guides on how you can be more fulfilled and happier in your life.  Not to knock this kind of “pursuit of happiness” too much, but I’m not sure it can deliver on it’s promises. No matter how “mindful” you are or how much you try to use “positive psychology” when life gets tough, I don’t think these ideas have the staying power many people are seeking and ultimately are not fulfilling.

Life Giving Spirits

I once heard the teacher Robert Lewis state that men have a choice to either go around sucking as much out of life as they can, or, alternatively, seeking to be what he called “life giving spirits.” This was part of a series called “Men’s Fraternity” that has since spun off the “Authentic Manhood” movement.  This idea clicked with me wanting to be a person who seeks to be the source of joy, rather than being the one that consumes happiness.

So how do you do that best?  I’d argue that in order to be that conduit of joy, you need to connect back with the ultimate source, who is God, as the Bible says:

looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God.

So if you want to know God’s joy in your life and be a source of joy to others that sustains through good times and tough times... that’s a very good reason to believe in Jesus and trust Him.

Choose Joy

To wrap up this blog, I want to share this video. Sorry Pharrell, but I picked something a little more empowering than your well-intentioned and catchy sentiments. I choose...

If Jesus didn't die...

If Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile and you are still in your sins... 
If in Christ we have hope in this life only, we are of all people most to be pitied...

If Jesus didn't die, then do whatever you want. 
If Jesus didn't die, then say whatever you think.
Live for yourself, or live for others. It doesn't matter
If Jesus didn't die.

If Jesus didn't die, then seize the day or stay in bed.
If Jesus didn't die, shoot for the moon or aim at nothing.
Just do it, or just don't
If Jesus didn't die.

If Jesus didn't die, make your own choice.
If Jesus didn't die, choose your own path.
Survival of the fittest or live by the Golden rule, even
If Jesus didn't die.

But He did, and He came back to life.  
So now what are you going to do?

For while we were still weak, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly. For one will scarcely die for a righteous person—though perhaps for a good person one would dare even to die— but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Since, therefore, we have now been justified by his blood, much more shall we be saved by him from the wrath of God. For if while we were enemies we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, now that we are reconciled, shall we be saved by his life. More than that, we also rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received reconciliation.