The Pursuit of Holiness

I think sometimes we have it all wrong.

I think sometimes we think the chief end of life is to be happy.  Sometimes I get the impression we think that’s the goal.  It’s definitely evident in the advertising and programme making of some.  It’s the undercurrent of a lot of what goes on in our society and you don’t have to be American to hold it as an ethos.  I hear parents saying that about their hopes for their children, in as much as they’re not that bothered what happens to their children (they are though) they just want their children to be happy.  As long as it makes you happy, so the sentiment goes, they will be content with that.

As this is accepted as the status quo it is not unusual to find that among followers of Christ a real passion for Him is sometimes lacking.  So for example, the initial engagements with Jesus Christ usually result in what we sometimes term as joy, but is actually happiness.  It’s a happy feeling of being loved and cared enough so much so that God would send His only Son to die so that believers get everlasting life.

That sounds like I’m having a dig at being happy as though there’s something wrong with being happy.  That would get me wrong completely.  What I do think is wrong is holding up the concept of happiness as the chief end of life.  Not only do I think it’s wrong, I also believe it contributes a great deal to why so many believers, young and old, have a somewhat stunted experience of engaging with Christ and growing into becoming like Him.

There’s nothing wrong with being a child in the faith and taking baby steps in understanding and developing the knowing relationship.  We’re all growing – always.  The deal is are we growing up into Christlikeness, which is not dependent on being happy?  Or are we growing out and fat, and lazy, and relatively apathetic more interested in trivial pursuits than the things that really matter?

There are underlying issues that have come to the fore of late and has led me to ponder even more on the subject as I live it and I hope to share some views and observations on the subject.

In the meantime, are we about pursuing happiness or are we about pursuing holiness?

For His Name’s Sake

Shalom

dmcd