Christian Middle

Mark Twain quipped: “Go to Heaven for the climate, Hell for the company.” How do people of faith get such a bad reputation?

When the Lord made humans “in the image of God” (Genesis 1:26), one of the ways we resemble our Parent is in our capacity for joy. Think how our bodies are programmed to receive pleasure – not only in somatic functions like eating, sleeping, and love-making – but also in the conviviality of friendship, the thirst for knowledge, the satisfaction of accomplishment, and the appreciation of beauty. This ability to be joyful is universal – uniting the “religious” and the “non-religious.” It’s God’s birth gift to humanity.

The only problem with joy is its elusiveness. Think of all the ways we have to amuse ourselves, especially in this information age of smart phones and other high technologies. They bring us new ways to “have fun” but they can’t guarantee happiness. In fact, while adding convenience and increased efficiency, technology has also found us new ways to become crueler to each other (cyber-bullying), and more distant (texting over talking).

As Americans we talk about pursuing happiness, but joy never comes at our beck and call. Instead, joy can burst on the scene as a surprise, or linger in our hearts as an afterthought, even in times of sadness.

Joy represents the by-product of living in sync with God’s intention for the creation – a sign that things are as they should be. “If you keep my commands, you’ll remain intimately at home in my love. … I’ve told you these things for a purpose: that my joy might be your joy, and your joy wholly mature” (John 15:9-11 The Message).

We need to pay attention to the presence of joy – and also its absence. It is a marker of the Holy.

It might even manage to give holiness a whole new reputation!

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