Is the Christian walk always happy?

[ResidentAlien]

In this clip, Ted uses Joel Osteen as an example because Osteen is one of the biggest proponents of the pie in the sky, always happy, always positive pipe dream. But this post isn't about Osteen, it's about all of those preachers out there who sell the same thing.

I think Ted has attained a lot of maturity and wisdom and we should listen to him on this. The Bible doesn't teach we will always have happiness or that we can simply decide to be happy; but it does teach we will be comforted in our times of sorrow, pain or grief. There are a lot of so-called preachers of the gospel out there selling people a lot of false hope. We would do well to reject this and stay grounded in reality.

 

[notmyown]

the problem i see in the prosperity "gospel" is that it demands from God in the here and now what He has promised for the life to come in the eternal state.

those trapped in it need our compassion and our prayers.

 

[XavierJesusLovesIndia]

Let's study some Bible Verses on Happiness and on Joy:

Lamentations 3:17 "My soul is bereft of peace; I have forgotten what happiness is;

The Bible makes clear btw that that above was a bad thing, not something to be desired.

Psalm 4:7 You have put more joy in my heart than they have when their grain and wine abound.

Once more, happiness or joy is a Gift of God, and like eternal life, we can begin to enjoy it in this life.

Psalm 118:24: "This is the day the Lord has made; We will rejoice and be glad in it."

This is a Good Verse to begin each day with. We are told to rejoice in the Lord and be glad in Him.

1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.

And if we lack something in life, and want it, to have joy, then ask God for it, and if it His will for you, it will be given:

“Hitherto have ye asked nothing in my name: ask, and ye shall receive, that your joy may be full ” (John 16:24)

 

[Cameron143]

In this clip, Ted uses Joel Osteen as an example because Osteen is one of the biggest proponents of the pie in the sky, always happy, always positive pipe dream. But this post isn't about Osteen, it's about all of those preachers out there who sell the same thing.

I think Ted has attained a lot of maturity and wisdom and we should listen to him on this. The Bible doesn't teach we will always have happiness or that we can simply decide to be happy; but it does teach we will be comforted in our times of sorrow, pain or grief. There are a lot of so-called preachers of the gospel out there selling people a lot of false hope. We would do well to reject this and stay grounded in reality.

Biblically it's not possible to maintain a state happiness continually. If it's true that there is a time for every season, then logically there is also not a time for such. But happiness is a poor goal for a Christian. Happiness is temporal and thus fleeting. Joy, conversely, isn't subject to circumstances and can abide in the most trying of times.
The prosperity gospel assumes that if we can optimize our circumstances, we will be satisfied. But the deepest longings of the human heart cannot be satisfied this way. God alone can meet these longings in Christ.

 

[wattie]

To follow Jesus, we would be going against worldly ways. As time goes on.. this going against is getting more and more narrow as the world gets more ungodly.

So we can expect persecution, shunning and suffering for Christ.

The joy is in knowing it's all for Him.. but this isn't being 'happy ' all the time.

 

[ResidentAlien]

To follow Jesus, we would be going against worldly ways. As time goes on.. this going against is getting more and more narrow as the world gets more ungodly.

So we can expect persecution, shunning and suffering for Christ.

The joy is in knowing it's all for Him.. but this isn't being 'happy ' all the time.

As I see it, it's not really even about persecution, though we will face persecution; it's just about being human. Normal life has ups and downs, that's just the way it is. Christian self-help gurus who sell people a load of garbage that tells them they can avoid the unavoidable in life are doing them a grave disservice. Unfortunately there are a lot of naive people who believe in magical thinking and buy into it.

 

[wattie]

(John 15:18) If the world hate you, ye know that it hated me before it hated you.
(John 15:19) If ye were of the world, the world would love his own: but because ye are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hateth you.
(John 15:20) Remember the word that I said unto you, The servant is not greater than his lord. If they have persecuted me, they will also persecute you; if they have kept my saying, they will keep yours also.
(John 15:21) But all these things will they do unto you for my name's sake, because they know not him that sent me.

 

[ResidentAlien]

(John 15:18) If the world hate you, ye know that it hated me before it hated you.
(John 15:19) If ye were of the world, the world would love his own: but because ye are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hateth you.
(John 15:20) Remember the word that I said unto you, The servant is not greater than his lord. If they have persecuted me, they will also persecute you; if they have kept my saying, they will keep yours also.
(John 15:21) But all these things will they do unto you for my name's sake, because they know not him that sent me.

Got it, we'll face persecution.

 

[Blik]

It seems to me that Christ gives us a way to inner joy even as we must accept what happens to us. Paul tells us to be content with whatever life brings us. If we live with Christ within, when the kingdom of heaven is our real home, there is joy that surpasses any trouble life the world can bring us.

The kingdoms of this world are temporary, the kingdom of heaven is eternal.

 

[studentoftheword]

he Bible doesn't teach we will always have happiness or that we can simply decide to be happy; but it does teach we will be comforted in our times of sorrow, pain or grief.

Again we like to take what people say and twist it to suit our own Agenda to trash and Bash other preachers that we don't agree with ----nothing new Here ---same old stuff -----

The saying on the Video says ----Joel TELLS US TO BE HAPPY -------and that is not what he says at all--- He clearly says from the get go ------you have a choice to be in Faith ---happiness and favour ---or you can Choose live in discouragement ---- defeated and focused on our problems -------that is what his inspirational speech is about ---all truth----he speaks truth -------

What you have here is someone who doesn't like Joel and decides to take what Joel is saying and twist it to suit his trashing and bashing character and agenda -----


First thing that comes out of Joel's mouth ----is I want to talk to you today about CHOOSING TO BE HAPPY -----he is not telling anyone to be happy all the time ------

We have Free will to Choose our Mood as soon as we wake up in the morning -----so what he is saying is choose to be happy -------

The Christian walk is very Hard ----but people who call themselves Christians are the worst for trashing and bashing other Christians ------that is how I see that ------

So listen to the video ----and hear the true speech ---instead of listening to people who just call themselves Christians and show that they truly are not what they say they are ------

Something to ponder

 

[wattie]

Again we like to take what people say and twist it to suit our own Agenda to trash and Bash other preachers that we don't agree with ----nothing new Here ---same old stuff -----

The saying on the Video says ----Joel TELLS US TO BE HAPPY -------and that is not what he says at all--- He clearly says from the get go ------you have a choice to be in Faith ---happiness and favour ---or you can Choose live in discouragement ---- defeated and focused on our problems -------that is what his inspirational speech is about ---all truth----he speaks truth -------

What you have here is someone who doesn't like Joel and decides to take what Joel is saying and twist it to suit his trashing and bashing character and agenda -----


First thing that comes out of Joel's mouth ----is I want to talk to you today about CHOOSING TO BE HAPPY -----he is not telling anyone to be happy all the time ------

We have Free will to Choose our Mood as soon as we wake up in the morning -----so what he is saying is choose to be happy -------

The Christian walk is very Hard ----but people who call themselves Christians are the worst for trashing and bashing other Christians ------that is how I see that ------

So listen to the video ----and hear the true speech ---instead of listening to people who just call themselves Christians and show that they truly are not what they say they are ------

Something to ponder

This is true, but Joel is more of a motivational speaker than genuinely christian

 

[Pilgrimshope]

Biblically it's not possible to maintain a state happiness continually. If it's true that there is a time for every season, then logically there is also not a time for such. But happiness is a poor goal for a Christian. Happiness is temporal and thus fleeting. Joy, conversely, isn't subject to circumstances and can abide in the most trying of times.
The prosperity gospel assumes that if we can optimize our circumstances, we will be satisfied. But the deepest longings of the human heart cannot be satisfied this way. God alone can meet these longings in Christ.

i love this account

“And the multitude rose up together against them: and the magistrates rent off their clothes, and commanded to beat them.

And when they had laid many stripes upon them, they cast them into prison, charging the jailor to keep them safely: who, having received such a charge, thrust them into the inner prison, and made their feet fast in the stocks. And at midnight Paul and Silas prayed, and sang praises unto God: and the prisoners heard them.

And suddenly there was a great earthquake, so that the foundations of the prison were shaken: and immediately all the doors were opened, and every one's bands were loosed.

And the keeper of the prison awaking out of his sleep, and seeing the prison doors open, he drew out his sword, and would have killed himself, supposing that the prisoners had been fled.

But Paul cried with a loud voice, saying, Do thyself no harm: for we are all here. Then he called for a light, and sprang in, and came trembling, and fell down before Paul and Silas, and brought them out, and said, Sirs, what must I do to be saved?

And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house. And they spake unto him the word of the Lord, and to all that were in his house. And he took them the same hour of the night, and washed their stripes; and was baptized, he and all his, straightway.

And when he had brought them into his house, he set meat before them, and rejoiced, believing in God with all his house.”
‭‭Acts‬ ‭16:22-34‬ ‭KJV‬‬

Choosing the joy of the lord is always and option even when all Our feelings weep and frustrate circumstances crumble he is always constant

 

[Cameron143]

i love this account

“And the multitude rose up together against them: and the magistrates rent off their clothes, and commanded to beat them.

And when they had laid many stripes upon them, they cast them into prison, charging the jailor to keep them safely: who, having received such a charge, thrust them into the inner prison, and made their feet fast in the stocks. And at midnight Paul and Silas prayed, and sang praises unto God: and the prisoners heard them.

And suddenly there was a great earthquake, so that the foundations of the prison were shaken: and immediately all the doors were opened, and every one's bands were loosed.

And the keeper of the prison awaking out of his sleep, and seeing the prison doors open, he drew out his sword, and would have killed himself, supposing that the prisoners had been fled.

But Paul cried with a loud voice, saying, Do thyself no harm: for we are all here. Then he called for a light, and sprang in, and came trembling, and fell down before Paul and Silas, and brought them out, and said, Sirs, what must I do to be saved?

And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house. And they spake unto him the word of the Lord, and to all that were in his house. And he took them the same hour of the night, and washed their stripes; and was baptized, he and all his, straightway.

And when he had brought them into his house, he set meat before them, and rejoiced, believing in God with all his house.”
‭‭Acts‬ ‭16:22-34‬ ‭KJV‬‬

Choosing the joy of the lord is always and option even when all Our feelings weep and frustrate circumstances crumble he is always constant

Amen brother. Well said.

 

[studentoftheword]

This is true, but Joel is more of a motivational speaker than genuinely christian

How do you know he doesn't have the Holy Spirit indwelling in him ----God calls people to what He wants them to do ----you can't know that Joel is not a true Christian --he is sowing good fruit in his speeches ---and that is an indication that he does have the Holy Spirit indwelling in him ------

So who are you to say he isn't genuinely a Christian ----How do you know ??????????

 

[oyster67]

For me, peace is the key thing to seek after in this life. Joy will come in the morning for all believers. He gives us what we need. Peace that stems from contentment pleases Him much. (And greatly profits us also.)

1 Timothy 6:6
“But godliness with contentment is great gain.”

 

[swatfrog]

Joel is a gainsayer plain and simple , he tells people with itching ears exactly what they want to hear in order to get your money . leave you with a smile and the " I cant wait to see him and hear what he has to say next" feeling. Instead of looking at what hes really saying. the interview he did years ago with Larry King pretty much summed up his teaching and his wishy washy commitment to Jesus .
Christians know there is only ONE way to the Father, but Joel simply couldnt find it within himself to declare that proudly ,when Larry put forth the question, [ Joyce Meyer...same question,same dance}
I used to live outside of Houston,worked for a man who attended weekly, tried to get met to go with him,but I would stay home and watch from my tv , but as a bible reader , I started to notice things he doesnt say, as well as what he does .
Just another self-help guru like the many in the 70S......read your bible get to know Him one on one.

and btw i used to live in Houston and my boss at that time attended and I was faithful to my tv every sunday......till the scales fell off my eyes

 

[Aaron56]

For about two decades now I have been learning to find the Lord in my circumstances.

That is: instead of declaring "Whoa is me!" I ask Him "What are you doing?" I'm wise enough to know my instruction is not complete: just when I conquer what seems to be the most difficult of circumstances, He leads me forward into an other. I expect all sons of God are treated this way as they advance toward maturity. It is, after all, the way a loving father prepares his children for greater things.

As an aside (sort of): being critical of apostasy had its place early in my walk with God. Not that we should ever tolerate apostasy but it (speaking against wrong) dominated most of my thinking. As I matured I learned that there is much more than cursing the darkness to the walk of a son. Indeed, God uses the apostasy all around to remind us of our need for Him in increasing measure as we mature. In short: constantly cursing the darkness is a dalliance reserved for children. As one matures they learn to be examples of the Word they claim to believe.

 

[Cameron143]

For about two decades now I have been learning to find the Lord in my circumstances.

That is: instead of declaring "Whoa is me!" I ask Him "What are you doing?" I'm wise enough to know my instruction is not complete: just when I conquer what seems to be the most difficult of circumstances, He leads me forward into an other. I expect all sons of God are treated this way as they advance toward maturity. It is, after all, the way a loving father prepares his children for greater things.

As an aside (sort of): being critical of apostasy had its place early in my walk with God. Not that we should ever tolerate apostasy but it (speaking against wrong) dominated most of my thinking. As I matured I learned that there is much more than cursing the darkness to the walk of a son. Indeed, God uses the apostasy all around to remind us of our need for Him in increasing measure as we mature. In short: constantly cursing the darkness is a dalliance reserved for children. As one matures they learn to be examples of the Word they claim to believe.

There is much wisdom in your words. Plus, I always think it is appropriate to show appreciation for any post that includes the word "dalliance ".

 

[Eli1]

Yeah I don’t like that guy in the video either.
He smiles too much.

 

[Aaron56]

There is much wisdom in your words. Plus, I always think it is appropriate to show appreciation for any post that includes the word "dalliance ".

I've been trying to work in ennui all day! Alas!