The Art of Celebration

People are instinctively drawn to things which we think will give us gratification in this life: money, sports, sex, music, art, food, fashion, and even religion. What we're really doing is seeking to fill the emptiness that this world leaves us with. Things which we believe will finally give us fulfillment. Normally, I'm one of those people. My particular filler as of late has been religion. While being at seminary, I've always thought that if I could just find the right theologian to read, the right church to attend, or the right kind of theology to subscribe to, then the rest would all magically fall into place.
Looking back, I can honestly say that these things have brought me nothing but disappointment and frustration. Now, don't misunderstand--I'm not saying that theology, church, and theologians are unimportant; quite the contrary. What I am saying is that instead of bringing me closer to the Father and the peace that only He can give, all I've been doing is going round in circles learning about Him instead of running toward Him. Truth be told, that will wear a man down to the breaking point. Eventually, it becomes incredibly easy to tell other people that "God is love," "God loves you," or "Christ is the Prince of Peace."

But believing it for yourself? That's more and more difficult with each passing day.

In spite of all this, in spite of all the dead ends that human pursuits can lead us to, God remains what He has said He is. What has He said? He has said that He is love. He has said that He gives us peace that the things of this world cannot give us (John 14:27). We should not be afraid, nor let our souls be troubled. As I prepare to enter some sphere of ministry, the realization dawns that I will be the one conveying these absolute truths to people who are lost, hurting, and may be hearing it for the first time. Because I've had the chance to get an education and all of these facts are bombarding my senses at every turn, does that make His truth any less relevant for me? Does my theological education somehow put me on a "less needy" track than the average person on the street?

Even though I have fallen into thinking this way, it's clearly not the case. I'll be the first to admit that I'm not what you would call a "happy" person by nature. If I had a dime for every time I heard "just be happy" or "you make happy; it's a feeling, not a fact" my school loans would all be paid in full by now. Okay, maybe not, but the fact still remains--in my human condition, joy and happiness aren't what I default to on any given day. I could seriously list all of the things in this post which burden me daily and give me a million reasons to scowl, groan, and worry. This gets incredibly tiresome, I grow ever more bitter, and I allow my circumstances to define me and my spiritual health. I see very little reason to choose happiness or joy, in spite of the fact that my Lord has paid my debt and risen from the dead.

Now, in regards to that whole "joy" thing. I just read recently that joy is a discipline. Wait--that means I am going to have to work at it if I want it in my life?! Yup. Often, when Christians resort to religious activity to fill their hearts with what only God should be filling, we are tricked into believing that we are okay with leaving it at ceremony or being on autopilot. That supplants true joy because we begin to view it as something we must do rather than something we choose to do because we want to worship the Lord. Joy being a discipline isn't some kind of Pelagian, works-based formula to somehow turn into a joyous person overnight. Joy as a discipline is realizing these truths that God has revealed to us about Himself and breathing it in and believing it daily. 

Regardless of what we may think or feel, it doesn't change the fact that the Word became flesh and bore our sins in death. After suffering that death on a cross, Christ rose three days later. Because of that, we can boldly approach the throne of grace. I, for one, am thankful that this beautiful, marvelous truth is unchanging regardless of how I feel from day to day. Even when we feel as if we have nothing left to give, even if we feel weary or worn, or if you're like me and feel as if you need to forego accepting God's truth about you for the sake of others, remember that He is unchanging in what He has done for us. Because God doesn't change, His love for us is unchanging.

This is what I think is meant by the art of celebration. When the heart or mind wanders away from what I know to be true love, He remains with arms wide open, desperate to shower us with His love and peace. This constant in the face of human instability and volatility is enough cause to celebrate on even the most seemingly mundane of days.

Joy is the discipline of taking heart in the absolute, unchanging truths that God has spoken about all of us through the ages. Celebration and joy really *is* an art form--we just have to live in it daily.