The Missing Ingredient Series

Edna Ferber makes a character in one of her novels say, "I like

people with a splash of splendor in their makeup." Many people

would be surprised to know that this is what should characterize

every believer in Jesus. The world often gets a perverted concept of

Christ just because Christians themselves are victims of false

concepts. So many Christians are brought up to believe that

godliness is such a serious matter that it is incompatible with a life

of laughter and happy delight. Nothing, however, could be further

from the truth.

John Wesley knew what he was saying when he stated, "sour

godliness is the devil's religion." The facts of life will back that

statement up, as well as the judgment of Henry Van Dyke who

wrote, "The lack of vital joy in the church is the chief cause of

indifference in the world. The feeble energy, the faltering and

reluctant spirit, the weariness in well-doing with which too many

believers impoverish and sadden their own hearts, make other men

question their reality and value of religion, and turn away from it in

cool neglect." Joy is the missing ingredient.

The Biblical ideal of godliness is, in both the Old and New

Testament, a life of joy. I counted 187 references to words like joy,

joyful, and joyous. Haufman Kolher in the Jewish Encyclopedia

says there is no language that has as many words for joy and

rejoicing as does the Hebrew. In the Old Testament there are 13

Hebrew roots found in 27 different words for some aspect of joy.

The book of Psalms alone is a treasury of joy and rejoicing, often

even in the midst of great trial and sorrow. There is not the

slightest hint that God has any pleasure in the a gloomy soul. God

is light and in Him there is no darkness at all, and the more we

become partakers of the divine nature the more we will be

completely free from persistent sadness and depression. Jesus told

His disciples to keep their faces bright and alert even when they

were fasting, and not sad and stern like the Pharisees.

The New Testament has even more words for joy. There are 326

terms for joy in the Greek N.T. Paul who suffered great sorrows

and hardships uses 132 of them. He practiced what he preached and

rejoiced in the Lord always, even when he was miserable. Joy does

not depend upon circumstances like happiness, for it goes deeper

and is based on what circumstances can never change. Aldous

Huxley said, "If he were a millionaire, he would finance research

for the ideal intoxicant that would abolish inferiority, fill us with

love for our fellow men, make life seem divinely beautiful, and

enable us to wake up the morning after without any hangover or

damaged constitution." The N. T. says there is not a need for such

research for it is available if we just see it. Paul urged, "Be not

drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled with the Spirit."

The fruit of the Spirit is joy, and this joy which comes from the

Spirit of Christ will enable us to be joyfilled as was our Lord.

Christians seldom recognize that pessimism and sadness can be

sinful. Robert Louis Stevenson was an incurable optimist in spite

of his constant suffering, but sometimes even he could not escape

the snare of depression. But listen to the way he referred to this

state when in 1884 he wrote to his father: "I fear I have been a

little in the dumps which, as you know, Sir, is a very great sin.

There is no more abominable sin then this gloomy, this plaguey

peevishness."

There have been many famous Christians who have been

plagued with a nature easily depressed, but they never accepted it

as anything but an obstacle to be overcome. Charles Spurgeon, the

most famous Baptist preacher, for example, was preaching to his

people on the need for Christian joy, and he made this confession:

"I am the subject of depression of spirit so fearful that I hope none

of you ever get to such extremes of wretchedness as I go to, but I

always get back again by this--I know I trust Christ."

I know that safe with Him remains

Protected by His power,

What I've committed to His hands

Till the decisive hour.

In spite of their depression, men of God have known the joy and

peace of believing. They have never accepted their infirmity, but

fought it with joy.

Pessimism is never an option for the believer. It is of the

kingdom of darkness, and must be recognized as such. Spurgeon

could say after his confession, "There is an obligation upon a

Christian to be happy. Let me say it again: There is a