Nehemiah said, “… Do not grieve…. for the joy of the LORD is your strength.”
Nehemiah 8 v 10
For some looking into churches like ours the criticism is levelled that we are ‘happy - clappy’ or for the slightly more cerebral ‘triumphalist’ in our expressions of faith. My initial reaction is usually that if the alternative is to be ‘unhappy-silent’ and ‘defeatest’ then I’ll choose the former. I suspect, however, that underlying the criticism is a plea for a more balanced approach which takes into account the harsh realities of 21st century life.
I think the problem is actually more to do with theology, faith and tradition.
Dr Martin Lloyd-Jones famously said ‘doubt comes when we listen to ourselves rather than speak to ourselves’. Our minds are engaged in a perpetual dialogue with the environment around us. Family, friends, colleagues, the news, constant media, advertising……the list goes on, all incessantly speak to us. Add to this the workings of our own minds and we find ourselves occupied in a constant, bewildering conversation.
We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.
2 Corinthians 10 v 5
Paul reminds us that we need to challenge this onslaught with God’s words, the truth! If what we see, hear and think doesn’t line-up with the truth we should ruthlessly deal with it. As I sometimes say ‘Throw the rubbish out!’
This is the essence of faith, to choose to believe God rather than trust in myself. It does, of course, require God’s help but the experience of walking 35 years with God tells me this is not in short supply.
The wonder of the Gospel is that the biggest problems of life and eternity, the greatest challenges for purpose and meaning are settled through the life, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. This doesn’t mean that life isn’t challenging and sometimes perplexing but it does mean that no-matter what there is always truth to rejoice in. Focusing on this in worship, as a friend of mine says, ‘re-sizes my world in the light of Jesus’. This is the reason to worship in a way that is happy and possibly clappy.
Traditionally church buildings are quiet, almost silent places - people have wrongly associated this silence with holiness. It’s a bit startling when churches are loud and happy. Society doesn’t like it when this mould is broken. I suspect heaven will be both very loud and very happy!
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