[Cal]

One reason I like the idea of enjoying Christ is that it challenges one of the biggest masqueraders of all: grim-faced, religious earnestness.

You know the type. There is always a bit of suffering and martyrdom in their tone. They can usually be found calling others to "more devotion," "more sacrifice" and "more seriousness."

They are always really big on "being serious."

It's hard to find a problem with their words, and they always seem to have a bothersome point. The problem is they probably aren't themselves doing what they so soberly suggest others do. And if they are, they probably aren't happy about it. They've just decided that being a party-pooper is more spiritual that being a partier.

They've lost their joy, but not their resolve, unfortunately for the rest of us.

Jesus told us plainly not to go around like suffering martyrs*. We are supposed to be joyful, not those who make a habit of raining on everybody's parade and patting themselves on the back for doing so.

The world is full of over-earnest realists. Just check the opinion page of any daily paper. Fewer are those who are truly enjoying joy unspeakable and full of glory.

Where there is real love, real joy isn't far behind. Jesus isn't interested in our self-sacrificing drudgery.

Can I get a "Hallelujah, Amen!"?

*"When you fast, do not look somber as the hypocrites do, for they disfigure their faces to show men they are fasting. I tell you the truth, they have received their reward in full. Matt 6:16-17