Against Happy Clappy Christianity

Beware of the happy clappy vapidity of the overly-triumphal gospel and “no regrets” crowd.

Let me explain why...

Christians have lost the doctrine of the sorrows and miseries of this life. It’s a topic that comes up a lot in Scripture. Search “sorrow” and “misery” on a Bible app. Give those passages a read. It’s a prominent theme. The Puritans referred to it as “losses and crosses.”

I think this doctrine has fallen on hard times because the broader American culture teaches us that all consequences can be negated and overcome. It’s a lie that temporarily comforts but then coddles and impairs its recipients.

Evangelicals have absorbed this lie and it manifests itself in an over-triumphal truncated version of the gospel.

The gospel is good news for those who sorrow under crosses and losses. It lessens the weight, pain, and suffering of the troubles of this life. It, however, doesn’t eliminate them. Central to the good news is the hope of the resurrection and the renewal of all things at the end of the age.

Were you molested or raped?

Were you born blind or deaf?

Did your child die?

Do you have a chronic injury or disease?

Were you beaten as a child?

Did your spouse beat you?

Did you lose your house to a fire or flood?

Were you abandoned by your parents?

Did you grow up without a dad?

Did your spouse leave you?

It’s normal to feel a sense of loss from experiences like those above because something has been lost. Not only is it normal but it’s okay to continue to feel those losses to certain extents throughout this earthly life.

The same could be said of losses that you brought on yourself through your own sins.

Did you wrecked your liver through substance abuse?

Did you twist your sexual expectations through porn use?

Did you drive your children away through exasperation?

Did you waste your money on fleeting pleasures?

Did you waste your youth on foolish pursuits?

Did you divorce a good spouse and now are lonely?

It’s normal to feel regret. It’s even good.

But you must turn your eyes to Jesus. He won’t entirely lift the burdens of this life from you. He will lighten them.

Hence, Hebrews 12:1-3 says:

“Therefore, since we have so great a cloud of witnesses surrounding us, let us also lay aside every encumbrance and the sin which so easily entangles us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.

For consider Him who has endured such hostility by sinners against Himself, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.”

There are real losses and regrets that we will endure in this life. You must bear them but you don’t have to bear them alone. Christ has made a way. He bore that which we never could. He will strengthen you and bring you to a place of perfect rest and restoration.

Beware the happy-clappy vapidity of the overly triumphal gospel and “no regrets” crowd. They are fools.

Life is tough. Losses are real.

But we shall be with Him forever in what will seem like a mere moment. Endure.

"And the ransomed of the Lord will return And come with joyful shouting to Zion, With everlasting joy upon their heads. They will find gladness and joy, And sorrow and sighing will flee away."

Isa 35:10