How dare you rejoice at a time like this. That question always seems appropriate doesn’t it.? When millions are out of work, when sex trafficking, pornography, corruption, wars and conflicts are on every front, how dare you. When others suffer, what right do you have to rejoice. People who deal with this question usually fall into one of two camps.
The Liberal camp submits to the guilt. They must do something to appease the guilt, or they can’t celebrate. Therefore, charitable giving spikes during the holidays. People spend more on themselves, so they feel obligated to spend more on others.
I once heard a radio host say, the greatest gifts he received were cards that read, on your behalf I have donated 4 cans of food to the human fund.
The Conservative response is certainly no better. We justify spending money on ourselves by reciting that we deserve it, we worked for it. We deny that poor people even exist, and if they do they have chosen to be poor.
We do have another option. The Christian response neither ignores the suffering, nor succumbs to false guilt over it. The Christian looks beyond the suffering and sees that God has actually done something about it. God actually is curing the world, he is steadily working to bring hope and light and laughter to every corner of this globe. Yes, we joyfully join in to do that work, and yes we celebrate.
We face the utter reality of suffering, and we mourn with those who mourn. But we also rejoice. We celebrate because we know suffering will not have the last word.
The Bible not only allows us to rejoice without guilt, it actually commands us to rejoice. The Apostles knew a joy that could not be defeated.
2 Cor 7:4 In all our affliction, I am overflowing with joy.
2 Cor 12:10 I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties”
The Apostle Paul not only teaches us about Grace that is called into action by our sin, but he also speaks of a Joy that is most evident and vividly felt in times of suffering.
With the birth of Christ, Joy has come into the World – let heaven and nature sing.
Isaiah 9: 2 The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light; those who dwelt in a land of deep darkness, on them has light shined. 3 You have multiplied the nation;
you have increased its joy; they rejoice before you as with joy at the harvest, as they are glad when they divide the spoil.
6 For to us a child is born, to us a son is given; and the government shall be upon his shoulder, and his name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
God has noticed us in the darkness, and has come to save us from it. Rejoice.
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