{"id":12,"date":"2012-07-09T15:16:15","date_gmt":"2012-07-09T23:16:15","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.st-lukes-la-mesa.org\/wordpress\/?p=12"},"modified":"2012-07-09T15:16:15","modified_gmt":"2012-07-09T23:16:15","slug":"life-liberty-and-the-pursuit-of","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/www.st-lukes-la-mesa.org\/wordpress\/?p=12","title":{"rendered":"Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of \u2026"},"content":{"rendered":"

In July, Americans observe the Fourth of the month as our national Day of Independence.\u00a0 If any of us know any wording from the Declaration of Independence, signed on July 4th<\/sup>, it is typically the phrase, \u201cWe hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.\u201d<\/p>\n

Our nation\u2019s founding fathers were much better politicians and diplomats than they were theologians.\u00a0 Scripture talks plenty of life and of liberty (or freedom), but the \u201cpursuit of Happiness\u201d is sorely lacking in biblical support.\u00a0 Thomas Jefferson never explained why he inserted this phrase, coined in 1759 by Samuel Johnson, into the Declaration of Independence.\u00a0 The idea \u201cpursuit of Happiness\u201d is not only bad theology, but it causes no end of trouble for the human race as a whole.<\/p>\n

The \u201cpursuit of Happiness\u201d would be a grand ideal if it were not for the reality of human sin.\u00a0 If we read scripture, even not so carefully, we nearly always find that the \u201cpursuit of Happiness\u201d guided by human sin leads us not only away from God but also leads us into all kinds of trouble.\u00a0 \u201cPursuing\u201d something implies that we do not already have something, as if God will not provide for us.\u00a0 Pursuing what makes \u201cus\u201d happy makes \u201cus\u201d the point of reference for our lives when that reference point should be God.\u00a0 Were not Adam and Eve \u201cpursuing Happiness\u201d when they grabbed a hold of the forbidden fruit?<\/p>\n

Nonetheless, we as Americans (and as sinners worldwide) think that we have a God-given right to be happy.\u00a0 We even demand that God must make \u201cus\u201d happy.\u00a0 In that same vein, those called formally to service in the church, however that is defined, must also make \u201cus\u201d happy.\u00a0 If they do not, there is often hell to pay!\u00a0 How much of our \u201cchurch shopping\u201d in the USA is based on feeling good rather than on finding good theology?<\/p>\n

From a biblical perspective, because sinners have continually pursued their own happiness, God has throughout history pursued sinners precisely in order to liberate them from this dead end venture. \u00a0Jesus gave up his divine freedom and eternal life not to make us happy but to call us holy. \u00a0God knows when he has deemed us holy (trusting in Christ) that we are truly liberated for life. \u00a0Is there any greater happiness than being united with Christ by faith alone now and into all eternity?<\/p>\n

While the rest of the country and the world is vainly seeking their happiness in sinful pursuits, let us trust and bear witness that our true independence comes from our total dependence upon the God who have his son on a cross to make us free (eleutheros<\/em> in Greek) and thus Lutheran (see John 8:31-38). \u00a0Scripture calls persons set free by faith alone in Jesus Christ \u201choly ones.\u201d \u00a0If we are not totally happy with that, then we have missed the point of the Christian faith.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

In July, Americans observe the Fourth of the month as our national Day of Independence.\u00a0 If any of us knowRead the Rest…<\/a><\/p>\n

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