The Big Questions About the Christian Life预览

Why Are Christians Always So Serious?

Well, they’re not. I know some really funny Christians, but if you know some who are always serious, perhaps they shouldn’t be.

In Micah 6:8 (my paraphrase), the Bible says, “Don’t take yourself too seriously – take God seriously.”

I do think followers of Jesus often take themselves too seriously. I think it’s because of some wrong ideas about what it means to follow Jesus. The Jesus I follow has the best sense of humor. I have no problems imagining Jesus cracking a joke with his disciples and laughing with the children as they climbed all over him!

Let’s look at some more things Jesus said about how he wanted his followers to live.

In John 15:11, he said, “I have told you these things so that you will be filled with my joy. Yes, your joy will overflow!” Not, you notice, so that we would be filled with solemn sorrow, but so that we would be filled with joy!

Jesus also said in John 10:10, “My purpose is to give you a rich and satisfying life.”

It is clear, then, that Jesus never saw his purpose as giving us miserable and limited lives but the very best that life can offer!

In Matthew 11, Jesus gave this invitation:

Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. Let me teach you… and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy to bear, and the burden I give you is light.

If that’s true, why is it – and I have to admit it – far too many Christians seem to be carrying heavy burdens, even huge chips on their shoulders? It makes you wonder, doesn’t it, if they understand what Jesus said!

Let me go straight to the answer to the question: Why are Christians always so serious? Well, not all of them are. Unfortunately, some are serious all the time. Of course, some simply might have a more serious personality.

However, I also think too many Christians have given Jesus a bad name because they haven’t understood the message of Jesus or because they’ve confused being religious with following Jesus. When you do that, it’s easy to judge others, and it’s easy to judge yourself, which can get anyone down!

When you take God seriously, know that you are loved and accepted by God, and have eternal life, how could you ever let life get you down? Maybe just a bit, now and then, but not for long!

There’s way too much fun to be had!

– Eliezer Gonzalez