It was the subtlest shift. So subtle that I hardly know whether it’s worth mentioning.
They asked, “Do you have a word of encouragement?” He responded, “We have the message of salvation.”
Is there a difference? I mean, I would be encouraged to hear that I am saved! The two are certainly connected…
Maybe it’s the contrarian in me, but it certainly seems like the Apostle Paul is ever-so-gently realigning expectations. The synagogue leaders in Pisidian Antioch recognized that they had guests from Jerusalem. They might have even known that Paul was well educated in Old Testament Scriptures. So they invited him to speak.
But in the middle of his sermonette, he clarifies that he does not have a word of encouragement, as if he was just there to give a pep talk. He was given the message of salvation.
Admittedly, I don’t think that this is the main point of Paul’s sermon in Acts 13. His focus is entirely on Jesus and on the forgiveness that he brings, just as it should be. And yet, I can’t but think of the world we live in today when I read Paul’s words.
You’re reading a blog right now, so chances are you’re familiar with the genre. I’d bet you’ve listened to a podcast too. And if you’re a reader of blogs and listener of podcasts, maybe you’ve even walked into a library recently. If you’ve perused any of those three media - even in a distracted, shallow, I’m-surfing-the-blogosphere-because-I-can’t-watch-Netflix-without-tooling-around-on-my-phone kind of way, then you know how full they are of happiness peddlers.
Live Your Best Life
Project Smile
7,658 Steps Toward Endless Bliss
The world yearns for happiness, and sometimes the church capitulates to the world’s yearning by turning Sunday sermons into TED Talks about positivity. The thing is, though, that the church is not in the business of selling happiness. We have something far better to offer - the message of salvation.
I’m going to have lousy days - days when I can barely get out of bed or look in the mirror. I’m going to be sad and lonely and depressed and guilty and… and… and… I’m not always going to be happy. But I don’t come to church or read the Bible to find happiness. God gave us those things so that we can hear the message of salvation.
Jesus didn’t come to refashion this world into a modern-day Eden or take all sadness out of our lives. He came to rescue me from my own personal hell and from the eternal condemnation I deserve. Jesus came to live through hardship and die in misery so that he could take me out of this world and into his heavenly home. That’s where we’ll find happiness.
It’s dangerous to confuse this issue. Turning your Christian faith or your journey with Jesus into the pursuit of happiness not only sets you up for failure, but corrupts the Gospel of salvation.
Make no mistake about it, salvation will result in your eternal joy - and that’s something to celebrate! - but be careful not to turn Jesus into a motivational speaker, when he came to be your Messiah and Saviour.
As you surround yourself with positive influences and Christian sisters and brothers, don’t fall for the happiness pitch. Look for the message of salvation. Only one delivers on its promises and my money’s with Jesus.