This
is the season of celebrations as kids graduate from school, kindergarten,
college, university. Summer also brings
increased number of marriage celebrations through weddings. What is your experience of celebration? I am asking because over the past couple of
centuries there has been insidious (sinister,
deceptive, devious) theological rationale against celebration of any
kind. I would use just one paragraph to
illustrate this. A 19th
century author, George D.Watson writes in 1896 “the spirit that opens the gates of heaven longs for the coming of
Jesus…and would gladly never have any physical pleasure but for the legitimate
needs and recreations of the body. In
the language of the wise man “It eats for strength, and not for mere pleasure
of appetite.” Sounds very pious,
very ascetic and austere. For too many
followers of Jesus the natural attire is sackcloth and ashes. But is it right?
I
am reflecting on this because celebrating the joy of everyday life is a
spiritual discipline! Paul when
describing spiritual gifts in letter to Romans (12:10) highlights the gift of mutual celebration of life by
words “love one another with mutual affection; outdo one another in showing
honor.” To “outdo” is to literally to
“get ahead of another” for purpose of celebrating each other. The “showing honor” term is an expression for
celebrating a person with a party! It
was something common in those days, having meat and drink, sweets and laurel
wreathe, just like when the prodigal returned home, the father threw a
feast! The Gospel is full of
celebrations of life at the table, with food and fellowship, celebrating those
who “play” important roles in our lives.
The glorious hope of Coming Christ is presented in terms of the wedding
feast!
In invite you to
return to the Biblical perspective of celebration as the life of joy in God’s
presence even here and now, for the Kingdom of God is within us! (Luke 17:21)
Ancient Israel was
commanded! To gather together three times a year to celebrate goodness of
God! The true celebration comes from
inner joy. And, notice the first aspect
of the Spirit’s fruit of love is joy! (Galatians 5:22-23). If you have the Joy of the Spirit –
celebrate! Do not hide the celebration,
it would be quenching the Spirit of God!
There is no need to pretend to celebrate when the spirit is not in
us. But, when the Spirit produces Joy of
the Lord – celebrate before the Lord!
Paul writes “rejoice
in the Lord always, and again I say REJOICE!” (Philippians 4:4) We are to celebrate and rejoice in God even
when we encounter difficulties.
Today as Adventurers
are celebrating their achievements, celebrate with them! It is a CORPORATE discipline, meaning one
cannot practice celebration alone J When joy is
shared with people it is multiplied. Our
celebration of life is the Doxology – giving God the Glory. Do not feel shy when the spirit bursts in
celebration J
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