Unhappy Christians

Dear Victorious,

I've always thought that Christians are supposed to be happy people. Christ is supposed to make life full and complete and all that. But I see many unhappy Christians, who complain and seem so negative. How could this be? What should we make of such unhappiness amongst Christians?

Oliver W. - Durango, CO

Dear Oliver,

There may be several explanations - including the possibility that the people whom you observe are not really following Christ. But assuming that they are truly Christians, the best way to understand the dilemma is to compare modern day Christians to the Israelites in the Old Testament. We are His people today, just as the Israelites were His people back then. And it is often easier to understand ourselves be looking at the Israelites.

The Israelites were unhappy and miserable ... after God rescued them from Egyptian slavery and was taking them to the promised land. Psalm 78 sums up the key causes of the Israelites' grumbling and complaining and general unhappiness. Those were as follows:

1. Their spirits were not faithful to God.
2. They refused to obey God's laws.
3. They forgot the miracles that God had done for them.

I believe the root cause of unhappiness, grumbling and complaining among today's Christians are most likely the same:

1. Their faith in God is not strong and probably not growing much.
2. They are not obedient, not submitted to God.
3. They are not mindful of how God has blessed them.

God regarded the Israelites unhappiness, grumbling and complaining as rebellious, disrespectful, disobedient and unrighteous. He considered it sinful and punished them by making them wander in the desert for 40 years!

We too should consider it sinful. Unhappy Christians are a sinful lot. They (we) should repent and focus on having more faith, being obedient, and being grateful. Those are the cures for unhappiness amongst Christians.