Happiness

Ben Collyer said:

Hi all, I live in a community of young christians, I am one of the older ones at 26, most are ages 18-22. I hear in the bible that the only way to true happiness is to be holy and surrendered to God and obey him. but there are christians here who are living in sin. fornication. watching bad movies, but they are generally very happy. smiling people. from where is the source of their happiness?

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I think you are confusing happiness with true joy and Christ’s peace. On the surface, the sinful pleasures may seem initially to make one happy, but over time I have found they lead to pain, regret and despair.

People who have good life on earth will be in hell's pain and people who have bad life on earth will be saints. This is the important of christianity. All saints are either martyrs or have alot of pain.

Luke 16:25: But Abraham said, Son, remember that thou in thy lifetime receivedst thy good things, and likewise Lazarus evil things: but now he is comforted, and thou art tormented.

If E = mc2 then we can divide and conclude that...

Mass (m) = Energy (E/c2)

And there are three varieties...

Natural E/c2 - All mass is basically cooled plasma
Mental E/c2 - Mentally, A mathematical formula, but this has chemical and spiritual properties as well.
Spiritual E/c2 - E (motivation, warmth, love) / c2 (faith, hope, charity, joy)

How art thou fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, son of the morning! how art thou cut down to the ground, which didst weaken the nations! - Isaiah 14:12

Lucifer - Heylel in the Hebrew - hêylêl, hay-lale'; from H1984 (in the sense of brightness); the morning-star:—Lucifer.

And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light. - 2 Corinthians 11:14

I believe that Lucifer and his angels once were angels who would light the thrown of God and lead worship. They know all about light and its properties. It is a trick of Lucifer to spread light in the world and darkness in the church. In accomplishing this he successfully deceives the world.

Ben Collyer said:

Hi all, I live in a community of young christians, I am one of the older ones at 26, most are ages 18-22. I hear in the bible that the only way to true happiness is to be holy and surrendered to God and obey him. but there are christians here who are living in sin. fornication. watching bad movies, but they are generally very happy. smiling people. from where is the source of their happiness?

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This is a sign that your group needs a revival. They need to know what true repentance and holy living is all about. When a person is genuinely converted to Christ, they turn from willful sin. Paul said that where sin abounds, grace abounds much more; but shall we continue in sin that grace may abound? God forbid! He also says that if the converted Christian reckons he is dead to sin, how can he continue in it?

Maybe those Christians came to Christ on the "easy believer" ticket and came over the wall of religion, rather than through the narrow gate of true conviction of sin, repentance, faith in Christ, and holy living. The Law has not been abolished. It is still God's standard for Christian living, but instead of keeping the Law in order to be saved or made acceptable to God, keeping the Ten Commandments to the best of our ability is the evidence that we are truly Christian and not merely religious.

Paul lists the works of unconverted folk in Ephesians, and he says, that the Ephesian believers were once like that, but no longer. So, if a person says that they have received new life in Christ, they should be living it. If not, their claim is false. If professing Christians are just like those in the world, how can they testify that they are new creations in Christ? People in the world would say, "Why should we become Christians? What is so different about you? You are just like us. What have you got that we haven't? You are doing the same things we are doing."

These people may look happy, but they have a false peace, and not the true peace that comes with a genuine conversion to Christ and true peace with God.

I would not co fused happiness with pleasure. They may or may not be happy people. Sin leads only to destruction and emptiness while here on earth.

Ben Collyer said:

Hi all, I live in a community of young christians, I am one of the older ones at 26, most are ages 18-22. I hear in the bible that the only way to true happiness is to be holy and surrendered to God and obey him. but there are christians here who are living in sin. fornication. watching bad movies, but they are generally very happy. smiling people. from where is the source of their happiness?

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First, it's an illusion...second what scripture promises is Joy which is different than happiness Joy is what is a contentment, a comfort, a peace even when things go wrong. Finally, sin always appears to be what we want at first it's how we get attached to it. Think about how someone becomes addicted to something. We are kind of addicted to sin...at first it seems great but over time the bondage becomes evident and by then it is part of our very fabric and needs a supernatural power to break it's hold.

Ben Collyer said:

Hi all, I live in a community of young christians, I am one of the older ones at 26, most are ages 18-22. I hear in the bible that the only way to true happiness is to be holy and surrendered to God and obey him. but there are christians here who are living in sin. fornication. watching bad movies, but they are generally very happy. smiling people. from where is the source of their happiness?

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Ignorance is bliss. If the level of righteousness in a congregation does not facilitate The Holy Spirit to speak with conviction, but rather tolerates shameful speech, then it is not a congregation belonging to Jesus Christ. Keep in mind Isaiah 33:14, Luke 17:22-27, Luke 5:34-35 (Ecclesiastes 7:2) and Isaiah 5.

1 Truly God is good to Israel, even to such as are of a clean heart.
2 But as for me, my feet were almost gone; my steps had well nigh slipped.
3 For I was envious at the foolish, when I saw the prosperity of the wicked.
4 For there are no bands in their death: but their strength is firm.
5 They are not in trouble as other men; neither are they plagued like other men.
6 Therefore pride compasseth them about as a chain; violence covereth them as a garment.
7 Their eyes stand out with fatness: they have more than heart could wish.
8 They are corrupt, and speak wickedly concerning oppression: they speak loftily.
9 They set their mouth against the heavens, and their tongue walketh through the earth.
10 Therefore his people return hither: and waters of a full cup are wrung out to them.
11 And they say, How doth God know? and is there knowledge in the most High?
12 Behold, these are the ungodly, who prosper in the world; they increase in riches.
13 Verily I have cleansed my heart in vain, and washed my hands in innocency.
14 For all the day long have I been plagued, and chastened every morning.
15 If I say, I will speak thus; behold, I should offend against the generation of thy children.
16 When I thought to know this, it was too painful for me;
17 Until I went into the sanctuary of God; then understood I their end.
18 Surely thou didst set them in slippery places: thou castedst them down into destruction.
19 How are they brought into desolation, as in a moment! they are utterly consumed with terrors.
20 As a dream when one awaketh; so, O Lord, when thou awakest, thou shalt despise their image.
21 Thus my heart was grieved, and I was pricked in my reins.
22 So foolish was I, and ignorant: I was as a beast before thee.
23 Nevertheless I am continually with thee: thou hast holden me by my right hand.
24 Thou shalt guide me with thy counsel, and afterward receive me to glory.
25 Whom have I in heaven but thee? and there is none upon earth that I desire beside thee.
26 My flesh and my heart faileth: but God is the strength of my heart, and my portion for ever.
27 For, lo, they that are far from thee shall perish: thou hast destroyed all them that go a whoring from thee.
28 But it is good for me to draw near to God: I have put my trust in the Lord God, that I may declare all thy works. -Psalm 73

Ben Collyer said:

Hi all, I live in a community of young christians, I am one of the older ones at 26, most are ages 18-22. I hear in the bible that the only way to true happiness is to be holy and surrendered to God and obey him. but there are christians here who are living in sin. fornication. watching bad movies, but they are generally very happy. smiling people. from where is the source of their happiness?

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All people live in a sea of sin. It takes work to recognise it.
God does not punish sin in this world. If he did, murderers would keel over dead.
But murdering does not pay well, and so sinners suffer from sin, but not punishment from God.

Ben Collyer said:

Hi all, I live in a community of young christians, I am one of the older ones at 26, most are ages 18-22. I hear in the bible that the only way to true happiness is to be holy and surrendered to God and obey him. but there are christians here who are living in sin, fornication, watching bad movies, but they are generally very happy, smiling people. From where is the source of their happiness?

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I would take a different stance here. They are in a state of spiritual childhood, such that many may not even know how badly they are displeasing the Father, similar to how children sometimes get away with far too much when their parents are away. So they feel they have all the protection and benefits of having God as their Father, yet the freedom to still do as they please. This is yet another symptom of a church that in general has distanced herself from God. The Father does not discipline His household as He once did (Hebrews 12:5-11). The reason is simple: Because they are not close to Him, He is not close to them (James 4:8). But judgments are prophesied to return to the household of God, and when this time comes, the spiritually adolescent will find out what it is like when the Father is actually in the house.

Until then, who can blame them for thinking all is well? Many of those who are supposed to be watching over God's children are doing so irresponsibly. Why wouldn't they misbehave and yet still feel they can get away with it?

SkyWriting said:

God does not punish sin in this world.

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It's not this world they have to worry about.

Hidden In Him said:

I would take a different stance here. They are in a state of spiritual childhood, such that many may not even know how badly they are displeasing the Father, similar to how children sometimes get away with far too much when their parents are away.

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Or they're in a state of OSAS that allows them to do as they wish and still be saved. That would make me "happy" too. We have these very kind around here, and yes, I know there are different flavors of it but some think they will get away with living in sin just as the OP mentions. Chances are good they know that's a major sin, and if not, they don't care enough to look into it and are probably just pretenders.

All you can do is tell them what they are doing is not going to cut it in the end, and if they don't believe that, they've been listening to the wrong teacher, one that teaches what people want to hear, not how it clearly is. Explain how these are wolves in sheep's clothing. Or if they know already they do wrong, but just don't care, not much you can do but rattle their cage a bit, get them thinking.

You could send em' here with the question if they are unclear, we'll tell them.

Ben Collyer said:

Hi all, I live in a community of young christians, I am one of the older ones at 26, most are ages 18-22. I hear in the bible that the only way to true happiness is to be holy and surrendered to God and obey him. but there are christians here who are living in sin. fornication. watching bad movies, but they are generally very happy. smiling people. from where is the source of their happiness?

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Which verse or verses were you thinking of specifically?

Furthermore, do you know that they are truly happy, or do they depend on getting their fix of whatever sin they embrace in order to make them temporarily happy?

Also, remember Jesus wasn't happy all the time. I even have my doubts that the happiness of people is a priority to God. Yes, he is loving. But he cares more about our holiness and his chosen purposes than most if not all of us ever will, and they are clearly a higher priority to him than our happiness (examples include Jeremiah and Hosea).

Ben Collyer said:

Hi all, I live in a community of young christians, I am one of the older ones at 26, most are ages 18-22. I hear in the bible that the only way to true happiness is to be holy and surrendered to God and obey him. but there are christians here who are living in sin. fornication. watching bad movies, but they are generally very happy. smiling people. from where is the source of their happiness?

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They might seem to be happy but I wouldn't be convinced that they were. Anyway, the purpose of the Lord's commandments is to direct us to the paradise he has in store for us. There's no other way to find it.

Ben Collyer said:

Hi all, I live in a community of young christians, I am one of the older ones at 26, most are ages 18-22. I hear in the bible that the only way to true happiness is to be holy and surrendered to God and obey him. but there are christians here who are living in sin. fornication. watching bad movies, but they are generally very happy. smiling people. from where is the source of their happiness?

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They are lovers of the world. Those who love the world will not have the love of God in them. They may seem to be completely blissful and happy on the outside. They maybe smiling from one ear to the other but they must be a mess inside. I heard a man put up his testimony of his past. He was saying that he used to fornicate and afterwards he used to feel sick about it. Don't let appearances on the surface fool and deceive you.

Kenny'sID said:

You could send em' here with the question if they are unclear, we'll tell them.

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Well yes, but then until the Father Himself has something to say about it, they won't be listening to me, you, or anybody else for that matter. OSAS and similar sin-excusing doctrines have a way of creating yet another condition I like to call ONL,ANL ("Once not listening, always not listening," LoL).

As others have said, there is a difference between happiness and joy. Modern technology makes it very easy to cover up a lack of joy with temporary happiness.

Happiness isn't bad, but if you speend you entire early adulthood play video games and watching netflix you will have a rude awakening in your 30s and 40s. This is especially true for women as their chances of having a healthy family and finding a good father for their kids decrease dramatically in their 30s.

There is also the issue of delayed gratification. If you jump into something too fast because you don't want to wait. For example, sex before marriage significantly increases your chances of marrying someone you don't get along with well. When sex is new it is easy to enjoy it without needing to have much in common, but in a few years when the novelty of sex wears off, and intimacy and life goals become more important, the consequences of marrying the wrong person will be much more apparent.

Don't be fooled by people's exterior. Sure, some people might get lucky and end up marrying the right person even though they had sex before marriage, but most wil not. Eventually the consequences will catch up. Same with money. Easy to go in to debt and enjoy stuff now, but then you have to pay it back later.

Most people will not escape the consequences of their actions in this life, and nobody escapes the consequences of their actions in the next life.