Hi doomsayer2,
Ok, really a simple question...is we as N.T. believers to do as Paul said in 1stThess.-5:16..."Rejoice always." And yes that is a two word verse, the shortest in the entire bible along with "Jesus wept", which is ironic, as Christ Himself didn't always follow Pauls admonition.
(1) Our Messiahs disciples for the past 2000 years have suffered difficulties from the outside and inside of the Body of Christ, we are warned that the day of afflictions and distress (1 Thess. 3:2-3) are here, and knowing that we need to remember that He is comforting us at that very moment, and we need to rejoice in it, because HE loves us.
(2) We also need to be aware that if we live Godly lives then we will be persecuted (2 Tim. 3:12). And our Lord Jesus Christ warned His disciples, us, that we will experience the same type of rejection that he had experienced (John 5:18-21). Many of us do get downcast when we are persecuted, but we are told that we should rejoice and be glad of it seeing that we have considered to suffer like our Yeshua, our Messiah.
(3) Like the Thessalonians many of us need to face the fact that we are not living as we should as believers of our Lord Jesus Christ, and we are unruly and we need to be warned about our behaviour. There are many faint-hearted and weak (stony and thorny Christians) who need comforting, to be treated with patience, and upheld in love by the mature 30-fold, 60-fold and 100-fold believers responding to their individuals needs. Some Christians try to get revenge evil for evil (1 Thess.5:14-15), which isnt our task for revenge, because its our Messiahs revenge.
(4) Regardless of those difficulties (1 Thess. 3:2-3) we may experience, we always have the grounds for rejoicing, and we are told that our joy is not based on circumstances but on our growing awareness of our Messiah and our future of eternal life.
Or are we to still adhere to Old covenant ways, such as Ecclesiastes-7:3...
"Sorrow is better than laughter, for by a sad countenance the heart is made better."
Or how about Psalms-34:18..."The Lord is near to those of a broken heart, and saves such as have a contrite spirit."
(5) Ecclesiastes 7:2-4 expands upon the idea of death in verse 1, and we learn more about the meaning of life in the house of mourning than in the house of feasting were laughter if so loud that it sometimes sounds like fools and the unwise. We know that He hears us (v6), because the Lord is near and this gives us great comfort of knowing HE cares for us, which will heal any broken-heart (Psa. 34:17-19)
Psalms-51:17..."The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart O God, you will not despise."
Some might say this is just another contradiction in scriptures. But I think maybe it's just a matter of translation and wording, such as the use of "always", similar to "without ceasing" as in praying. Obviously you can do neither all of the time, and only an insane fool would be shouting for joy at a funeral procession, or upon hearing of severe physical suffering a close friend is enduring.
(6) In v16, you do not desire sacrifice, which means that we find pleasure in our Messiahs pleasure, which isnt in the animal sacrifice, but in the restoration of a person, and His pleasure is in those people who come to Him in obedience. Any action that isnt accompanied by a contrite heart is not acceptable to our Messiah. And it all comes down to our Messiahs pleasure in us, when we humble ourselves before Him, and these sacrifices, were a source of JOY!
So my personal take is that it is vital to at least have a humbled heart before God, and be broken hearted over our sin, depending on how major it is. And then to rejoice when we can walk in victory with God. I guess the confusion comes when these are out of balance, and why so many professing believers suffer from mental disorders which leave them almost permanent state of melancholy and apathy.
(7) The greatest sacrifice for any Christian is to admit and confess, forgive and repent their sin and not be broken-hearted over their sin. We need to be able to say that we are sorry for our sin through our confession, to forgive those who were part of our sin through hurt and offence and to ask for forgiveness from those people who we sinned against through hurt and offence. Then we are able to use Gods Word expressing our repentance! When our house is empty, swept, and put in order (Luke 11:24-26) then any form of mental disorder, anxiety, depression can dwell within our house placing us into a permanent state of melancholy and apathy.
(8) The only way to overcome our empty house and at the same time we need to realise that our Lord resist the proud and gives grace to the humble (James 4:6), and this is why many suffer unnecessarily. Our suffering comes from pain and thinking too much, and not enough action. When we fill our house with Gods Word and its put it into action, then mental disorder, anxiety and depression will depart leaving no ground for melancholy and apathy.
(9) Far too many Christians are still floundering at wayside, stony and thorny levels because of their empty, swept and put in order house that is open to sin and demonisation. This is so because they have only removed the top layer of dirt (simple sin), and not the deep-down garbage that feeds the rats, the carnal sin. As we go deeper into the carpet pile, and into our heart we will find much sin buried deep down within our heart---much unforgiveness. This is where the heavy work begins by cleansing our hands and purifying our heart. When we begin to confess our sins, and forgive by His Word, then our house will begin to move from EMPTY to FULL, which would be finalised by REPENTANCE. Once this is done, then our house will definitely be placed in order that we will be able to resist Satan and his forces with power and authority. When all of this is done, then only then, will we be able to draw near and submit to Him, and finally find the humility we desperately search for (James 4:7-10).
(10) After these steps are taken, and we reach our Freedom in Christ, then there will be no place for mental disorders or any other spiritual infirmity.
I suppose the $77,000 question is why exactly God permits these diseases in some and not others? But I would at least like to focus on the original question and settle it first if possible.
Thanks-
(11) Sorry but our Lord Jesus Christ doesnt permit disease, we allow it to happen, because we dont progress through the six levels of our heart soil and when new born-again Christians are brought into the fold they are not taken any further and remain wayside, stony and thorny, and fail to move on to maturity (30-fold, 60-fold and 100-fold believers) through confession of sin, forgiveness of sin, and repentance.
