Unhappy Christian / Oxymoron??

[Born_Again]

I once heard that an "unhappy Christian" is an oxymoron. The theory is that if someone is truly a heart felt, deep down christian, then they should never be unhappy..... I'm not sure what to think..... Thoughts??? I still get unhappy but I wouldnt think that would make me any less of a Christian....

 

[River Jordan]

We're people...human beings...so of course we get unhappy from time to time. It happens. If we didn't, we'd be like Stepford Wives all the time, and that would just be creepy. :huh:

 

[lforrest]

I look at scriptural evidence for Jesus' emotional state. There is little evidence for him being happy, but much for him being sorrowful. Isaiah 53:3 gives some indication to this.
Therefore I consider it absurd that anyone would claim Christians can't be unhappy, if Christ himself was unhappy.

I think the false believe of the always happy Christian comes from a misunderstanding of joy and happiness; they are two different things. Happiness depends on circumstances, but joy abides with us through our trials. Joy is a gift from God, and does not depend on [SIZE=14.3999996185303px]circumstance. [/SIZE]

So I pray for you Born_Again: "May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit." (Romans 15:13)

 

[Born_Again]

I look at scriptural evidence for Jesus' emotional state. There is little evidence for him being happy, but much for him being sorrowful. Isaiah 53:3 gives some indication to this.
Therefore I consider it absurd that anyone would claim Christians can't be unhappy, if Christ himself was unhappy.

I think the false believe of the always happy Christian comes from a misunderstanding of joy and happiness; they are two different things. Happiness depends on circumstances, but joy abides with us through our trials. Joy is a gift from God, and does not depend on [SIZE=14.39px]circumstance. [/SIZE]

So I pray for you Born_Again: "May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit." (Romans 15:13)

Thank you so much!! I appreciate the prayer.

 

[Dan57]

I am personally happy, but seldom content. I am content in what I believe, but not usually satisfied in where I'm at in life. I'm not sure its a good thing to be content, because it might mean that you want for nothing better and an attitude like that might bring all progress & growth in life to a screeching halt? A person may as well convince themselves to be happy, because the alternative is no picnic :). "Not that I speak in respect of want: for I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content" (Philippians 4:11)

Most folks are about as happy as they make up their minds to be. ~Abraham Lincoln

Happiness? That's nothing more than health and a poor memory. ~Albert Schweitzer

As people spin faster and faster in the pursuit of personal happiness, they become exhausted in the futile effort of chasing themselves.

The happiness of most people is not ruined by great catastrophes or fatal errors, but by the repetition of slowly destructive little things.

Unhappiness is not knowing what we want and killing ourselves to get it.

Three grand essentials to happiness in this life are something to do, something to love, and something to hope for.

You need to learn to be happy by nature, because you'll seldom have the chance to be happy by circumstance.

 

[Born_Again]

I am personally happy, but seldom content. I am content in what I believe, but not usually satisfied in where I'm at in life. I'm not sure its a good thing to be content, because it might mean that you want for nothing better and an attitude like that might bring all progress & growth in life to a screeching halt? A person may as well convince themselves to be happy, because the alternative is no picnic :). "Not that I speak in respect of want: for I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content" (Philippians 4:11)

Most folks are about as happy as they make up their minds to be. ~Abraham Lincoln

Happiness? That's nothing more than health and a poor memory. ~Albert Schweitzer

As people spin faster and faster in the pursuit of personal happiness, they become exhausted in the futile effort of chasing themselves.

The happiness of most people is not ruined by great catastrophes or fatal errors, but by the repetition of slowly destructive little things.

Unhappiness is not knowing what we want and killing ourselves to get it.

Three grand essentials to happiness in this life are something to do, something to love, and something to hope for.

You need to learn to be happy by nature, because you'll seldom have the chance to be happy by circumstance.

That is actually really good stuff there. :)

 

[KingJ]

I once heard that an "unhappy Christian" is an oxymoron. The theory is that if someone is truly a heart felt, deep down christian, then they should never be unhappy..... I'm not sure what to think..... Thoughts??? I still get unhappy but I wouldnt think that would make me any less of a Christian....

This is not our home. We can be excused for being unhappy.