Posted on 06/26/2019 10:26:01 AM PDT by Salvation
One of the questionable, and unfortunately common, forms of moral reasoning today is the rather narcissistic notion that God wants each of us to be happy. Sometimes it is put in the form of a rhetorical question: God wants me to be happy, doesn’t He?
And this sort of reasoning (if you want to call it that) is used to justify just about anything. Thus, in pondering divorce, a spouse might point to his or her misery and conclude that God would approve of the split because God wants me to be happy, doesn’t He? Many seek to justify so-called same-sex marriage, and other illicit sexual notions in the same way.
Further, other responsibilities are often blithely set aside as too demanding, under the pretext that God would not make difficult demands because, after all, He wants me to be happy. Since getting to Mass is difficult for me, God will understand if I don’t go; He wants me to be happy, not burdened. Forgiving someone is hard and God does not ask hard things of us; He wants me to be happy. Refusing to cooperate with some evil at work would risk my income; surely God would not demand that I withstand it since He wants me to be happy, content, and financially secure.
The notion that God wants me to be happy thus becomes a kind of trump card, some sort of definitive declaration that obviates the need for any further moral reflection. Practically speaking, this means that I am now free to do as I please. Since I am happy, God is happy, and this is His will … or so the thinking goes.
There are, of course, multiple problems with the “God wants me to be happy” moral stance. In the first place, happiness is a complex matter that admits of many subjective criteria including personal development, temporal dimensions, and worldview. For example, a spiritually mature person can find happiness simply in knowing that he is pleasing God by follow His Commandments. On an interpersonal level, many are happy to make sacrifices for the people they love. To others who are less mature, even the smallest sacrifice can seem obnoxious and bring on unhappiness; pleasing God is not even on their radar, let alone something that would make them happy.
Happiness is also temporally variable. Most of us are well aware that happiness tomorrow is often contingent upon making certain sacrifices today. For example, the happiness one gets in taking a vacation is usually dependent upon having saved up some money beforehand. Making sacrifices today enables happiness tomorrow. If all I do is please myself in the moment, insist on being happy right now, my ability to be happy in the future will likely be seriously compromised. Setting no limits today might mean that I am broke tomorrow, or addicted, or unhealthily overweight, or afflicted with a sexually-transmitted disease. True, lasting, deep happiness in the future often requires some sacrifice today, some capacity to say “No” right now. Without any consideration of the future or of eternal life, “happiness” in the moment is vague, foolish, and meaningless, if not outright destructive. God desires our happiness, all right, but the happiness He wants for us is that of eternal life with Him forever. He has clearly indicated that this will often involve forsaking many of the passing pleasures and the “happiness” of this world.
More troubling still is the self-referential and narcissistic aspect contained in the simple little word “me.” God wants me to be happy.
Those who expresses this “me” notion might be surprised to discover that God has bigger things in mind. God actually cares about other people, too! He also cares about future generations and about the common good. Yes, there’s just a little more on God’s radar than you.
So the divorced man who might say, “God wants me to be happy” should consider that God might actually care about his children too; He might care about the culture that suffers due to rampant divorce; He might care about future generations that would inherit a culture shredded by destroyed families.
Wow, God might actually want others to be happy besides me! Even more shockingly, God might want me to sacrifice my happiness for them! He might actually want me to consider them and even regard them as more important that I am.
As a moral reference point, “me” is remarkably narrow and usually self-serving. And yet many today use this almost reflexively and authoritatively. “God wants me to be happy, so all discussions and further deliberations are over. God has spoken through my desires. He wants me to be happy. Who are you to dispute that? We’re done here; I will not be judged by you.”
“God wants me to be happy” is not a legitimate moral principle. It bespeaks a narcissism that is, sadly, too common today. Call it “Stuart Smalley theology.” You don’t know who Stuart Smalley is? This video shows it plainly enough. The bottom line is, don’t be Stuart Smalley.
It was meant to be snarky because I’ve experienced how Christian morality can sometimes feel like Christian Islam where “honor” and “reverence” have cut itself off from God’s joy and wild goodness. In fact, I grew up in it.
“Thus, in pondering divorce, a spouse might point to his or her misery and conclude that God would approve of the split because God wants me to be happy, doesn’t He? Many seek to justify so-called same-sex marriage, and other illicit sexual notions in the same way.”
Oh and that along with
countless other blessings
made me very happy.
7
it’s not a false inference when the article states :
“God wants me to be happy” is not a legitimate moral principle. It bespeaks a narcissism”
That’s pretty plain- I read the article- thanks- God wants me, personally, to be happy, IS a legitimate moral principle- His word is plain on that- as pointed out several times now- I’m not ‘picking a fight’ when I point out that the premise of the article is wrong- The author points to selfish people as justification for his erroneous statement that “God wants me happy is not a legitimate moral principle”
so you’re comparing what i said to islam? Seriously?
please see my post abov-e it addresses those ‘worst case scenarios’ meant to justify a erroneous claim- The article is, perhaps unwittingly, making it seem that For a Christian to think that God wants them to be happy, is a false doctrine that they should be ashamed for thinking-
[[It was meant to be snarky because I’ve experienced how Christian morality can sometimes feel like Christian Islam where “honor” and “reverence” have cut itself off from God’s joy and wild goodness.]]
Nothing in what i said even comes close to saying that-
They didn't like that answer but could not come up with good argument against it.
What makes me happy? A free donut. A beautiful sunrise. And remembering that Hillary Clinton will neevvvvverrrr be President. That always makes me smile!
[[Many seek to justify so-called same-sex marriage,]]
first of all, it isn’t ‘many’- some do yes- but secondly, their false, sinful beliefs should be a reflection on us as to how we view God’s desire for US to be happy- Their sinful false beliefs shouldn’t be a cause for US to hang our head in shame because we wish to experience happiness that God provides us- That’s all I’m saying-
Even the title of the thread intimates that it’s wrong for Christians to believe God wants them to be happy: “God Wants Me to Be Happy” - A Reflection on a Deeply Flawed Moral Stance,
and then the followup-
“God wants me to be happy” is not a legitimate moral principle. It bespeaks a narcissism”
““God wants me to be happy” is not a legitimate moral principle.”
It’s also a poor life. Happiness is fleeting. It comes and goes as times change. Rather than seek a happy life, we should seek lives of meaning. That is far more lasting.
[[but secondly, their false, sinful beliefs should be a reflection on us]]
that shoudl read
but secondly, their false, sinful beliefs should —Not— be a reflection on us
I personally hate this “feel good theology”....
God does not promise you riches or happiness... Jesus didn’t promise you an easy life....
Folks who pitch this crap are blasphemers and cranks.
Good, because they are frauds, blasphemers, heretics and hacks!
If they are upset with me, I probably have earned a few points on the right side of the ledger.
You tell the Christian living in persecution in North Korea, or elsewhere, that if you follow God he will bless you with worldly riches!! This is ABSOLUTE BLASPHEMY!
For crying out loud, Just read Job fro crying out loud, what did God do to him? Took all his worldly goods, killed his family, struck him with disease... just to prove to Satan that Job was loyal to him.. Yes he blessed him again after.. but I hardly think Job’s worldly happiness was God’s priority.
People that preach this DRIVEL are HUCKSTERS... No different than that email from Nigeria promising you a cut of Millions of dollars, or those ads promising you a donkey penis if you just buy their pills. Absolutely NO DIFFERENCE.. other than those people aren’t claiming GOD wants you to do what they want and send your money to them.
Yes, there is a lot of wisdom in the bible, and if you live by the principles within it, you may indeed have a better worldly life, than if you did not.. but you can live by every single principle God describes, and still end up without 2 nickels to your name.
It is INSANITY that people buy into this.. Oh if you just live as god describes he will bless you with wealth and happiness.... Tell that to the N. Korean, arrested, tortured and murdered because he dared to practice the faith!
God wants us to be holy.
The joy of the Lord is different from being happy.
OTOH, neither does God want us to be miserable.
I think what he’s getting at is that it becomes a problem when we let the thinking that God wants us to be happy to be the basis for making decisions instead of Scripture and God’s moral absolutes doing that.
Thank You,
I work from home and
it’s just outside my window
the afternoon and setting sunlight
have the most wonderful effects.
Pleasure, Joy & Happiness are
gifts from God and we should
not reject His kindness but
carefully endeavor to properly
appreciate His blessings.
7
All about the Lord.
Forget the “self-centered” me.
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