In July, Americans observe the Fourth of the month as our national Day of Independence. If any of us know any wording from the Declaration of Independence, signed on July 4th, it is typically the phrase, “We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.”
Our nation’s founding fathers were much better politicians and diplomats than they were theologians. Scripture talks plenty of life and of liberty (or freedom), but the “pursuit of Happiness” is sorely lacking in biblical support. Thomas Jefferson never explained why he inserted this phrase, coined in 1759 by Samuel Johnson, into the Declaration of Independence. The idea “pursuit of Happiness” is not only bad theology, but it causes no end of trouble for the human race as a whole.
The “pursuit of Happiness” would be a grand ideal if it were not for the reality of human sin. If we read scripture, even not so carefully, we nearly always find that the “pursuit of Happiness” guided by human sin leads us not only away from God but also leads us into all kinds of trouble. “Pursuing” something implies that we do not already have something, as if God will not provide for us. Pursuing what makes “us” happy makes “us” the point of reference for our lives when that reference point should be God. Were not Adam and Eve “pursuing Happiness” when they grabbed a hold of the forbidden fruit?
Nonetheless, we as Americans (and as sinners worldwide) think that we have a God-given right to be happy. We even demand that God must make “us” happy. In that same vein, those called formally to service in the church, however that is defined, must also make “us” happy. If they do not, there is often hell to pay! How much of our “church shopping” in the USA is based on feeling good rather than on finding good theology?
From a biblical perspective, because sinners have continually pursued their own happiness, God has throughout history pursued sinners precisely in order to liberate them from this dead end venture. Jesus gave up his divine freedom and eternal life not to make us happy but to call us holy. God knows when he has deemed us holy (trusting in Christ) that we are truly liberated for life. Is there any greater happiness than being united with Christ by faith alone now and into all eternity?
While the rest of the country and the world is vainly seeking their happiness in sinful pursuits, let us trust and bear witness that our true independence comes from our total dependence upon the God who have his son on a cross to make us free (eleutheros in Greek) and thus Lutheran (see John 8:31-38). Scripture calls persons set free by faith alone in Jesus Christ “holy ones.” If we are not totally happy with that, then we have missed the point of the Christian faith.
