LONG-FACED RELIGION

Sun (Auckland), Volume IV, Issue 999, 16 June 1930, Page 14

LONG-FACED RELIGION

NO PART OF CHRISTIAN FAITH CHRIST PREACHED HAPPINESS If a man’s religion makes him longfaced and gloomy, there is something wrong with it. This, in a word, was the keynote of a sermon by the Rev. W. H. Avery in St. Paul’s Methodist Church, Northcote, yesterday morning. This text was from St. John, 15, 11: “These things have I spoken unto you that my joy might remain in you and that your joy might be full.” “Our thought of Jesus has probably been influenced more than we realise by the words of a Roman writer who says of Him ‘No one has ever seen him laugh,’ ” said Mr. Avery. “Joy is not something contrary to the spirit and teaching of Jesus —it is of the very essence of the Christian religion. The New Testament is full of the note of joy. It opens with the angels’ song. ‘Fear Not, for Behold 1 Bring You Good Tidings of Great Joy.’ The birth of Jesus brought untold joy into the world. The lust book of the New Testament gives us a great picture of triumphant joy as the Heavenly hosts sing glory to God. Open the New Testament where you will, the note of joy strikes you. Jesus and His Disciples, as in our text, are met for the last time before His crucifixion. Who would have expected joy there? When He was parted from them they did not spend the time in weeping and mourning, but returned to Jerusalem with great joy. We find them gathering together in the upper room, and praising God. “They were beaten by Roman soldiers, and rejoiced to be thought worthy to suffer for Christ. Behind prison bars they spend the time in songs of praise. From a Roman prison St. Paul writes: “Rejoice in the Lord always and again I say, rejoice.’ MOST JOYOUS RELIGION Christianity was the most joyous religion in the world. There was a lack of joy in pagan lands until Christ came. The Solomon Islander did not know how to laugh before the mission ary taught him of tlie joy of Jesus The Papuan spoke of Christmas as the time of great joy because of the joy Jesus brought into the world. Behind the joy of the New Testament, and of the Christian church, stood a joyous Christ. Often we had seen Him portrayed as a ‘Man of Sorrows,’ and of a mournful countenance. There was room for some artist to paint a picture of ‘The Joyous Christ.’ A joyous book, and a joyous expression of religion "were not inspired by a melancholy man. “Whence came Christ’s joy? The most joyful .people were those who lived for others—the most miserable those who live for self. True Joy came through service. It was more blessed to give than to receive. Our gifts, and graces, and goods were given for service. Our Saviour’s cup of joy was full because of the joy he brought to others. He never thought of self. He found life in losing it. He defined greatness in terms of service. His heart is full of joy. “Let us,” concluded Mr. Avery, “keep our eyes fixed on Jesus, Who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God; that we, too, may catch something of His abounding joy.”