Does God want us to be happy?
On the back of Randy Alcorn’s new book, Does God Want Us to Be Happy?: The Case for Biblical Happiness, is this statement: “Discover God’s revolutionary plan for our happiness!” If you didn’t know better or knew nothing about Alcorn, you might have one of two reactions. First, if you were looking for some run-of-the-mill, self-help title, it might jump out at you. It has all the buzzwords. Or, if you’re familiar with Alcorn’s ministry, you might think, Okay, what’s he up to? Not surprising, Alcorn turns that self-help expectation on its head.
Alcorn, prolific author and founder and director of Eternal Perspective Ministries, starts by asking the critical question, “Does God want us to be happy?” The way a Christian answers that question will ultimately color everything else surrounding the conversation.
Does God Want Us to Be Happy?: The Case for Biblical Happiness
Randy Alcorn
Does God Want Us to Be Happy?: The Case for Biblical Happiness
Randy Alcorn
The setup is important. Alcorn shows that happiness is a universal longing (2); that the church historically has viewed happiness as a positive (3–4); and that God, as our Father, wants us to be happy (4–7)—even tying happiness to the gospel (“good news of happiness,” Isa. 52:7).
So the answer to Does God want us to be happy?, according to Alcorn, is yes—and the rest of the book makes the biblical argument for why.
God Is Happy
The structure, especially early on, resembles a systematic theology. Alcorn transitions to show that the triune God is the source of happiness, then shows that Jesus was our example of happiness on earth even amid suffering and sadness. For example, “God’s communal happiness with himself has significant implications for our happiness” (12).
Practically, Alcorn shows that God’s happiness is eternal and unflappable, while the suffering and sin we see now is temporary— because King Jesus did and will finally deal with it. What’s left to look forward to? Eternal, unfettered happiness rooted:
By being happy in the Holy Spirit, in Christ, and in the Father, we lay claim to the fact that God is infinitely bigger and more powerful than the Fall. We affirm that our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ will reverse the curse and reign over a new universe. . . . Our happy God is the God of all beauty, which he kindly shares with all of us. (73)
This truth completely transforms a Christian’s pursuit of happiness. Contemplating these truths empowers a Christian to pursue a happiness rooted in God (78). And happiness goes off the rails when we seek it outside of God (83).
Popular Misconceptions
Along the way, Alcorn combats popular misconceptions, like the idea that God is only concerned with our holiness and not our happiness, or that somehow happiness and joy are different.
The second distinction is so pervasive in the church today, perhaps especially in Reformed circles, that it gets its own chapter. I’ve heard the contrast—joy versus happiness—many times. He dispels this myth by looking at historical and biblical usage rooting joy and happiness in Jesus Christ.
Happiness goes off the rails when we seek it outside of God.
A main thread running through Alcorn’s book is Scripture. He is careful to show from God’s Word what happiness means. This effort culminates in a chapter showing that the common word “blessed” actually means happy. It’s been to our disadvantage to not know this, since many modern English translations have shied away from using “happy” (59). Note that I said English translations; Alcorn shows from other non-English translations that words like “happy” appear where English translations used “blessed.” As Alcorn explains,
This means that English-speaking believers are uniquely vulnerable to the myth that most other Bible readers in the world are immune to: that the Bible says nothing about happiness and neither expects nor calls on us to be happy. (63)
Alcorn observes that some Christians are convinced God doesn’t want us to pursue happiness because of how people wrongly pursue it. This can be said for other issues—sex, family, and or any other of God’s good gifts (see ch. 9).
It’s easy to see the abuse of something good and react by setting up hedges to protect you from the wrong pursuit. But in doing so you lose the blessing of the gift God gives. As Alcorn explains, “ignoring or denying” what Scripture teaches on something like happiness is “dangerous” (64) as well. We must never let fear keep us from what God actually teaches is good. Despising God’s gifts is an insult to God himself (97, 98).
Happy Amid Suffering
Alcorn is careful to not equate Christian happiness with care-free, suffering-free, sin-free living. Often we must pursue happiness amid suffering (133), but never in denial of it (134). As Alcorn writes, “What if, when suffering came, we faced it with an underlying faith that demonstrates genuine gladness in God and thanksgiving to God?” (165). Alcorn never loses that Godward focus throughout the book, making it a must-read for Christians who struggle with seeing joy as something they can—and should—actively pursue.
Pursuing Godward happiness and joy will only help us grow holy and prepare us for living in the new creation with our eternally and perfectly happy God. It’s not easy. It’s hard work. But we’re empowered by the same Spirit who has experienced perfect happiness within the Trinity and now resides in each believer.
