Tough questions of faith

This is from our Small Group study guide tonight:

Rejoice! Rejoice! Rejoice!

Philippians 4:4 says, “Rejoice in the Lord always! I will say it again: Rejoice!” This passages and others like it have caused tremendous confusion in the body of Christ. More than once, I’ve stood by the side of a believer who’s mourning the loss of a loved one and overheard something like this: “Well Mary, we’re praising the Lord with you today. Harold is home with his heavenly Father. He’s rejoicing right now with us. Isn’t it wonderful to be able to praise God even in this? You are praising God, aren’t you Mary? You’re not losing the victory are you?” Mary mumbles thanks then inwardly chastises herself for not being a stronger Christian. Why can’t she sing the “Hallelujah Chorus” at her husband’s funeral like she’s supposed to?
I mean isn’t that what Philippians 4:4 tells her to do? Doesn’t it tell her – and us – to rejoice over death, loss, injury, trial, failure and defeat? Doesn’t it tell the elders of our church, who regularly pray with seriously afflicted people, to rejoice over eyes that don’t see, limbs that don’t function, wombs that are barren, or hearts that are broken? Doesn’t it tell them to meet with grieving and trembling, the broken and the beaten down, and chastise them for not “rejoicing always?”

What is your gut reaction to the statements above?
What does it mean to rejoice in the Lord always?

Published by

Jonathan Blundell

I'm a husband, father of three, blogger, podcaster, author and media geek who is hoping to live a simple life and follow The Way.

2 thoughts on “Tough questions of faith”

  1. In a nutshell, I believe that Philippians 4:4 is being taken out of context in this instance. The very next sentence (Philippians 4:5 reads: Let your gentleness be evident to all.)

    Furthermore, the actions that are described above (chastising for not rejoicing always )amounts to rubbing salt in the wounds of the weak.

    I ask, Where is the Love in that?

    One did not see Christ himself rejoicing at the death of his friend Lazareth. Futhermore, I haven’t read in any Bible that Jesus was giving out high fives and rejoicing at Gethsemene prior to His arrest.

    Some scriptures come to my mind in response to your discussion starter: (all NIV)

    Ecclesiastes 3:1; 3:4
    There is a time for everything…
    a time to mourn and a time to dance.

    Matthew 5:4
    Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be conforted.

    Isaiah 53: 3

    He was despised and rejected by men, a man of sorrows, and familiar with suffering.

    John 11:35

    Jesus wept.

    2 Corinthians 12:10
    …For when I am weak then I am strong

    Greg Long has recorded songs called, “Help Somebody Cry.” and “In the Waiting” that for me, sums up what is like to mourn and how to be there in love for those who mourn.

    One can offer hope to those who are mourning, but the last thing a mourning person needs is lesson in rejoicing by others.

  2. In a nutshell, I believe that Philippians 4:4 is being taken out of context in this instance. The very next sentence (Philippians 4:5 reads: Let your gentleness be evident to all.)

    Furthermore, the actions that are described above (chastising for not rejoicing always )amounts to rubbing salt in the wounds of the weak.

    I ask, Where is the Love in that?

    One did not see Christ himself rejoicing at the death of his friend Lazareth. Futhermore, I haven’t read in any Bible that Jesus was giving out high fives and rejoicing at Gethsemene prior to His arrest.

    Some scriptures come to my mind in response to your discussion starter: (all NIV)

    Ecclesiastes 3:1; 3:4
    There is a time for everything…
    a time to mourn and a time to dance.

    Matthew 5:4
    Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be conforted.

    Isaiah 53: 3

    He was despised and rejected by men, a man of sorrows, and familiar with suffering.

    John 11:35

    Jesus wept.

    2 Corinthians 12:10
    …For when I am weak then I am strong

    Greg Long has recorded songs called, “Help Somebody Cry.” and “In the Waiting” that for me, sums up what is like to mourn and how to be there in love for those who mourn.

    One can offer hope to those who are mourning, but the last thing a mourning person needs is lesson in rejoicing by others.

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