Celebrate
by Gary Johnson
My late father-in-law loved humor. “Pops” would often tell jokes, crack a big smile and then laugh out loud. I loved his ability to see life in a light-hearted way. Pops was of the opinion that we Christians often take life too seriously, so much so, that “it looks like we’ve been baptized in vinegar and weaned on a pickle!” It’s time we celebrate.
As we fix our eyes on Jesus (Heb. 12:2) throughout 2024, we are pursuing twelve spiritual disciplines (one each month), and on this first day of March, our attention turns to the corporate discipline of celebration. This is corporate in that celebration is one of four disciplines that we can only do with one another.
Much of life is spent with people as we surround ourselves with family and friends, and some of those moments are (or should be) marked with celebration (that means we should party hardy and laugh out loud). As a collective group of people, why would we take seriously that celebration is a spiritual discipline that draws us closer to Jesus? I can think of three powerful reasons.
Celebration is Biblical
Joy marked both the entrance of and exit from planet earth by King Jesus. Remember what the angel said to the shepherds on the night of Christ’s birth? He said, “Behold! I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people” (Luke 2:10). Moreover, when Jesus was about to be crucified, He said to His disciples, “I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete” (John 15:11). With only a few hours before being impaled on a cross, Jesus spoke of joy to his grief-stricken disciples. Even the writer of Hebrews described of how Jesus approached His death with joy: “…who for the joy set before Him, endured the cross, scorning its shame and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God” (12:2). Think joy.
Just as the beginning and the end of Christ’s life on earth was marked with unbridled joy, even His ministry was marked by the same. After He trained and sent out seventy-two followers to do ministry, they “returned with joy” (Luke 10:17) and reported to Jesus all the victories that took place. They celebrated collectively as a band of brothers! Then, Jesus was “filled with joy through the Holy Spirit” (v. 21). And speaking of the Spirit, Galatians 5:22 reminds us that joy is a fruit that the Spirit produces in the lives of Christians, and moreover, “the joy of the Lord is our strength” (Neh. 8:10).
Have no false guilt when smiling, laughing, rejoicing! Clapping in worship? Shouting “amen” in church? Absolutely. It’s biblical.
Celebration is Spiritual
When we practice this discipline, we spiritually grow closer to – and in the likeness of – Jesus. Think with me. In the OT law, God told the Israelites to observe the Year of Jubilee (Lev. 25:8-35). Every fiftieth year, the Israelites were to cancel all debts, release slaves and servants, plant no crops, and even return property to its original owners. How could this happen? Who would do such a thing? Answer: those who trusted in God. After all, “Some trust in chariots, some trust in horses, but we trust in the name of the Lord” (Ps. 20:7). Every fiftieth year could be one long party (a real jubilee) as people saw God meet all of their needs. The Israelites had to take God at His Word and trust Him to provide, and when they did so, they experienced the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living (Ps. 27:13), giving them reason to party!
As well, in the Torah, God told the people they were to come into His presence three times a year for a week-long festival. They were to put their work aside for a corporate celebration. These three festivals were “holy days” that were in every sense of the word “holidays” marked with much food, laughter and togetherness as they celebrated the goodness of God.
Celebration was – and still is – spiritual. For example, when we come together for our holidays such as Thanksgiving, Christmas and Resurrection Sunday, do we celebrate God’s goodness? We certainly do, and the more intentional we are to acknowledge Jesus in the midst of the holiday, it becomes a holy day. During our corporate gatherings, whether on the first day of the week in worship or on any other occasion, we can deliberately acknowledge the goodness, mercy, favor and love of the Lord in and among us so that we experience a modern-day jubilee.
Celebration is Practical
While writing one of his prison letters, the Apostle Paul wrote of joy to people he knew and loved in the church at Philippi. Twice in one verse, he commanded them to “rejoice in the Lord” (Phil 4:4). Why could they do so? He reminded them that “the Lord is near” (v. 5). As a result, they did not have to worry about anything, but in everything—by prayer and petition—they were to make their requests known to God. For then, they would experience His peace that is beyond human comprehension (verses 6-7).
Yet, something more flowed from Paul’s pen. He told them to think about, take notice of, concentrate on everything that is “true, noble, right, pure, lovely, admirable, excellent and praise-worthy” (v. 8). The Greek word for “think” is logizomai. This word is linked to the origin of logarithm, which is a very difficult multiplication process requiring much thinking. When we choose to deliberately think about all of God’s goodness, we cannot help but be overwhelmed with celebrating our Creator, Sustainer and Savior! HE deserves eternal applause with much shouting!
When we watch little children celebrate, they make noise – shouting, clapping, running and more. Maybe we, as God’s children, are long overdue in having a party, a God-directed joy-filled jubilee marked with loud laughter, broad smiles, and thunderous applause.
Who would want to be a part of a community where people look as though they have been “baptized in vinegar and weaned on a pickle?” When people around us see our unmistakable joy, they just might want to join the party!
