Is God A Killjoy?

“Well then, shall we keep on sinning so that God can keep on showing us more and more kindness and forgiveness? Of course not! Should we keep on sinning when we don’t have to? For sin’s power over us was broken when we became Christians and were baptized to become a part of Jesus Christ; through his death the power of your sinful nature was shattered. Your old sin-loving nature was buried with him by baptism when he died; and when God the Father, with glorious power, brought him back to life again, you were given his wonderful new life to enjoy.” – Romans 6:1-4 (TLB). 

Is God a killjoy? Sometimes we may imagine God as a task master, a dictator opposed to fun or pleasure. That is what most people probably think when they drive by a outdoor billboard that says “Don’t make me come down there – God.” We may envision Him as a grimacing judge with a gavel, readily pointing out faults and stifling any sense of joy we have. Immediately after becoming a Christian you are required to undergo a “fun bypass” surgical procedure that ensures that fun is removed from our system. It’s like an old school arcade game, where things pop up and you have to hit them with a massive hammer. God is just waiting up in Heaven for something fun to pop up in life and then “whack” saying “Hey, you! Yeah, you. You look like you’re having fun over there. Well, cut it out unless you want another whack.”

God does not want to spoil our fun. He wants us to enjoy our life. He wants us to have joy. In John 10:10, He said that He came so that you would have life, and have it to the full. He came so that you would have abundant, overflowing life. God wants you to enjoy life. Romans 6:4 says, “… you were given his wonderful new life to enjoy.” God made you. He knows how you operate best. And He knows what makes you happy. God is not a killjoy. He likes laughter. He enjoys it when you’re having fun. He wants your life to be full of joy-complete, full, and incredible. But here is the thing we need to remember: Joy depends on God, and joy comes from God. 

Is it really possible to have real joy? Often we go through life experiencing less joy than what God desires for us. We become weighed down by life’s circumstances and allow those things to rob us of the life-giving joy that God intends for us. And we look at God as a killjoy because since He is in complete control of everything, He is responsible for the valley’s in our life. I have often wondered what God is thinking when we blame Him. I’m thinking something along the lines of “wait, how is this my fault? I never promised this path would be perfect.” Psalm 16:11 (AMP) says, “You will show me the path of life; in Your presence is fullness of joy,  at your right hand there are pleasures forevermore.” 

God is a loving Father who wants to fill our lives with extravagant joy. He wants us to dance and laugh and sing because we are happy – deep, down soul happy.  That doesn’t sound like a killjoy to me.

Discussion Questions:

1. What do you say when someone says that God is a killjoy?
2. What are the symptoms of joy in the life of a Christian?
3. What can we do this week to increase our joy in the Lord?