What does it mean to enjoy God?
Lamb Chopped
Shipmate
in Purgatory
Yes, it's a weird question. Someone I know in real life had a dream in which she asked God what to do with her newly free time, and got told to enjoy him. So she says, anyway. Any ideas?
Comments
Q. 1. What is the chief end of man?
A. Man’s chief end is to glorify God, and to enjoy him forever.
I don’t have an answer to what “enjoy” means here, but maybe others do.
On the other hand, enjoying the Presence of pure justice and holiness is pretty daunting if not terrifying. I don't even try to make sense of the contrast. She is who She will be. If Moses couldn't fully grasp that experience, let alone articulate it, I don't think I'll be any better.
I think that others might find rituals the way to go.
I certainly find festivals a way of enjoying God. I am looking forward to celebrating the first birthday of our grandchild at the Hamamatsu Kite Festival in May.
I know my Mother really enjoyed her only grandchild.
Three ways I do this spread over Sunday and Monday:
I go to Mass on Sunday evening and while that is also God focused, I am sacristan and often also church focused and task orientated. The three above are outside that mode so I am free to relax in God's presence. Hence the walk on the Monday though that would continue if I was just at worship on the Sunday.
But otherwise as said above I suppose the route to loving and therefore enjoying God is through loving and therefore disinterestedly enjoying one's neighbour or creation.
When I’m back home from my travels (which is tomorrow), I’ll weigh in more.
Listens to Bach ..... the Angels listen to Mozart.
The devils, of course, are made to listen to Barry Manilow.
I wonder whether 'enjoy' had a different or deeper meaning back in the 17th century, rather in the way that 'charity' does in 1 Corinthians 13 in the Authorised or King James Version?
FWIW I find I enjoy fellowship with other Christians (of all stripes) and particular hymns, practices and festivals.
On occasion 'my heart is strangely warmed' to borrow John Wesley's phrase. At other times 'the heavens are as brass.'
I love all the aesthetic side of the faith too, the icons and the religious paintings, poetry and architecture and so on.
I also like hearing how you guys roll with it all too.
Wherever that place of joy, that glimpse of joy, is for you, cherish it. I believe it is a glimpse of what is to come.
—C.S. Lewis
I love this simple but very thought-provoking dream. Whatever "enjoy" meant in the catechism, this dreamer heard this word, or received this idea, in our own time, with its meaning now. It's strange how so much about the Christianity many of us grew up in was guilt-inducing, much more about sin than about joy. Yet when you read Christ's actual words, the joy and the assurance of God's love was at least as important. I'm currently reading Richard Rohr's The Universal Christ which is about this and more—of course these are not new thoughts, but he expresses them in interesting ways....
Hard to describe in words. Often happens in Church, simply because that's often the only time I sit quietly.
To see that ALL THINGS are made by God. And if that means moshing with a metal band (yeah) that is good, if it is what you enjoy. It means letting go of the restrictions that so many put on us. It might mean skipping church on Sunday morning because staying in bed is for nicer.
It may be all sort of things. It means, I think, enjoying yourself in the wonder of creation. So many people of faith seem to be so fucking miserable. Seem to want to extract any joy people may ever have. Like some politicians as well, because they all share a politically right-wing, authoritarian belief system.
The more people who think you are weird, the more likely you are to be doing something that is authentically you.
'Love God and do what you will.'
Which can be understood to mean that if we love God then however we 'enjoy ourselves' then we will do so in accordance with his will - rather than being all 'antinominian' and doing whatever the heck we like irrespective of its impact on other people.
I can't say that I've noticed that Christians - of whatever tradition - are particularly miserable.
Perhaps I've been fortunate but other than a small number of ultra-Puritanical types I can't say that any Christians I've met have been kill-joys or misery-guts-es.
Most Christians I know from whatever church background have a kind of quiet and authentic joy about them.
That doesn't mean they don't hsve 'off days' or are smiling all the time - what we used to call 'SWEG' back in my Christian Union days - Sickly Wet Evangelical Grin.
But I can honestly say that from the Open Brethren through the Baptists, URC, Methodist, Salvation Army, Pentecostals, 'new church' non-denominational people, Anglicans of all stripes, RCs and Orthodox, I can't say that I've met many Christians who fit the kill-joy misery-guts stereotype.
Quite the opposite in fact.
So, under that old meaning, arguably the sense is that our “chief end” is to give pleasure to God, to cause God’s joy.
I’d also note the older legal meaning of enjoy, often with regard to property, which means to have the use of. In that sense, it might be said that it’s our chief end to participate in and have full benefit of God’s divine nature.
Personally, I’m comfortable with all of these meanings coming into play—bringing joy to God, taking joy in God and in the gifts of God, and participating in the divine. I always hear echoes of the psalms in “Man’s chief end is to glorify God and enjoy him forever,” such as: “O be joyful in the Lord all the earth! Serve the Lord with gladness!”
Or Jesus, of course: “I have said these things to you so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete.” (John 15:11)
Yes, I was going to mention that, though I should have known you’d beat me to it.
I can often take or leave CSL, but I do love this quote, though I prefer the more complete quote, for context: Letters to Malcolm: Chiefly on Prayer (1963), chapter 17.
This resonates with my understanding, as one who was raised on the Westminster Confession and catechisms, of joy with God being what we were created for.
I'd add the caveat that @Nick Tamen has articulated, that it isn't about frivolity - which doesn't mean things can't be fun - but to 'glorify God in all things.'
Whatever we do, do it as unto the Lord, as it were.
I think Nick Tamen's latest post was spot-on by the way, and I'd like to cut it out and keep it ...
So, if your friend likes painting water-colours then let her do so to 'enjoy' - to give joy to - God by using her God given gift.
If she enjoys showing hospitality to people or helping them solve problems or whatever else, let her do that.
I'm reminded of the line in the 1980s film Chariots of Fire where the Scottish missionary Eric Liddell, member of a 1920s British Olympic team says, 'God made me fast and when I run I feel his pleasure.'
Your friend will know where her talents lie. Rather than bury them she can use them to God's glory.
There's an Orthodox prayer for use before commencing any task that asks God that whatever we undertake to do would not only be for our own benefit but for the benefit of others.
Even though there may be no immediate or obvious communal benefit if your friend uses her gifts wisely then God is glorified and everyone gains.
I am reminded of what Frederick Buechner said: “The place God calls you to is the place where your deep gladness and the world’s deep hunger meet.” The questions your friend might ponder are what is the thing/are the things that bring her deep gladness—i.e., joy—and how might she do that thing/those things in a way that meets the real needs of those around her? My hunch is that if she can answer those questions, she might also find what it means for her to “enjoy God.”
So God is enjoying us, and we are enjoying Him; which sounds like a very appropriate thing for a Bridegroom and Bride to do.
I gather the dream was a bit of a shock to my friend; she tends to be a bit... well, overly conscientious sometimes? Getting commanded to enjoy God was unexpected. I'm sure she'll appreciate all your insights!
That said, I do rather suspect that the Westminster confession uses “enjoy“, as others have said above, more in the sense of “to have the use or benefit of” as in, e.g., enjoys the protection of the law than about how I might feel about eating a Magnum ice cream.
(Actually I think Lewis argues that all pleasure comes as a gift from God, but develops it further in relation to, for want of a better term, licit or illicit enjoyment.)
An action list for your Friend:
Do something spiritual. Whatever that means for her: attending public worship, going to a good Bible study, praying, meditating. If she doesn't know how to pray or meditate, teach her or help her find a teacher. Whatever it is, best to make it a regular habit, even if it feels weird at first. Whatever the practice is, it should be a good fit for her in terms of getting to know God better and enjoy God.
Do something ethical. Volunteer regularly, in whatever way fits her. ISTM scripture is pretty clear that what gives God joy is caring for the least of these. However she construes that and does that is, to me, a necessary component in giving God joy.
Do something physical. Yeah, really. Whatever regular physical activity fits her body and lifestyle, do that. Shake what your Creator gave ya! Seriously, engaging in regular physical activity - of whatever kind is appropriate - helps take the Incarnation seriously. God seems to be very fond of the human body as a mean of living God's will on earth. Jesus thumped around in a human body. Care for the gift, as possible.
Go to places where you are likely to experience joy. Gardens, concerts, galleries, whatever works. In terms of finding joy, "fish where the fish are." I can't say what that is for your friend, but she can figure that out.
May be worth reflecting on Luther's advice to the shoemaker who wanted to serve God, namely "Make a good shoe and sell it for a fair price", given the gifts your friend has, what does that look like for her?
I also like this quote from Screwtape Letters: "He has filled His world full of pleasures. There are things for humans to do all day long without His minding in the least — sleeping, washing, eating, drinking, making love, playing, praying, working"
Now you do!
https://www.oed.com/?tl=true
Oh, I don’t either, but you can still use it somewhat. I wish it was wholly free.
That was what I was trying to capture in my early post about Handel’s Messiah. There are experiences in this life which make my soul sing. I think they are all glimpses of the joy set before us.
And what @Leaf said.