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People in the world have the mistaken idea that
Christians don't have fun.
Preparing to write this article, I did some
research that led me to a couple of YouTube videos.
One was of a guy mockingly pretending to count
ants for fun, among other things, as a Christian.
And another video was of a woman trying to live
as a Christian for a few days who was bored, having
stopped smoking, drinking, watching television,
and reading books.
Fun Defined
Like many words, "fun" is used in a number of
ways, but here are some common uses of the word
that are applicable to our study.
As a noun, the word "fun" denotes "a source
of enjoyment, amusement, or pleasure" (The American
Heritage Dictionary of the English Language,
Fourth Edition, 2009).
Likewise, "fun" as an adjective describes that
which is enjoyable or pleasurable.
Different Activities are Fun for Different
People
In general, the things we enjoy and find pleasurable
are fun. Since people find different things enjoyable,
they differ in their view of what is fun.
For example, I imagine there are people who
think it's fun to climb Mount Everest because
they enjoy it. But I don't enjoy climbing a mountain,
and don't consider it to be fun.
Christians Different From Unbelievers
Christians are different from unbelievers, so
our idea of fun is different.
- "Do not be bound together with unbelievers;
for what partnership have righteousness and
lawlessness, or what fellowship has light with
darkness? Or what harmony has Christ with Belial,
or what has a believer in common with an unbeliever?
Or what agreement has the temple of God with
idols? For we are the temple of the living God;
just as God said, "I will dwell in them and
walk among them; and I will be their God, and
they shall be My people. Therefore, come
out from their midst and be separate," says
the Lord. "And do not touch what is unclean;
and I will welcome you" (2 Cor. 6:14-17).
For example, the rich man who planned to tear
down his barns and build larger ones so he could
take his ease, eat, drink and be merry for many
years had a different view of fun than Jesus'
disciples. His idea of fun resulted in his soul
being required of him that very night, as one
who wasn't rich toward God.
As Christians, things we find joyful and pleasurable
are different from people of the world. The things
that are fun to us are often not fun to them,
and the things that are fun to them are often
not fun to us.
Christians Don't Think Sin is Fun
"Fun" denotes that which is enjoyable or pleasurable.
"Fun" as it relates to worldly behaviors like
drug abuse, alcoholism, and promiscuity results
in a very un-fun life. These behaviors
often result in financial ruin, physical and mental
abuse, broken homes, and incurable disease. They
not only affect the person engaging in the behavior,
but also people associated with them (Rom. 1:18-32;
2 Pet. 2:20-22).
Satan deceives people into believing sinful
behaviors are enjoyable (i.e., fun), thus enslaving
them to sin, and resulting in destructive activities.
"Jesus answered them, 'Truly, truly, I say to
you, everyone who commits sin is the slave
of sin'" (Jn. 8:34).
As Christians, we train ourselves with God's
word to think differently (Rom. 12:1-2; Col. 3:10).
We abhor evil and cling to what is good (Rom.
12:9). We are virtuous, and partakers of God's
divine nature (2 Pet. 1:4-5). We don't think sin
is fun, except in cases when we mistakenly turn
away from God and give ourselves over to sinful
desires (1 Jn. 2:15-16).
Watch What You Say
Now for a brief warning regarding a phrase I've
heard among Christians that goes like this, "If
sin isn't fun, you're not doing it right."
In one way, I know what is meant by this phrase.
But, we have to be careful and make sure we're
understood. We don't want people to get the impression
we think sin is fun, because we don't.
Since we abhor evil, sin is detestable and certainly
not fun.
Maybe a better phrase would be, "If you're a
Christian, sin isn't fun!"
Christians Have More Fun
As we conclude this study, I want to suggest that
Christians have more fun. We have more fun than
we would have as unbelievers, and we have more
fun than people in the world who aren't in Christ.
We rejoice all the time, consider it all joy
when we encounter trials, have the peace of God
that surpasses all understanding, and can do all
things through Christ Jesus who strengthens us
(Phil. 4:4, 7, 13; Jas. 1:2).
Besides this, we have God's promise for the
present life and also for the life to come (1
Tim. 4:8). The promise for this life is to have
the best possible life while living as a child
of God (Eph. 6:3). And the promise for the life
to come is eternal life (1 Jn. 2:25).
What can bring a person more joy than serving
God on earth, and being with Him for eternity
in heaven? Nothing.
Truly, Christians have more fun.
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