Happy Christmas and a Happy New Year

Wednesday, 01 December 2010 00:00

I am delighted that David Cameron has chosen to put happiness at the centre of the political agenda. It certainly makes a refreshing change. Governments normally seem to be obsessed with economic indicators and the unspoken assumption is that if people’s finances increase they are bound to be more satisfied and happy. But, as we all know, life isn’t like that.

The Office of National Statistics has, we are told, already started drawing up a list of questions which will be put to 200,000 families next year. The questions will seek to discover what are the main contributory factors to people’s well being and happiness. I can’t wait to see the questions! However, it seems clear that they will focus on relationships and spiritual awareness as well as issues such as employment, education and health.

I hope that the church won’t join the chorus of cynics on this initiative. It seems to me that it is a thoroughly good thing for the nation to reflect deeply on its life. We should warmly welcome an initiative which shines the light on the fabric of relationships that go together to make up the life of our society.

The church of Jesus Christ has some very distinctive things to contribute to the national conversation. In John chapter 15 Jesus declares that he came so that his joy might be in us, and our joy might be complete. Joy is, in many ways, a much richer word than happiness. I was always taught that happiness depends on something happening, whereas joy depends on a relationship. Jesus came to open the way for us into an eternal relationship with God. In the language of John chapter 15 Jesus is the vine and longs for his life and fruitfulness to flow through us, the branches.

The fact is that good education, health provision, roads, housing and employment can never give lasting satisfaction and happiness. They are all excellent things and should be applauded but they don’t have the power to give consistent satisfaction and happiness. But Jesus can, and we need to take every opportunity to declare this amazing truth.

I do hope that you will enjoy a wonderful Christmas. In our sad and cynical society people are still happy to sing carols and to give and receive Christmas presents. Let’s embrace the amazing opportunities which this season gives us for pointing people to the Lord Jesus Christ. And let’s pray that we and our nation will gain a new and deeper grasp of what makes for happiness in 2011.