Having Fun?

Do you have a habit that haunts you? This summer I began what I thought would be a simple campaign to eliminate the word 'fun' from my vocabulary. The root of this undertaking lies with my mild irritation concerning church programs that are promoted with the promise of fun for all. Convincing the flock that the activities, meals and even the fellowship would be fun, seemed to be the task at hand. Initially I was exasperated because choice times of digging deeply into God's Word, experiencing profound spiritual awakenings, or wrestling with grave spiritual issues does not seem to be enough reason for the gathering of the saints. When did fun become the goal? Who benefits when our goal is fun?

As I mulled this over, I was startled to discover just how often we use fun as the purpose for an activity. Whether it is church events, learning a new skill, or activities with others, having fun seems to be the universal objective. Even curriculum vendors are getting on the bandwagon by claiming their program is more fun than any other.

So, I have been working on eliminating that word from my vocabulary, but it is hard. When I reply, "That would be fun," to an activity someone is involved in, I am affirming the value of the activity, based on its self-indulgent pull. If the last words our children hear as they leave for work at the warehouse or to do farm chores is "Have fun," I am agreeing that that is why we should do what we do. And if the first question when they would return from non-family activity is, "Did you have fun?" I am encouraging the idea that if an activity was not fun, it has diminished value.

What do you do if you discover that fun has been your family goal? What should your family goal be? Listen to these words from A.W Tozier: "No man should desire to be happy who is not at the same time holy. He should spend his efforts in seeking to know and do the will of God, leaving to God the matter of how happy he shall be. For those who take this whole thing seriously, I have a suggestion: Go to God and have an understanding. Tell Him that it is your desire to be holy at any cost, and then ask Him never to give you more happiness than holiness. When your holiness becomes tarnished, let your joy become dim. And ask Him to make you Holy, whether you are happy or not. Be assured that in the end you will be as happy as you are holy."

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