Happiness or Holiness. What is your goal as a believer?

[righteousdude2]

It seems like today's church wants to teach and preach that God gave His only Son to make sure that whosoever believes has a "happy" life. But 1 Peter 1:16 seems to indicate that Holiness is what He demands from us.

So what do you believe. Happiness or Holiness? Is there a difference? Can a believer really follow God by running toward happiness, and avoiding Holiness, in order to avoid be seen as some kind of " Holier than thou" person, or even a Holy roller, or holy Joe? Has Holiness taken a back seat to Happiness in today's church?

 

[InTheLight]

So what do you believe. Happiness or Holiness?

I did not know they were mutually exclusive...

 

[Revmitchell]

I did not know they were mutually exclusive...

That was my first thought but I think what he means is some folks look at salvation as a means to make them ok with God so they can have that peace and have no desire to be like God.

They want the gift but not the giver of the gift.

They want fire insurance so that can pretty much go on living how they like.

 

[Baptist Believer]

It seems like today's church wants to teach and preach that God gave His only Son to make sure that whosoever believes has a "happy" life. But 1 Peter 1:16 seems to indicate that Holiness is what He demands from us.

So what do you believe. Happiness or Holiness? Is there a difference? Can a believer really follow God by running toward happiness, and avoiding Holiness, in order to avoid be seen as some kind of " Holier than thou" person, or even a Holy roller, or holy Joe? Has Holiness taken a back seat to Happiness in today's church?

Holiness is a means to happiness (actually, joy), but the unholy pursuit of happiness (as inscribed in the US Declaration of Independence) is the path to destruction.

 

[agedman]

Happiness is dependent upon what "happens."

We are to be joyful, and rejoice.

Joy is not dependent upon happenings, and is evidenced by Paul's statements of learning to be content no matter the situation or place.

The believer's chasing after happiness is (imo) an indication of the shallowness of the modern church teaching and the lack of experiential walk with Christ which includes that which would rob of the joy if it could.