Stoicism believes in “thou shalt nots”: It is against carousing and indulgence, against undue delight in pleasure, against extravagances. If you asked the average man on the street what they thought of Christianity, they would likely codify it in similar terms. “They are haters, they are against this, they think that is wrong”—and perhaps our prohibitions should emerge to the forefront in a world that is so lawless. But at its core, for those who taste and see, Christianity is not a negative philosophy of “Nos” and “Not that’s”, but an expanse of life and pleasure beyond our deepest longings.

One of my favorite qualities about myself is my ability to “get through things.” It may run on the Harris side, but regardless, it consists of being able to disengage my emotions when I have to get through something. And I do not mean anything traumatic, only the stuff of normal life.

One example is a job I had for a few years which was not only monotonous and unfulfilling, but looking back I believe I was truly unnecessary to the team. I was not being used anywhere near what I judged my potential to be, and the work I did was almost entirely nonessential. My leadership was not utilizing the data I produced, and if I was to go missing for a week or a month I am certain no one would have been the worse for it. But, true to form, I held on to that job for a few years because, well, it was a job! Jobs are not held for the fulfillment they provide but for the money and my young family needed the money; and I cannot help but look back on that with a little pride. I did what I had to do and I got through it: “Huzzah!”

Another example may be fatherhood. Having kids is a great joy but (there is always a but) three kids under four years old requires some serious cutbacks elsewhere in life. I have had to change entire habits, routines, ministries, and hobbies. Hunting and fishing are activities I now do only in my dreams, and that when I sleep! Even personal time and reading has taken a significant hit. So at 3:30 AM several mornings ago, when I held my crying 6 month old, I dug deep and got through it because I had no choice. It is my duty to get through it. So I did.

To some extent I share a natural affinity to the ancient stoic. While the Epicureans ate, drank, and made merry, the stoics embraced a more narrow rule. Through discipline and resolve they mastered the ability to clench their teeth, wrinkle their brow, and suffer through the toils of life. They devoted themselves to virtue and shunned the gluttonous pleasures the hedonistic majority enjoyed. There is a curious appeal to such a code: to the ability to do without things, to live lean, to put on a smile and drink the hemlock allotted to you. Even so it is a pagan philosophy that comes with great danger, and as a pagan philosophy it has no business being married with the life and philosophy of a Christian.

I freely admit there is nothing wrong with getting through certain challenges even in the Christian life. We do not always feel like reading the Bible or singing in church or being kind to one another. The reality is things often are not going as well as they could be, and the Christian’s duty to remain faithful to the Lord remains whether he feels like it or not.

Read More