Joy is radical resistance

By Pastor Chris Hagen

Joy is radical resistance. That is wisdom from Imani Perry in her book, Breathe: A Letter to My Sons. (I have not yet read the book, but draw from reviews.) In a world that seems falling apart, where opportunities to flourish are snatched away, when dreams are cruel promises never to be achieved, what shall keep us from deadly despair?
 
“How do you become in a world bent on you not being and not becoming?” she writes. Joy is irrational art, not negating pain but drawing through suffering and resisting rage to declare a different truth.
 
The Apostle Paul wrote a Letter to the Philippians while he was in prison, awaiting trial and facing death. It is a letter of compassion and hope. Following an introduction describing his dire circumstance he writes, “Yes, and I shall rejoice!” (Philippians 1:19). It is radical resistance. It is resistance to despair that draws on confidence in God and in truth.
 
An Afro-American spiritual sings such resistance. “I’m so glad, Jesus lifted me…” Call and response with congregation singing “Jesus lifted me,” it drives home hope that bursts “Glory, Hallelujah! Jesus lifted me.” “Satan had me bound” has different meaning depending on which side of color one lives. White privilege emphasizes personal moral responsibility, so Satan’s bondage is personal sin. But Satan for another side is the evil of oppression.
 
Joy is radical resistance to bombarding messages of conflict, violence, destruction, pandemic and injustice.
 
I’m so glad, Jesus lifted me
I’m so glad, Jesus lifted me
I’m so glad, Jesus lifted me
Singing, Glory, Hallelujah! Jesus lifted me
 
Satan had me bound, Jesus lifted me
Satan had me bound, Jesus lifted me
Satan had me bound, Jesus lifted me
Singing, Glory, Hallelujah! Jesus lifted me
 
When I was in trouble, Jesus lifted me
When I was in trouble, Jesus lifted me
When I was in trouble, Jesus lifted me
Singing, Glory, Hallelujah! Jesus lifted me

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