The Pursuit of Happiness

One of the great achievements of the Reformation was to reintroduce the biblical understanding of the work of the Holy Ghost. Sadly, a biblical pneumatology has fallen to the wayside in churches across the spectrum. To combat this, it’s appropriate to consider the context of the fruit of the Spirit. The natural state of fallen man is a disposition toward self-righteousness and this has been solidified into the American experience through the inalienable right of the “pursuit of happiness.” Indeed, we learn from the fruit of the Spirit and others the divine definition of happiness: doing what is pleasing to God. This is why Paul calls these “fruit” and not “deeds.” The regenerated person, then, sees individual happiness not as an inalienable right, but rather the pursuit of what is pleasing to God is the right afforded to the believer. Galatians 5:16-26