KBC Community Study of "The Christian's Secret to a Happy Life"

Chapter One 

A keen observer once said to me, "You Christians seem to have a religion that makes you miserable. You are like a man with a headache. He does not want to get rid of his head, but it hurts him to keep it. You cannot expect outsiders to seek very earnestly for anything so uncomfortable!" p. 11

Hannah Whitall Smith makes the point from the onset that her book will be more of a study for application rather than a study for increased theological indoctrination. Her concern or motivation for writing was that many in the church of her era were experiencing a Christian life that was characterized more by defeat from sin than victory over it. 

I believe that Smith’s attempt is to encourage those who are in Christ and yet struggle with defeat, discouragement, or depression so that they can see there is a way out to victory, boldness, and joy. Be careful not to hear that “those in Christ can attain a sinless state of perfection”; she does not say that. But she is saying that if a believer is rationalizing sin’s presence in their life they are giving power to the devil to have victory over God and the ability to upend His promises. 

"Would you approve of it if I should tell you that God puts forth His power to do such a thing, but the devil hinders Him? That it is impossible for God to do it, because the devil does not like it? That it is impossible that anyone should be free from sin, because the devil hath got such a power in them that God cannot cast him out? p. 18 

The victorious life in Christ is not something we are promised for tomorrow—it is a present-day gift for followers of Christ. However, Smith proposes that many seemed to be living as if victory was unattainable in the present within the church of her generation. I believe, just as Hannah Smith believed, that this study is just as relevant for us in the church today. So, over the next 5 months, I’d like to invite the KBC faith community on a weekly journey, reading one chapter a week. I’ll send out some thoughts and questions with which we can interact. 

 Join me in this journey toward victory. 

THOUGHTS AND QUESTIONS FOR INTERACTION 

• Look up and read the Scriptures that Smith mentioned in this first chapter. What do they say about the present-day experience of the believer’s victory? 

 1st John 3:1–10, Luke 1:67–79 (especially 74–75), Acts 3:17–26, Ephesians 4:17–24  

* If you want to dig deeper, the author cited more passages in the chapter.

• What are two or three sins or the roots of defeat, discouragement and/or depression in your heart? 

• What has your attitude toward these sins been? 

Passive? Aggressive? Peaceful? Resentment towards God, the church, or others? 

• According to what you’ve read, what does God's Word say specifically about your struggles and sins?