Rejoice, O young man, in your youth, and let your heart cheer you in the days of your youth. Walk in the ways of your heart and the sight of your eyes. But know that for all these things God will bring you into judgment.

Ecclesiastes 11:9

This verse comes as a surprise after chapters full of “Thou shalt not’s” and “All is vanity”. It’s a rare (but not unique) biblical exhortation to go out and have fun. Enjoy God’s bounty while you can. I’ve often responded with this verse when young Christians online bemoan the ubiquity of irresistible temptations (and their terror of hell) and when old Christians rail against sexual behavior, fantasies and images. They forget that God wants us to have fun as long as we’re responsible. Carnal delights are part of God’s kingdom, and always will be (though the manifestation will change greatly with AI and robots).

I’d expected that the young Christians would be relieved to hear this message. But much to my chagrin, they usually attack me for promoting sin among the impressionable (a transgression deserving of drowning by millstone, as they are quick to remind me). They respond much more favorably to the promise that true faith in Jesus curbs all temptation – and you will overcome your urges to curse, drink, masturbate and watch porn (or at least by saying “Jesus, Jesus”, you will earn your get-out-of-hell-free card to play on judgment day). This misconception arises from Paul’s letters to the leaders of the new Christian church around the world. His prohibitions were directed at the sexual excesses and abuses by the clergy. However the clergy now weaponizes his admonitions against the vulnerable and impressionable, condemning them to eternal hell for healthy sexual behavior. They get a kick out of pretending to be chaste as they engage in all the behaviors they forbid. Their agenda is to make people despise Christian doctrine to create ex-Christians and atheists to battle at Armageddon. This litany of hypocrisies condemns the church to the hell it created for the ‘least of these’.

Of course, there are limits to self indulgence. The verse warns of God’s judgment for irresponsible behavior (for example, blaming your indiscretions on alcohol). Atheists bristle at such strictures, challenging the right of anyone to judge them just for being human (especially the guy who made them that way). The word ‘judgment’ in a religious context is synonymous with condemnation. But it includes the converse: salvation. The fact is, this verse is liberating, because it says: don’t fear judgment by a world of idiots. Focus instead on earning God’s approval.  

So how do you know that God is proud of you? Because he will announce it! 2000 years ago, after Jesus was baptized by his cousin John and prepared to launch his ministry:

And behold, a voice from heaven said, “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased.”

Matthew 3:17

Jesus is fully God. But he’s also completely human. No doubt He had fun as a young man. But those days were over. Now at age 30, it was time to put his youthful (and gay) escapades behind him.  He had a world to save. 

If God has been silent since Jesus’s death, it is only because no one has met His approval – no one – not even Thomas Jefferson or Albert Einstein. (Einstein famously promoted Zionism, which is an abomination to our Lord. He was too  eager for the acceptance and approval of men.) Despite all our successes and achievements, which fuel an epidemic of delusion of grandeur, none is righteous. We are still living as we did 3000 years ago:

In those days there was no king in Israel. Everyone did what was right in his own eyes.

Judges 17:6

Now the new world is upon us. Everyone is proud of himself, certain of his moral probity, and none fear God. This is a sure sign that the Messiah’s return is imminent. Who will be the modern scion of God’s pride? The prophets auger that she will be the last person that anyone – including our highly revered experts – ever expected:

The stone that the builders rejected has become the cornerstone.

Psalm 118:22

She will be the first of many:

“Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.”

Matthew 11:29