Looks More Like a Puma

Hakuna Matata: What a wonderful phrase

Hakuna Matata: Ain’t no passin’ craze

It means no worries for the rest of your days

It’s our problem free philosophy

Hakuna Matata

-The Lion King

I say to you, do not be worried about your life, as to what you will eat or what you will drink; nor for your body, as to what you will put on.

-Matthew 6:25

When Jesus agrees with Timon and Pumba, clearly the key to happiness is at hand! No worries. Just let  your cares go and drift through life in indolent apathy. Right?

It should work. As long as you don’t have worries, you  won’t be worried about them. As long as you don’t have worries. Turns out - you actually do have to eat. And you actually do need clothing. And you do have innate responsibilities (like being king!). These things are unavoidable (remember, Simba didn’t run for office). This is by design. God could have made us not to need food, it would not have been difficult for Him. So why, if He doesn’t want us to be worried, does He  give us real things to be worried about?

Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.

Philippians 4:6-7

God-given concerns are an oppurtunity. A chance to depend on and trust in God - and then to glorify Him with thanksgiving when He proves faithful once again.

Do not get drunk with wine, for that is dissipation, but be filled with the Spirit, speaking to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody with your heart to the Lord;

-Ephesians 5:18-19

It should be noted that pretty much all the credit for this post goes to my friends Kevin, who had  the original idea, and Daniel, who brilliantly pushed the analogy to its breaking point.

Who would think to associate being filled with the Holy Spirit and drunkeness so closely as to mention them in the same breath? I certainly thought it was weird until I remembered that the two have been confused since Pentecost when some folks thought the Spirit-filled apostles were drunk (at which point Peter opened his first great evangelistic sermon by saying “We’re not drunk, it’s only 9 in the morning!”).

But what could we spiritual Christians possibly learn from drunkards? Consider this: Suppose I wake up in the  morning and it is my intention to spend to the entire day drunk. So naturally, I take a sip of a beer, say to myself, “that outta do it,” and go about my day. You can clearly see the result: mission failure! In order to get and stay plastered, I’m going to need to continuously consume a great quantity of alcohol. So how can I expect to be filled with the Spirit with only a minimal time investment?

So, if Christianity is like getting drunk; what does that make the church, a bar? Perhaps - there are certain similarities:

• Note that in bars, there are two kinds of people: committed drunkards and (shudder) social drinkers. These people have missed the point! They’re in an establishment dedicated to the consumption of alcohol and they come for the atmosphere. Or the food. Or to  meet their friends. What a waste of bar stools.
• Another consideration: snooty drinkers. All drinks are useful for the purposes of getting drunk, but these people obnoxiously insists on one particular drink. They’re more concerned about flavor than substance!
• And never forget that serious drinking is best done in groups so you can be continuously encouraging eachother and sharing the joy of your experiences.

Finally, a toast: To my Christian brothers and sisters - may you be filled with the Holy Spirit, even to (apparent) drunkeness!

Fine print: OBVIOUSLY this post is not intended condone being drunk. Neither is it intended to condemn drinking, incidentally.