Rediscovering Joy: Addressing a Critical Need in Today’s Church

I'd characterize things somewhat differently than does the writer, as a matter of tiredness rather than lack of joy or despair, but I think he's got a great point. There are times when believers make themselves ineffective by going after every little conspiracy theory out there (this was especially the case with COVID), then they start attacking people who don't believe that theory, and all of a sudden, the entire church is tired and joyless.

And then couple that with something I've seen too much; pastors addressing the issue of joy more or less the way Stimpy deals with Ren's sadness on "The Ren & Stimpy Show", by dragging out the "Happy Happy Joy Joy" song and insisting that Ren sing and dance along with it. Of course, real joy comes from the inner realities of the faith--we need a lot more of that.