God wants you to be happy. Pope Francis explains why

The fact that it’s controversial in some Christian circles to say God wants us to be happy is perhaps a sign of why our witness to the unchurched and de-churched world has so often been ineffective.

Many popular theological cliques - especially those with a preference for firmness - are wary (and often hostile) toward any vision of God or Christianity that appears ‘too soft’ on sin or indulgence. A legitimate concern that sin won’t be taken seriously can subtly morph into a suspicion of mercy itself. In our pursuit of truth, we can, if not careful, become reflexively suspicious of any Christian voice that affirms people and tells them they are loved. In our eagerness to remind the world that personal desires aren’t central to the universe, we risk becoming accidentally anti-grace.

Into this dogmatic culture - so popular among young Calvinists, conservative evangelicals, and hard-line traditionalists, enters Pope Francis, not with radical pluralism or infinite license, but with some old-fashioned Good News. The Pope wants you to be happy, because, he insists, God wants you to be happy. His “recipes” for happiness are a blend of comfort, grace, and reassuring orthodoxy.

That’s not to say the book will sit easily with all conservatives. Conservative Catholics may well find points to contest. Some Protestants might also be surprised to see this progressive Pope brush aside ritual and religious commitment in favour of merciful action. He asks whether we really think we can buy our way into the Kingdom through rituals alone. Yet the same Protestants might be equally challenged, horrified or potentially put off by the book’s more-than-occasional references to Mary the mother of Jesus, and the veneration Francis understandably holds for her.

It’s that rare thing: a book that isn’t scripture, but occasionally feels like it - rich with wisdom, dense with meaning, and simply written

All this is to say: I Want You to Be Happy (John Murray Press) is a interesting mix. At times, it’s traditional, orthodox (arguably even Orthodox), and socially conservative. At others, it’s progressive, gracious - even borderline mystical. If you can set aside the odd passage which is argubaly problematic, read on as there’s something not just agreeable but often profound waiting in the next paragraph.

It’s also denser than you might expect. With the tone and rhythm of Proverbs, it draws on scripture, centuries of Christian thought, and often ‘secular’ literature to make its points. Broken into bite-sized, digestible sections, it would work beautifully as a morning devotional, each entry inviting prayer or reflection on the spiritual and philosophical life.

It’s that rare thing: a book that isn’t scripture, but occasionally feels like it - rich with wisdom, dense with meaning, and simply written. There’s wisdom and common sense here too, as well as old-fashioned caution about the pace of social and technological change. But everything is measured and ultimately points back to Jesus, to scripture, and to the teachings of the Church.

Personally, I didn’t buy all of it. Maybe I’m too much of a Baptist at heart. But I rarely accept everything when a human being tries to present the things of God - and that’s ok by me. What I appreciated most was that this book doesn’t pander to any clique or sect. It simply offers one man’s perspective informed by faith, scripture, and the weight of his position on how to live a good life. Perhaps even more than a happy one.

Francis structures the book around themes such as happiness as a gift to give and receive, a revolutionary motivator, and an experience rooted in love and magnifying love. He opens with a pithy list of “15 steps to happiness,” including: “Look within… Do it with serenity,” and “Laugh at yourself! It will do you good.” 

Ultimately, this is a book of balance. Francis encourages us to dream big, but avoid seductive illusions, to go against the grain of popularity, but not do it alone. I Want You to be Happy reflects what should be the natural breadth of Christian thought - yet in our fractured world, it will likely be wilfully misunderstood by many. And that’s a shame. Because it’s helpful, and it’s beautiful.

I Want You to be Happy by Pope Francis is out now