First Congregational United Church of Christ – Eugene, Oregon

FOUNDATIONS OF FAITH An Adult Class on Christian Meanings Session X - “Joy”

The word joy, along with its derivatives, is found in both the Old and New Testaments with Hebrew roots being found in twenty-seven different words. The root that appears most frequently is connected with tumultuous group expression, such as dancing, clapping, or stamping of feet, and with the sounds of loud voices, singing, or musical instruments. Throughout the Bible it is described as an integral part of one’s relationship to God which arises “in the power of the Holy Spirit,” the fullness of which is realized only beyond this life in the fullness of salvation. The one real difference between the Old and New Testaments, however, is that the New Testament writers also speak of “joy in suffering” as well as in salvation. Today, modern dictionaries define joy as “pleasurable emotion due to well- being or satisfaction; the feeling or state of being highly pleased; exaltation, gladness, delight.” In the Bible, joy is God’s gift that arises out of a deep relationship with God in Christ, even when we experience pain, suffering and loss. Today we think of joy more as “rejoicing in ourselves,” making the “joy” referenced in the scriptures radically different from the “happiness” we do or do not experience today. Joy is often more difficult to talk about than pain or sadness. It seems we have more words for sickness than for health, more for abnormal conditions than for normal conditions. Does this mean there is less joy in life than sadness? Perhaps. But it is also possible that joy is a deeper, more intimate, more “normal” condition that sadness and pain, and therefore harder to articulate. According to Henri Nouwen, a Dutch-Catholic theologian: “For Jesus, joy is clearly a deeper and more truthful state of life than sorrow. He promises joy as the sign of new life: ‘You will be sorrowful, but your sorrow will turn to Joy…and that joy no one shall take from you’ (John 16:20-22). ‘Remain in my love…so that my own joy may be in you and your joy may be complete’” (John 15:9, 11). Nouwen also suggests that the opposite of joy is not sorrow, but fear—fear of life and everything in it. The word “ecstasy” may help us to understand more fully the joy that Jesus offers. It comes from the Greek ekstasis, which in turn is derived from ek, “out,” and stasis, a state of “standstill.” To be ecstatic, therefore, literally means to be outside of a static place. Thus those who live ecstatic lives are always moving away from rigidly fixed situations and exploring new, unmapped dimensions of reality. There can be old pain, old grief, and old sorrow, but there can never be old joy! Joy is always new. Therefore, living in the of God is living in a state of constant ecstasy where we experience the joy of being alive. First Congregational United Church of Christ – Eugene, Oregon

FOCUS QUESTIONS:

1. How would you describe your own experience of joy? What were the causes? How did you feel? What did you do? 2. Henri Nouwen suggests that the opposite of joy is not sorrow, but fear. Can you identify a time when that was or was not true for you? Why would fear drive out joy? 3. The word “ecstasy” literally means to be outside of a static place. The word “exit” over a door leading out of a fixed place is an illustration. Have you ever felt “ecstatic”? Why, where, when? 4. Talk about the statement that “there can be old pain, old grief, and old sorrow, but there can never be old joy! Joy is always new.” Do you agree or disagree. Why? 5. Have you ever witnessed or experienced a state of ecstatic joy at First Congregational Church? When? What was the occasion? How did it affect you?