1-27-14 <\/p>\n
There is a difference between happiness and joy, and the difference is not just one of grammar or philology, but of theology \u2013 that is, the nuances can hold lessons for our lives. At the least, let us consider the two words and take away some things that we might pass on to others, or remember ourselves in future reading or conversations.<\/p>\n
The real distinction can, \u201cunhappily,\u201d be a bit frustrating to ascertain, as dictionaries these days tend to be sloppy. Too many dictionaries help us this way: \u201cHappiness, n. The state of being happy.\u201d And \u201cJoy, n. The emotional result of being joyful or cheerful.\u201d These should be moved in such dictionaries to the \u201cD\u201d section\u2026 for \u201cDuh.\u201d<\/p>\n
Dictionaries I consulted helped when synonyms for Happiness included Bliss, Blessedness, and Bliss (in other words, an emotion on the path to Joy). A definition for Joy I found wrote, \u201cA feeling of extreme happiness\u201d (also holding happiness relatively subordinate). So\u2026 general consensus is that Joy is the superior state of emotion.<\/p>\n
Years ago my daughter Emily had the insight that Joy (her middle name, by the way) corresponds to spiritual matters; and Happiness \u2013 no matter how extreme or elevated \u2013 is a human emotion related to our worldly, temporal, and indeed temporary pleasure. No matter how valuable: contentment, satisfaction, gratification.<\/p>\n
To further validate the primacy of Joy, we recall some Bible verses: <\/p>\n
\u201cI tell you that in the same way, there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who need no repentance\u201d (Luke 15:7). Not mere \u201chappiness\u201d in Heaven; it falls short of Joy. <\/p>\n
James 1:2-4 says, \u201cConsider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance.\u201d Here is an example of Joy being more mature, more efficacious, than mere Happiness.<\/p>\n
And finally the most familiar Bible verse about Joy: \u201cThe joy of the Lord is your strength\u201d (Nehemiah 8:10). We recall, too, the admonition to \u201cmake a joyful noise unto the Lord\u201d; \u201chappy noise\u201d would sound very superficial!<\/p>\n
In America\u2019s civic life we recall that the Founders proclaimed \u201clife, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness\u201d as a right. Later politicians elevated \u201chappiness\u201d alone as a right, not the freedom to \u201cpursue\u201d happiness. A tremendous difference, since governments have taken to defining the meaning of happiness. Even more egregious, re-calibrating a Happiness Meter for its citizens, and announcing why everyone should be resentful of their lot.<\/p>\n
So Happiness has become the secularists\u2019 Holy Word. <\/p>\n
Whittaker Chambers once wrote about this attitude adjustment: \u201cThe rub is that the pursuit of happiness, as an end in itself, tends automatically, and widely, to be replaced by the pursuit of pleasure with a consequent general softening of the fibers of will, intelligence, spirit.\u201d Too true\u2026 and another example of the fact that if lines are being blurred between church and state, the guiltier party is the government, usurping the prerogatives, outreach, and role, of established religion.<\/p>\n
(Actually. A point of clarification. This can go on for longer than a blog message in itself, but for the record: I often think that “established religion” has been a major enemy of God’s heart and humankind’s souls. Not always, but often. Better we should seek personal relationships with Christ than with “Organized Religions.” Just sayin’… this is what I meant.)<\/p>\n
The phrase \u201cpursuit of happiness\u201d has become a part of everyday discourse. In the same manner, many recognize the strains of Beethoven\u2019s great \u201cOde to Joy\u201d without knowing its meaning \u2013 or understanding the words, as it is Friedrich Schiller\u2019s German poem set to music. In today\u2019s little lesson, these words can inspire us. They remind us that Beethoven was a profound Christian, in a direct line from Johanes Kepler (not a composer but subscribing to the Pythagorean theory of \u201cmusic of the spheres,\u201d and Plato, who saw musical harmony as a reflection of heavenly perfection) in his \u201cHarmony of the World” (1619). Enter the Enlightenment!<\/p>\n
Today, schools teach that the Enlightenment was when smart guys threw off the shackles of religion and superstition, and let Reason illuminate mankind\u2019s affairs. This was not so. Kepler, a skeptic about church laws that persecuted Copernicus, was nevertheless a believer, a bit of a Christian mystic. He devoted himself to seeing how mathematics and science proved God\u2019s existence. The same with Isaac Newton. And, on the continent at the time, the musical scientist, Bach. After him, Haydn and Mozart, profound Christians\u2026 and Beethoven, whose ego was astride everything he surveyed, except Christianity: he was a humble believer.<\/p>\n
Here, some of Schiller\u2019s \u201cOde to Joy\u201d that Beethoven chose for the chorus to sing in his revolutionary Ninth Symphony. Take joy from the words!<\/p>\n
And \u2013 to drive home my modest points in full blast-furnace fashion \u2013 try to click on this video clip. This performance is by a Japanese ensemble in an outdoor stadium. Not counting the audience, you will see 10,000 singers and musicians joining, in German, in a scale the composer would have relished, to transmit Beethoven\u2019s genius\u2026 Schiller\u2019s thoughts\u2026 and powerful reminders of the Joy of the Lord. <\/p>\n
Do you fall down, you millions? Do you sense the Creator, world?
\nSeek Him above the starry canopy, Above the stars He must live. <\/p>\n
Joy is the name of the strong spring In eternal nature.
\nJoy, joy drives the wheels In the great clock of worlds.<\/p>\n
Escape the tyrants\u2019 chains, Generosity also to the villain,
\nHope upon the deathbeds, Mercy from the high court!
\nThe dead, too, shall live!<\/p>\n
Brothers, drink and chime in, All sinners shall be forgiven,
\nAnd hell shall be no more.<\/p>\n
A serene departing hour! Sweet sleep in the shroud!
\nBrothers\u2014a mild sentence From the final judge!<\/p>\n
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