Comments on: Why do many Christians feel the need to differentiate joy and happiness?

By: Lue-Yee Tsang

Lue-Yee Tsang — Wed, 14 Oct 2009 12:38:14 +0000

The distinction, taken from C. S. Lewis, is often abused into a Gnostic distinction between earthly blessing and unearthly (that is, de-earthed) ecstasy. And then we take James as speaking primarily of a Buddhist-like detachment in perspective that will get us to not view suffering as suffering.

Rubbish. We believe in real and substantial hope on earth as it is in heaven, not dead faith’s change of perspective. We believe the Beatitudes are objectively true, not subjectively to be discovered in the mind.

By: Justin Long

Justin Long — Mon, 12 Oct 2009 13:30:48 +0000

Myrddin, +1. I think it’s probably because we like to distinguish between short-term (happiness) and long-term (joy), or between something caused by an event (happiness) and an attitude (joy) or a character trait. But for me it’s mostly, like Myrddin says, because of CS Lewis’ writing on the subject.

By: Vanessa

Vanessa — Mon, 12 Oct 2009 02:26:46 +0000

I don’t differentiate. I don’t think scripture does either, so why try to pull at the edges of language to make a distinction that isn’t there?

I wonder if rather than pulling at the meaning of the words, it might be more helpful to make the distinction of what you are finding happiness or joy in. Happiness/Joy in God lasts, happiness/joy in stuff and circumstances doesn’t…

By: Timmy Tuber

Timmy Tuber — Sun, 11 Oct 2009 19:40:56 +0000

“Joy is…long suffering,” well said.

By: Lance

Lance — Sun, 11 Oct 2009 19:22:32 +0000

It’s important to do that because we need to distinguish the eternal from the temporary. But it often feels irrelevant because much of the world doesn’t get this “joy” we speak about, until people come to Christ.

By: Myrddin

Myrddin — Sun, 11 Oct 2009 02:47:04 +0000

One word: C.S. Lewis

By: ED... (who blogs at Sincere Ignorance and Conscientious Stupidity)

ED... (who blogs at Sincere Ignorance and Conscientious Stupidity) — Sat, 10 Oct 2009 09:13:52 +0000

“Joy” is a christianese word that you won’t find outside of churches except rarely. Outside churches people talk about enjoyment or enjoying, which, though it is of the same root, means something a bit different. Linguistic inauthenticity, brother Piper, from the community that turned fellowship into a verb?

By: SharonAbelle

SharonAbelle — Fri, 09 Oct 2009 22:49:54 +0000

What is the “need” driving such distinction-making? Either uncertainty about what a particular useage is (and scared to death of “misusing” Scripture) or desiring to impress and use something learned in Vine’s yesterday.

By: carissa

carissa — Fri, 09 Oct 2009 22:30:46 +0000

maybe it’s because non-Christians don’t seem to use the word “joy” much anymore. when they do, it’s usually describing pure childlike delight, or maybe a sublime/near-spiritual concert experience.

to some extent, i think it is an “artificial” distinction to make, for the reasons you stated, Abraham. however, it MAY be, as C.S. Lewis showed, pedantically useful to co-opt similar terms in the language and give them your own shades of meaning because you’re trying to make a conceptual distinction. i don’t KNOW that labeling concepts with a single word helps people conceptualize better, but it’s a rhetorical device used so often that maybe it does work.

By: David M

David M — Fri, 09 Oct 2009 21:50:55 +0000

My church differentiates between them, saying that happiness is temporary and joy is eternal. Happiness is usually uncontrolled and often rooted in sin. Joy is usually sober and peaceful… I don’t see any real Biblical basis for this, though.

I think we should just distinguish between deadly pleasure/happiness/joy and holy or godly pleasure/happiness/joy. Or… joy found in anything other than God, and joy found in God.