doctrine of joy

It’s ironic.  I am a Christian, and yet I seem to lose what it means to represent Christ.  To elaborate, I know what pain is.  I know how to feel pain.  Struggle and strife are more than evident in peoples daily lives, so to understand what pain is is a normal phenomenon. 
However, when I think of the reciprocation and wrestle what it means to be joyous, I am at a loss.  I know how to be content.  Part of that stems from a survival technique of understanding how to cope with pain: “counting your blessings,” “things could be worse.”  Yet, joy?  What does it mean to be joyous?  I am at a loss and it’s ironic, since as a Christian, we should be overjoyed by God’s love for us.  We should be overjoyed that death does not have the last say.  We should be overjoyed that we do not walk alone.  Yet, the cognative comprehension of joy seems to evade my heart.  I don’t understand it.

Don’t get me wrong.  This does not lead me to the conclusion that Christianity is false doctrine.  That is far from the case.  Rather, maybe it’s because I have for so long focused and defended the faith and how it works with the physical attributes of this world—like dealing with the concept of suffering—that my idea of pain has integrated itself into my view of Christianity.  I have so often felt that “pain is a part of life,” “pain makes one stronger,” “we learn through pain.”  While these things are most defintiely true, it seems that I have raised pain on a high pedastal—possibly even to the extent that it diminishes what the Bible has to say about joy. 

Pain is a part of life.  True, but even the pagans could tell you that.  The gnostics create their doctrine because of this view of pain.  But how does that make me Christian?

Christians are supposed to have joy.  Christians are supposed to share joy.  Christians are supposed to shine their light to the world so that others may believe.  This doesn’t mean to dismiss suffering, but we should be constantly reminded that in the end, death has lost its sting.  Live a life of joy in God’s promises:  that’s what it means to be a Christian [at least one attribute].

I am glad a great friend of mine called me out on this issue.  Now, how to apply what is in the mind to action…

 

Oh Lord, teach me how to love. 
Remind me of yours joys that I may share them with the disheartened.
There is much that I do not understand, and maybe that is for the best
The Mystery
Teach me, o Father, how to live through pain in joy

Advertisement