Joy

Faith MattersPragmaticPhilosophical
Written By Edward Wolfe

I’m sometimes impressed by videos of Christian worship among African tribal people. The worshipers are so joyful, with laughing, clapping, singing, and dancing. The freedom, release, and jubilation of Christ is so obvious! I experienced this among people in China, too, and even in our home churches here the States. Jesus promised “life to the full” (John 10:10), and when we find Jesus and live according to his ways, we experience it. “I bring you good news,” the Christmas angel said, “that will cause great joy for all the people” (Luke 2:10).

From the first century until today, people who know Jesus find joy, even in severe circumstances. Christian joy is more than nice feelings. There’s something much deeper and even unshakeable about joy in Christ. Christian joy is dependent on faith and hope, not on circumstances which come and go. “I am greatly encouraged; in all our troubles my joy knows no bounds,” wrote the Apostle Paul (2 Corinthians 7:4). “I am greatly encouraged,” he wrote “In all our troubles my joy knows no bounds (2 Corinthians 8:2). “You became imitators of us and of the Lord, for you welcomed the message in the midst of severe suffering with the joy given by the Holy Spirit” (1 Thessalonians 1:6). “You suffered along with those in prison and joyfully accepted the confiscation of your property, because you knew that you yourselves had better and lasting possessions (Hebrews 10:34). Part of the fruit of the spirit is joy (Galatians 5:22). “Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds” (James 1:2).

Jesus himself modeled the kind of joy that cannot be contained by even the most dreadful circumstances. “For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God” (Hebrews 12:2).

While suffering and pain are real, requiring endurance, they are not the most fundamental reality. Life in Christ, ultimately, is a life of joy. “In this world you will have trouble,” Jesus said. “But take heart! I have overcome the world” (John 16:33).

No wonder the third candle of Advent is “Joy!”

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Edward Wolfe

Edward Wolfe has been a fan of Christian apologetics since his teenage years, when he began seriously to question the truth of the Bible and the reality of Jesus. About twenty years ago, he started noticing that Christian evidences roughly fell into five categories, the five featured on this website.
Although much of his professional life has been in Christian circles (12 years on the faculties of Pacific Christian College, now a part of Hope International University, and Manhattan Christian College and also 12 years at First Christian Church of Tempe), much of his professional life has been in public institutions (4 years at the University of Colorado and 19 years at Tempe Preparatory Academy).
His formal academic preparation has been in the field of music. His bachelor degree was in Church Music with a minor in Bible where he studied with Roger Koerner, Sue Magnusson, Russel Squire, and John Rowe; his master’s was in Choral Conducting where he studied with Howard Swan, Gordon Paine, and Roger Ardrey; and his doctorate was in Piano Performance, Pedagogy, and Literature, where he also studied group dynamics, humanistic psychology, and Gestalt theory with Guy Duckworth.
He and his wife Louise have four grown children and six grandchildren.

https://WolfeMusicEd.com
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Classical Christmas Music: Magnificat