The connection of Joy and the Reformed tradition.

The pondering of this topic sprung from two later to be mentioned works, one was a history of alcohol in the Church, the other has been Piper's "The Pleasures of God." Both are excellent, but something struck me over the summer as I read the texts on drinking for a paper for class, and has been reaffirmed by reading some Piper works and listening to sermons. This is probably my admission to being a Christian Hedonist. Also I recommend reading the works I will quote from, also reading Calvin's five chapters on the Christian life in his institutes of the Christian religion has been extraordinarily enlightening; Third book chapters 6-10.

Calvin, Joy in the Sufferings of life.

"Whether, therefore, in maintaining the truth of God against the lies of Satan, or defending the good and innocent against the injuries of the bad, we are obliged to incur the offense of and hatred of the world, so as to endanger life, fortune, or honor, let us not grieve or decline so far to spend ourselves for God; let us not think ourselves wretched in those things in which he in which he with his own lips has pronounced us blessed (Matt. 5:10). Poverty, indeed considered in itself, is misery; so are exile, contempt, imprisonment, ignomity: in fine, death itself is the last of all calamities. But when the favor of God breathes upon us, there is none of these things which may not turn out to our happiness." Calvin, Institutes 3:8:7.

Calvin here and in his other chapters on the Christian life speaks of the Christian as a person encountering immense suffering, thus when Calvin speaks of a Christian's joy it is amongst this context. Joy for Calvin is a supernatural gift in suffering. He sees suffering as having the ability to turn into happiness or joy (I think the term happiness here is synonymous with joy) and this is because of having God's favor by following the path of his Son.

I think this aspect of Joy in the Reformed tradition is irreplaceable, I think Calvin understood at the heart of our faith was that God has ordained his followers to suffer and gain his favor and joy through trials, and as we remember trials produce fruit in us (James 1).

Calvin, Joy in Advent.

This is a subsection on Calvin's theology of Joy for this blog. 

This is from Songs of the Nativity, a new translation of selected sermons from Luke 1& 2.

In commenting on the angel’s announcement of “good news of great joy” in Luke 2 Calvin stated:

“Since the angel invites us to rejoice at the coming of Christ, not in any ordinary way but with unbounded delight, let us make the most of the message. What can we say about this joy? If we involve ourselves in worldly pleasures and are wholly absorbed by our own wants, we will never rejoice in the grace of Christ. Let the shepherds instead be or example. Their earthly lot did not change, despite the fact that they had heard the angel’s word and had witnessed the birth of God’s Son. They went back to their flocks exactly as before; they continued to live as poor men, guarding their herds. In terms of the flesh and of this passing world they gained nothing from the privilege which we read about here. For all that, they were full of joy. Theirs is a lead we should follow. For although the gospel might earn us neither wealth nor fame, and although it might not bring us gratification or amusement, nevertheless we should be glad that we are the objects of God’s favour. This is where true blessing and happiness lie, and where real rest is found.”

For Calvin here being objects of God's favor is where our joy is, amidst suffering, our normal lives, our fallen existence true joy is found like the shepherds did, in being objects of God's favor.

To borrow from Piper the idea is that our salvation was not grounded in us, but in God. Because of this our Joy is that our salvation is not changeable, but based in the rock of unchangeable God. Yet we still benefit from it.

Personally I marvel at this, that something can be for God's glory and completely satisfy his wrath, his love, and bruise his son to do so, for himself and his glory, and we benefit from it as well. These aspects of the gospel floor me. This is a true source of joy that is irreplaceable in all life.



Piper and Edwards, Joy in worship extending to all life.

Piper is famous for modifying the Westminster catechism's first question from:

"Question 1: What is the chief and highest end of man?

Answer: Man's chief and highest end is to glorify God, and fully to enjoy him forever."

to

"Question 1: What is the chief and highest end of man?

Answer: Man's chief and highest end is to glorify God by fully enjoying him forever."


I am a Piper fan, he is one of the authors who shook me out of the cultural Christianity my mind grew into. That being said I have a bit of war with him changing the catechism, but I also think the thought contained in his change is correct. 


Piper and Edwards stress that God is glorified by our joy in him, but make no mistake there is no disagreement here with Calvin. Christianity for these two is a wellspring of joy amongst suffering. The imperfect world cannot satisfy us and our satisfaction in God glorifies God. But this is a proper satisfaction of our souls. My pastor says of Piper and Edwards that they remind us that God's glory and our joy are one thing, forever united. 


Piper centers his theology around the chief end of man as finding satisfaction in God and thus glorifying him. 


This theology of joy as soul filling satisfaction in glorifying the maker is comprehensive and life changing. This is also a stream of thought in the Reformed tradition I find priceless. 

Luther, Joy to avoid sin. 


Luther is understood to have thought rejoicing in God to be the most effective way to ward off sin and the tempter. Luther is reported to have said to those who struggle with doubts and serious thoughts that, "Accordingly, you should eat and drink and enjoy yourself. Those who are afflicted with spiritual temptation should be given plenty to eat and drink, but whoremongers and those assailed by lust should fast." Luther, as quoted in Drinking! With Calvin and Luther.


Luther is also as understood as to think joylessness is incompatible with the Christian life. Luther saw Joylessness as an objective of Satan and saw taking Joy, in drink, one's children, one's spouse as mocking Satan, and celebrating victory over him through the Cross. 


This is by far the most intriguing portion of theology of Joy in the Reformed tradition. The aforementioned book speaks of Luther using joy to mock the devil. Luther saw Joy in the victory Christ secured for us as a way to thwart sin and the tempter. For Luther Christ bore in himself your sin and your death and therefore when Satan tried to tempt you, you were to rejoice in this and make efforts to attain a Joyous attitude, especially food and drink (specifically the alcoholic kind). Enjoying God's creation and blessing to mock Satan. 


This theology needs to be taught more, Joy in God's creation is way to avoid despair and the slough of despond. 


To close I would like to say that the Reformers and their theology have made quite an impact on the Christian life. These benefits of understanding the roles and places of joy within our experience and theology are immeasurable. Joy for the Reformers was always something that came from God's grace into an imperfect world as a gift to bring us to God. The promise that proper soul satisfying joy is found in and with God, is comforting in our deepest sufferings.