it makes more than a little difference

Those of you that know me are WELL AWARE of my focus on precision, especially with words. I have written often about this topic but it keeps coming up in many different settings. Recently I've had several instances where I was responding to assumptions Christians make about circumstances and suffering. Let's take this verse as an example. I saw a Utube video of one of the giants of Western theology use this verse to show a Christian how to understand what God is saying that can influence how we think, feel and act. Some of the confusion that many Christians have was not made clear in this expert's explanation.

"Beloved, do not be surprised concerning the fiery trial which is to test you, as if some strange thing happened to you: But rejoice, in as much as you share in Christ's sufferings; that when His glory is revealed, you are glad with exceeding joy." 


The carnal mind assumes that joy is really happiness. However, happiness is a feeling of delight when my circumstances benefit me. Joy on the other hand is a kingdom view of contentment and cheerfulness regardless of my circumstances. What this really means is that when our emotions are determined by trusting our circumstances, we are walking in the flesh or our human nature. BUT, when our emotions are determined by trusting the faith (unobserved evidence) in what God has and is doing on our behalf, we are walking in the Spirit.

"Fiery trial" simply refers to circumstances that work on our emotions as we live humanly in this world. The "test" is to prove God is faithful to His children. We can fully trust that our soul's needs are not met by the world around us, but from God Himself through the work of His Spirit. Joy is associated with "sharing in Christ's sufferings". The word for "suffering" means emotional experience. That is, the sufferings of Christ are the emotions He felt as He walked as a human on this earth, experiencing all kinds of circumstances, some favorable to His human nature (such as praise) and some unfavorable (such as rejection and injustice). SO, the notion of "sharing in the sufferings of Christ" simply means that our emotions are determined by trusting God's provision to us, not by depending on how our circumstances affect us.

THIS is why God's word tells us to consider it joy regardless of what is happening. We can be both unhappy and joyful at the same time. Unhappy feelings are attached to our human experience of difficult circumstances and joyful feelings attached to God's provisions of His Kingdom. Many Christians feel guilt when they are unhappy because they equate happiness with joy.

Too often, suffering is equated to pain and to the circumstances that cause the pain. The circumstance is the trial, which is an anticipated circumstance (no surprise) that demonstrates (tests or proves) our faith in God's provision.

Our core assumptions about happiness and joy are what ultimately influences how we think, feel, and act. Often Christians have plenty of head knowledge of theology, but lack the b4worldview of the Kingdom.

At least this area of assumptions is worth a bit of pondering .....