Is Happiness The World’s Imitation Of Joy?

Is happiness the world’s imitation of joy?

You, O LORD, have made me happy by your work. I will sing for joy because of what you have done. Psalm 92:4, NET

If you have nice little categories for “joy is what Christians have” and “happiness is what the world has,” you can scrap those when you go to the Bible, because the Bible is indiscriminate in its uses of the language of happiness and joy and contentment and satisfaction. JOHN PIPER

WHILE RESEARCHING and writing my book Happiness, I had dozens of nearly identical conversations.

Someone asked, “What are you writing about?”

I responded, “Happiness.”

Unbelievers were immediately interested. Believers typically gave me an odd look, as if to say, “Don’t you usually write on spiritual themes?” They often responded, “You said happiness—did you mean joy?”

A pastor friend wrote to tell me why it would be a big mistake to write a book about happiness. He said what he’d been taught to think: “Happiness changes from moment to moment and is reflected by our moods and emotions. Joy is a spiritual peace and contentment that only comes from God and is strong even during times of sadness. God’s desire is not to make us happy in this life but to fill our lives with joy as a result of our relationship with Christ.”

My first pastor often cited My Utmost for His Highest by Oswald Chambers (1874–1917), and I eagerly read that great book as a young Christian. But at the time I didn’t know enough to disagree with this statement: “Joy should not be confused with happiness. In fact, it is an insult to Jesus Christ to use the word happiness in connection with Him.”^a I certainly didn’t want to insult Jesus, so after reading this and many similar statements in books and sermons, I became wary of happiness.

Many people I’ve talked with have the distinct impression that Scripture distinguishes between joy and happiness. They think the Bible depicts all joy as godly and all happiness as ungodly.

A book on Christian ministry has a chapter called “Happiness vs. Joy.” It says, “Joy and happiness are very different.”^b

In a chapter titled “Joy versus Happiness” another Christian author states, “Happiness is a feeling, while joy is a state of being.”^c

Another claims, “Joy is distinctly a Christian word and a Christian thing. It is the reverse of happiness.”^d

In an article called “Jesus Doesn’t Want You to Be Happy,” the author states, “As you read through the gospels you’ll see plenty of promises of joy, but none of happiness. And they are infinitely different things.”^e

Happiness is the reverse of joy? The two are infinitely different? Really? What is the scriptural, historical, or linguistic basis for making such statements? There simply is none! Is there nothing more to joy than “a state of being”? Is emotion something we should reject, or is it a gift of God, part of being made in his likeness?

Since these emphatic proclamations against happiness are so common, and since they’re spoken by those who believe the Bible, it seems to most Christians that they must be right. But when I was a young Christian, they made me uneasy, because before reading such things and hearing them from the pulpit, I had celebrated my newfound happiness in Christ. Now I was being told that happiness was at the very least suspect and dangerous, and even unspiritual, and had no place in a serious Christian life.

To me, this was counterintuitive. Of course, I knew we shouldn’t turn to sin for happiness—or anything else—but happiness was something I gained when I came to Christ, not something I gave up!

If it was God who made me happy to be forgiven and gave me the joy of a right relationship with him, was God really against my happiness?

I didn’t yet realize that Scripture said, “Happy are those whose sins are forgiven, whose wrongs are pardoned” (Psalm 32:1, GNT). And “How happy is the man who takes refuge in Him!” (Psalm 34:8, HCSB). I read those passages but only in a version that said “blessed” instead of “happy.” So I had no clue what those passages really meant. If I had, my soul would have resonated because they state exactly what I had found in Jesus!

Joy is a perfectly good word, and I use it frequently. But there are other equally good words with overlapping meanings, including happiness, gladness, merriment, delight, and pleasure. Depicting joy in contrast with happiness has obscured the true meaning of both words. After conducting a thorough study of the Bible’s original languages, I’m convinced this is an artificial distinction.

Joyful people are typically glad and cheerful—they smile and laugh a lot. To put it plainly, they’re happy! God cares about our happiness, and we should too.

Father, deliver us from the widespread notions that rob both happiness and joy of their biblical and historical richness. Please help us radiate such happiness that those who don’t yet know you want to experience that same joy for themselves. We’re so thankful to be loved by you. Empower us to demonstrate an authentic spirit of delighted gratitude to everyone around us.