PneumaReview.com invites you to read this paper by Professor Eugen Jugaru and discuss the connection between joy and suffering.

Abstract

Suffering for the Christian faith and Christian worship exuberance, paradoxically have a common ground: a joy beyond understanding which comes from the Holy Spirit. The reality of this unusual and passionate experience: joy in sufferings and worship, was experienced by Christians in Romania, a country that for 45 years was ruled by a fierce atheist Communist regime. Their experiences were similar to the first-century Christians who after being beaten for breaking the interdiction to spread the Gospel, “rejoiced that they were counted worthy to suffer shame for His (Christ’s) name” (Acts. 5:40-41). Two Christians remained examples for Romanian Christians by their determination in persecution, Richard Wurmbrand and Nicolae Steinhardt.

Also during the persecution in Romania, believers who were not imprisoned have also experienced a deep presence of the Holy Spirit in worship. These moments flooded their hearts with unimaginable joy which gave them power to forgive their enemies and to receive strength to face courageously the atheist regime.

I will be presenting the reality of joy beyond understanding in suffering and worship due to the presence and empowering of the Holy Spirit through the use of written narrative testimonies of Richard Wurmbrand and Nicolae Steinhardt as well as other written testimonies of Christians within the Pentecostal churches of Romania during the same period under the Communist regime. I will be providing an interpretive layer on the materials that will connect their responses to the work of the Spirit. By using current writings and observation I then will reveal the diminishing of this experience in contemporary post-Communism as reflected in the Christian experience in Romania.

Introduction

The theme of joy, whether it is viewed from a Christian perspective based on soteriological or pneumatological elements or whether from secular perspective, is a current topic due to general pessimism which seems to mark the contemporary generation. While we enjoy many of the products and services that did not benefited our parents it seems that there is an unseen enemy of joy that does not allow us to live our lives with great confidence and profound optimism. Joy of life today is overshadowed by the burden of stress, by the assault of various news media, especially negative news, by the fear of sickness or by anxiety of an unsure future due to multiple crises.

In this paper I will be presenting the idea that there can be a real and a deep joy, a joy beyond understanding, beyond the comprehension of our mind and reason, a joy in suffering and in worship, in prayers and songs for those who have accepted the Christian perspective on life. As an example to support this thesis I present the testimonies of several Christians from different denominations, who experienced a joy beyond understanding when they were imprisoned. Their experience can teach us today about the joy beyond understanding, a real joy that surpass difficulties of the life and can help us today when we have freedom and rights, but consequently less joy.

What is joy beyond understanding and how does this kind of joy manifest itself?

Joy beyond understanding is that state of spiritual exaltation that makes a person who has it to forget the difficulties of the life and to experience God’s presence in a very strong, real and personal way.

Joy beyond understanding and comprehension does not depend on the circumstances of life, it is rooted in God’s continual presence and grace, for it is a work of the Holy Spirit. Usually joy is that personal feeling due to certain achievements or because of good news received, but joy beyond understanding does not depend on such external input. Joy beyond understanding cannot be expressed well in words; it can be experienced, felt but not fully communicated in words.

The manifestation of joy beyond understanding can be expressed by a shining upon the face or even by tears of joy. Personally, I think that a smile and laughter can be a manifestation of joy, but does not suggests in the best way the depth of joy, it is not so deep as the tears of joy which cannot be stopped. I watched TV programs broadcasting live emotional meetings between people who have not met for many years, between life partners or between parents and children, and in most of these exciting meetings protagonists could not retain tears of joy.

The joy beyond understanding does not comes from a human predisposition toward happiness or, as I related before from the satisfaction of personal achievement, but its source is divine, it is a fruit of the Spirit (Gal 5:20-22). When Paul contrasts the works of the flesh and the fruit of Holy Spirit, he revealed that among the items and fruit of the Spirit is also joy (Greek chara).

Pastor Mur reminds us a little about what Heaven is like.

Every once in a while I am asked to perform a funeral service. A funeral sermon typically includes three segments: a time to reminisce, a time to release and a time for resolution.

My custom is to talk about heaven as I transition from the release segment to the resolution phase. People are tender at funerals so my intent is to challenge them to seriously think about what is ahead. The choices they face and specifically, the choice of heaven or an ending where one is separated from God forever.

Image: Joe Beck

Heaven is far different from anything we have known or imagined here on earth. Everything flourishes in heaven; everything is whole there, and everything is filled with delight. Nothing can be added to what is in heaven except you.

I live in the city where I often hear sirens. There are no sirens in heaven. No emergencies. No fears. No need to rush. Life cannot be lost in heaven. No wounds, no accidents, nothing unexpected. There is no anger, stress or anxiety there. There are no crutches, wheel chairs, canes, braces, hospitals, operations, medicine, nor patient care there. No one gets old in heaven. There is no pain. You never hurt or feel out of sorts. You are never upset. You never get tired.

Worry does not exist. You cannot be concerned in heaven. No one loses their cool. Everyone is satisfied. Contentment reigns. Peace and joy span time eternal. Everything is perfect. Perfect forever since time is no more. There is no such thing as a bad day or even a bad moment. God has wiped away every tear. Joy abounds to the point where it is commonplace, but never common for God’s presence is joy unspeakable.

Heaven is so different from anything anyone on earth has ever experienced. It is a place where the first can be last, and not mind. Jealousy does not exist there. No competition, no winners, no losers. No copyrights, rights of any kind, or ownership of anything. Pride will not exist. Gratitude will abound.

In short, heaven is totally other than what we know or can imagine. It is far beyond our comprehension and understanding. I, like you, have had some great moments, times when total delight ruled for an hour, a day, a week or even longer. But even with those moments, there was always the chance that something could happen to ruin the great joy being experienced. There was always that exposure to humanity and our shortcomings.

There are no shortcomings in heaven. No surprises. No time or chance. Instead there is an ever unfolding of wonder layered on wonder that contains and restrains each and every soul in never ending awe. We will ever stand in awe of God and the splendor of his holiness.

There are no obligations in heaven. No rules. No agreements. You do not need rules when perfection reigns. No one is there who would ruin anything or disturb the complete perfect peace of God. There is nothing to be redeemed, repaired or fixed in heaven. There is nothing to be forgiven, no resentment or hurt to be harbored in one’s heart.

No one there does anything that they should not do. There is no temptation there. No insurance to buy. There are no risks there. You will not have to be careful in heaven because care for the other person is part of being there.

Scripture tells us that we shall be so overwhelmed with what God has prepared for us who are called by his name, that we will stop all activity and all thought to call God holy, holy, holy. We will fall on our faces as we cry those words, sealed with the beauty of his holiness, proclaiming to ourselves and to all that only He is worthy, worthy of all honor, glory and praise.

And most amazing of all is that anyone can go there. We have all been invited to what scripture describes as the marriage supper of the lamb. Come and dine! Jesus Christ is Lord of all. Think about heaven. What it really is. It is not a gaudy plastic place paved with streets of gold and glitz but a place with relationships, the best sense and presence, finer than the finest gold. Nothing compares with God. Imagine being able to meet your creator, and to know that you are welcome and belong.

How about you? Will you be there? If you are not sure, Jesus, the savior, is knocking at the door of your heart right now. Will you open that door and invite him into your heart? Remember you are your doorkeeper to heaven. You have the power to open that door. Think about that. You do not want to miss what God has planned for you in heaven and on this earth as well.

Originally submitted to his local paper, this guest article by Pastor Mur first appeared at the Pneuma Foundation (parent organization of PneumaReview.com) website on September 5, 2006. Later included in the Fall 2020 issue.

From the email promotion:

Whether you are familiar with Dr. Craig Keener or this is your first introduction to his work, we are delighted to announce an upcoming Bible webinar with the professor of New Testament at Asbury Theological Seminary.

Well-known for his research on the Jewish and Greco-Roman context of the New Testament, Dr. Keener will join us for a two-day online seminar to teach us more about the Jewish context of key books and passages of the Bible. It will be a wonderful teaching series that you will not want to miss!

Here is the fourth and final session, entitled “The Jewish Context for the Book of Revelation.”

Image: Patrick Fore

From the email promotion:

Whether you are familiar with Dr. Craig Keener or this is your first introduction to his work, we are delighted to announce an upcoming Bible webinar with the professor of New Testament at Asbury Theological Seminary.

Well-known for his research on the Jewish and Greco-Roman context of the New Testament, Dr. Keener will join us for a two-day online seminar to teach us more about the Jewish context of key books and passages of the Bible. It will be a wonderful teaching series that you will not want to miss!

Here is the third session, entitled “The Jewish Context For The Gospel Of John.”

Image: Patrick Fore

 
Session 4: The Jewish Context for the Book of Revelation

From the email promotion:

Whether you are familiar with Dr. Craig Keener or this is your first introduction to his work, we are delighted to announce an upcoming Bible webinar with the professor of New Testament at Asbury Theological Seminary.

Well-known for his research on the Jewish and Greco-Roman context of the New Testament, Dr. Keener will join us for a two-day online seminar to teach us more about the Jewish context of key books and passages of the Bible. It will be a wonderful teaching series that you will not want to miss!

Here is the second session, entitled “The Jewish Context for the Sermon on the Mount and the Book of Matthew Continued.”

Image: Patrick Fore

 
Session 3: The Jewish Context For The Gospel Of John
 
Session 4: The Jewish Context for the Book of Revelation

From the email promotion:

Whether you are familiar with Dr. Craig Keener or this is your first introduction to his work, we are delighted to announce an upcoming Bible webinar with the professor of New Testament at Asbury Theological Seminary.

Well-known for his research on the Jewish and Greco-Roman context of the New Testament, Dr. Keener will join us for a two-day online seminar to teach us more about the Jewish context of key books and passages of the Bible. It will be a wonderful teaching series that you will not want to miss!

Here is the first session, entitled “The Jewish Context for the Sermon on the Mount and the Book of Matthew.”

Image: Patrick Fore

Session 3: The Jewish Context For The Gospel Of John
 
Session 4: The Jewish Context for the Book of Revelation

From the email promotion:

Whether you are familiar with Dr. Craig Keener or this is your first introduction to his work, we are delighted to announce an upcoming Bible webinar with the professor of New Testament at Asbury Theological Seminary.

Well-known for his research on the Jewish and Greco-Roman context of the New Testament, Dr. Keener will join us for a two-day online seminar to teach us more about the Jewish context of key books and passages of the Bible. It will be a wonderful teaching series that you will not want to miss!

Dr. Keener is the author of twenty-eight books—six of which have won book awards in Christianity Today. Altogether, more than one million copies are in circulation. His IVP Bible Background Commentary: New Testament (1993), now in its second revised edition (2014), has sold more than a half million copies, including editions in several languages and more than fifty thousand copies in Korean.

Image: Patrick Fore

Used with permission.

Foursquare Pastor Daniel Brown offers useful tips for approaching God’s Word.

All of us have encountered verses and statements in the Bible that confuse or alarm us because they seem to be saying something that sounds so unlike the Lord, so different than how we have experienced Him in our personal life. When that happens, what can we do to at least begin to look at those passages from a more helpful perspective?

Here are a few suggestions for better understanding the Bible:

1. Relax in the assurance that what you do not understand now, you will understand in the future. Don’t get “stuck” on something that you do not fully understand. Just keep reading, and focus on verses that make obvious sense to you today.
2. Read the Bible in light of God’s goodness, kindness and graciousness. Any understanding that paints God in a different light is an incomplete or an inaccurate interpretation.
3. Everything in the Scriptures, if understood correctly, will “build you up”—encouraging and strengthening you—and add to your awareness of all the spiritual resources and provisions the Lord gives as your inheritance (Acts 20:32)
4. Be sure to read the passage in its full context—looking at what has happened before, and what transpires afterwards; those bookends explain a lot.
5. Be careful to catch all the details of the text; what the Bible actually does and does not say is often quite different from what we infer or imagine it says.
6. Look at the cross-references; they will take you to similar or parallel passages elsewhere in the Bible. The whole Bible is the best lens through which to look at any portion of the whole.
7. Get the literal story firmly in your mind before you start drawing conclusions or trying to generalize from a single episode. What happened in one historic situation does not necessarily imply anything about the future situations.
8. Maintain a posture of humility. There may be things that you cannot understand about what God does/says; His plans and activities are often too deep or too high for us to grasp with our limited human brain (Psalm 92:5; Isaiah 55:8-9). Count on the fact that God knows more, loves more and does more that we could ever fully realize.

Image: Aaron Burden

In addition to these specific suggestions, it is hugely helpful to simply pray, asking Jesus to give you the understanding and awareness you need for your walk with Him today. As obvious as it sounds, remember that we cannot learn/know everything at once, right away. We grow in our spiritual understanding; a steady diet of Bible reading will absolutely guarantee that you will digest all the spiritual nutrients you need for a healthy life.

Lastly, train your heart to echo David’s prayer, as he was trying to understand spiritual matters: “Make me know Your ways, O Lord, teach me Your paths; lead me in Your truth and teach me for You are the God of my salvation” (Psalm 25:4-5).

Originally from www.coastlands.org, used with permission of the author.

More so, I was astonished to learn that the hawk’s complete transformation had been accomplished within three days after its removal from the wild. In that brief time it had become a voluntary prisoner, submissively doing the will of its captor and adapting to a strange and unnatural environment. But as I watched, I saw much more than a falconer and his captive bird. I saw a spiritual truth unfolding before my eyes—Truth—in the form of a question I want to ask you:

Can humans be mentally captured, removed from their natural state, subdued, and forced into a life-style that is totally alien to themselves and their role in the kingdom of God?

Image: Ruben Bagues

Let me illustrate the answer: In 1973, four bank employees in Stockholm, Sweden, were captured during a robbery and kept inside a vault. Strangely, within six days they became so devoted to their captors they not only resisted rescue but afterward refused to testify against the criminals. This psychological phenomenon became known as the Stockholm Syndrome and is identical to what happened to the hawk.

The most notorious instance of the Syndrome in America came in 1974 when 19 year-old millionaire-heiress Patty Hearst was kidnapped by the Symbionese Liberation Army, kept in a dark closet, blindfolded, and abused. Then something strange happened; Patty joined her captors’ organization, renamed herself “Tanya” and took part in robbing a bank of which she and her parents were part owners. When captured and tried, Patty was sentenced to seven years in prison. In another case, an airline hostage later married one of her captors. Politically, we call this transformation “brain-washing”. A large Church of Christ in Boston, Massachusetts, was recently accused of using this tactic in “converting” new members. One of their steps was to deprive the people of sleep through all-night “prayer”, then, at dawn, church officials mentally bombarded them with religious ideology and overwhelmed them psychologically. In such a deviate method, the Holy Spirit was unneeded-just “mind control”.

I have a dear friend who as a child was accused of a crime he did not commit—but one to which he confessed after police interrogated him under bright lights for eight hours. Thankfully, he is a committed Christian today but his normal life was stolen from him by this horrendous childhood event. We have all heard of traumatized wives who refuse to leave an abusive husband. The style of maltreatment may change but the end-result is the same: The mind can be taken captive by powers of darkness.

The Rightly Understanding God’s Word series, with a new introduction, by Craig S. Keener.

Editor’s Note: Craig Keener created this introduction to his course of biblical interpretation to appear before Chapter 1: Context (Spring 2003). However, Pneuma Review editors did not receive it in time to publish it in the print edition of the journal. We include it now, twelve years later, to introduce this excellent series and link to all of the chapters in their new digital format.
Raul Mock
February 25, 2015

Take a course on biblical interpretation with New Testament scholar, Professor Craig S. Keener.

All chapters from the Rightly Understanding God’s Word series

Introduction — Follows immediately (Winter 2015)

Chapter 1: Context — Part 1 (Spring 2003)

Chapter 1: Objections to Context — Part 2 (Winter 2015)

Chapter 2: Learning Context — Part 1 (Summer 2003)

Chapter 2: Learning Context — Part 2 (Fall 2003)

Chapter 3: Whole-Book Context — Part 1 (Winter 2004)

Chapter 3: Whole-Book Context — Part 2 (Spring 2004)

Chapter 4: More Principles of Context (Summer 2004)

Chapter 5: Bible Background — Part 1 (Fall 2004)

Chapter 5: Bible Background — Part 2 (Winter 2005)

Chapter 6: Context of Genre: Narrative — Part 1 (Spring 2005)

Chapter 6: Context of Genre — Part 2 (Summer 2005)

A study of laws in the Bible, Biblical prayer and songs, proverbs, and romance literature.

Chapter 6: Context of Genre — Part 3 (Fall 2005)

A study of the type of inspired literature found in the teachings of Jesus, the gospels, letters to churches and individuals, and prophetic passages.

Editor Introduction: Context of Genre: Revelation (Winter 2006)

Chapter 6: Context of Genre: Revelation — Part 4 (Winter 2006)

What can we learn from this book that so many Christians have disagreed about?

Chapter 7: The Reader’s “Social Location” (Spring 2006)