Schadenfreude

Hi, I’m Joni Eareckson Tada with a little play on words.

Actually not “my” words, but the words of my pastor, Bob Bjerkaas. Bob pastors a small church where Ken and I attend. Anyway, Pastor Bob, much like Ken and me – and like all of us – he’s been deeply troubled by the ugly divisiveness, the way people – even Christians – take great pleasure in the misfortune of those with whom we disagree. Anyway, let me quote directly here from Pastor Bob. He says:

“One of the things that I love about the English language is the way in which it freely borrows words from other cultures and languages in its quest for clarity. From the French language we have “bon voyage” and “faux pas.” From the Italian, “prima donna.” Yiddish offers “kitsch.” And “aficionado” comes from Spanish. Latin is the source for phrases like “pro bono” and “bona fide.” All of these words, technically called loan words, come more or less directly from their original cultural contexts because [our language] doesn’t already have a word that is as specific as the foreign option. One such loan word that has come to mind in my studies is from the German language: schadenfreude.

Now, schadenfreude is the feeling of pleasure you get when someone you don’t like experiences misfortune. From the German word “schaden,” which means damage and “freude,” which means joy, the word means to rejoice at damage done to another. And don’t we live in a cultural moment in which schadenfreude is all too common. We see it when folks are glad that a star athlete from an opposing team is injured or unable to compete due to COVID. Politics is rife with it – your opponent’s pain is your pleasure, right? I mean, I see it in the smirking smugness some people express when someone who hurts them “gets what they deserve.” 

And again, those words are from my pastor, and I just had to stop there because, we all do it. If someone – even if it’s a Christian brother or sister – if someone injures us or opposes us or deals with us unjustly, there’s something way down deep in us that just wants to turn the tables; that wants them to get what they deserve; we want them to feel the same pain that they’ve caused us, if not more! But here’s the thing: Jesus said in Matthew chapter 5, “Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you.” Now, those are the words of our Savior, and he’s talking about the sibling with whom you haven’t spoken for years; or that co-worker who slandered you; or a politician who you think should be run out of office for his egregious views. Oh, friend, as followers of Jesus, you and I should be imitators of his love and his healing; we are supposed to be ambassadors of peace; we are intercessors who pray for those who hate us or use us or curse us or persecute us.

Schadenfreude is not for us. We do not take pleasure in the pain of others. And if I can borrow from the French, that word, par excellence? For as a follower of Jesus, whatever things are excellent, whatever is admirable, praiseworthy and fitting for the Gospel – hey, let’s think on these things; let’s say and do these things. Words, thoughts and actions that are par excellence. For as Philippians says, it is Christ who lives in you; the same Christ who loves, blesses and prays for those you just don’t like. Yeah, these might be hard words today, but you know what? They are good words from joniradio.org. 

© Joni and Friends