01 SUMMARY OF CHRISTIAN HEDONISM
We Want You To Be A Christian Hedonist!
A "Christian Hedonist" sounds like a contradiction, doesn't it? If the term makes you squirm, we understand. But don't throw this paper away just yet. We're not heretics (really!). Nor have we invented another prosperity-obsessed theology by twisting the Bible to sanctify our greed or lust. We are simply stating an ancient, orthodox, Biblical truth in a fresh way.
"All men seek happiness," says Blaise Pascal. "This is without exception. Whatever different means they employ, they all tend to this end. The cause of some going to war, and of others avoiding it, is the same desire in both, attended with different views. The will never takes the least step but to this object. This is the motive of every action of every man, even of those who hang themselves." We believe Pascal is right. And, with Pascal, we believe God purposefully designed us to pursue happiness.
Does seeking your own happiness sound self-centered?Aren't Christians supposed to seek God, not their own pleasure? To answer this question we need to understand a crucial truth about pleasure-seeking (hedonism): we value most what we delight in most. Pleasure is not God's competitor, idols are. Pleasure is simply a gauge that measures how valuable someone or something is to us. Pleasure is the measure of our treasure.
We know this intuitively. If a friend says to you, "I really enjoy being with you," you wouldn't accuse him of being self-centered. Why? Because your friend's delight in you is the evidence that you have great value in his heart. In fact, you'd be dishonored if he didn't experience any pleasure in your friendship. The same is true of God. If God is the source of our greatest delight then God is our most precious treasure; which makes us radically God-centered and not self-centered. And if we treasure God most, we glorify Him most.
Does the Bible teach this? Yes. Nowhere in the Bible does God condemn people for longing to be happy. People are condemned for forsaking God and seeking their happiness elsewhere (Jer_2:13). This is the essence of sin. The Bible actually commands us to delight in the Lord (Psa_37:4). Jesus teaches us to love God more than money because our heart is where our treasure is (Mat_6:21). Paul wants us to believe that gaining Christ is worth the loss of everything else (Php_3:8) and the author of Hebrews exhorts us to endure suffering, like Jesus, for the joy set before us (Heb_12:1-2). Examine the Scriptures and you'll see this over and over again.
Christian Hedonism is not a contradiction after all. It is desiring the vast, ocean-deep pleasures of God more than the mud-puddle pleasures of wealth, power or lust. We're Christian Hedonists because we believe Psa_16:11, "You show me the path of life; in Your presence there is fullness of joy, in Your right hand are pleasures for evermore."
Join us in this pursuit of satisfaction in God, because God is most glorified in us when we are most satisfied in him.
How DGM Can Help You
DGM is a resource ministry of Bethlehem Baptist Church in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Our desire is to fan the flame of your passion for God and help you spread that passion to others. We have produced hundreds of resources for this purpose. Most of our inventory consists of books and audio tapes by John Piper. In addition, we also produce God-centered children's curricula, host conferences and coordinate John Piper's conference speaking schedule.
Since money is not our treasure we try to keep our prices as low as possible. And since we don't want money to be a hindrance to the gospel, if you have no available discretionary funds at this time, we have a whatever-you-can-afford policy – even if you can't afford anything! This policy is intended for individuals and we request folks to limit these orders to a couple of items at a time (our finances are usually tight too!).
We exist to help you make God your treasure. Because God is most glorified in you when you are most satisfied in him.
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'a9Desiring God Ministries
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Autor: John Piper