I want to conclude my thoughts on Christian Hedonism today. I want to spend more time with it, but I fear that doing so would only bore some of you. So , what is left to say? Well, based on my last post, I think it is safe to say that God wants us to be happy and yet, He is the true thing that makes us the happiest. I don’t believe, at this point, that happiness can be distinct, therefore, God is, in fact, the true source of joy, happiness, pleasure, delight, bliss, whatever. So, if this is true, then why do so many people have a problem with the theology of Christian Hedonism? What does Christian Hedonism mean anyways? Well, hedonism typically has some negative connotations, but it essentially means the seeking of pleasure. And if God is our true pleasure, then we are seeking after Him. There is nothing more biblical than that. The problem lies with the fact that so many people in the world (including believers) do not understand that God is their truest pleasure. There’s just something lodged in people’s brains that says that God shouldn’t be about pleasure, but about servanthood and holiness. The truth of the matter is that servanthood and holiness is worthless to God if it is without joy. Let’s just take a look at Piper’s thesis statement: “God is most glorified in us when we are most satisfied in Him”. If we are truly satisfied in God and God alone, then everything else will pour forth. Holiness, service, love, joyful suffering, discipline, righteousness—-all of these things in their pure form can only come through satisfaction in God. Like the old tradition says: “The chief end of man is to glorify Him and enjoy Him forever”. It can even be said this way: “The chief end of man s to glorify Him by enjoying Him forever”.
Probably the most life-changing words I have ever heard came from John Piper’s own mouth when I went to hear him preach once. He made one simple, shattering statement: “Your happiness and God’s will are not at odds with each other”. This is when it happened for me. This is when I finally understood myself and my duty towards God. Piper also calls it “the duty of delight”. Those words still bring a great sense of comfort today. No matter what the struggle, I can always count on the fact that if I follow God, I will be happy—more happy than if I were to pursue anything else. Needless to say, the book Desiring God changed my theology and my life. I would encourage anybody to pick it up and give it a chance.