Christian Hedonism

I want to be happy while I'm alive! I really do! And I think that we all do! While we are here why not make the best out of every opportunity!?

I believe in God, I believe he is good, and has created all things for his purposes. I believe we all admire things. I think God created us as worshipers! We look up to people, we adore good food, good music. We stand in awe when we see a beautiful sunset, or admire the mountains, and tropical beaches! In one way or another, we live differently according to our objects of worship, and YES, some worship computer games!

So, I believe that God created us as worshipers. I also believe God being God and all, is the most worthy object of our worship. He is behind everything we worship, he is the creator, he is the greatest, and nothing could ever be greater than he. The only way we can flourish is when we worship THE ONE who HE created us to worship... HIMSELF, rather than all the good things that are intended to point our worship to Him.

So this next part could be weird, but I think it makes sense! When people love themselves, it's a good thing, but it can get a obnoxious when people go on and on about themselves right?! But now if God is the only worthy object of our worship, what does that mean for him?! He must be obsessed with himself right?! And I want to say that if he wasn't all about himself, how could he expect us to be all about him?!?

Because he is all about himself, God just loves it when we worship him, when we appreciate him, when we delight in Him, when he is the one we depend on, when he is our all. Any replacement of Him in our lives is idolatry. When we replace God with something else, it upsets Him, because he is a jealous God, and also because he is a good God, he would not have created us with the purpose of worshiping anything lesser than himself. Worship anything other than God, is like Mountain biking with a road bike, it's really bumpy!

Hedonist= one who strives to maximize net pleasure. (wikipedia)


I want to claim that we are all hedonists, we all want to be happy, we want pleasure, and joy! But I believe most of us aren't hedonistic enough! The way to truly experience pleasure to the fullest is when we are in a relationship with the almighty God and strive to do his will. So maybe I've just lost you with the religious talk!

So here it goes! A few years ago, I went from being an atheist, not believing that there was any purpose in life at all (I didn't really have a problem with that, believed it was just the way things were!) to believing that everything on earth has a purpose. That God exists, that he is love, and he is in the process of reconciling all things to himself, through the death of Jesus Christ. This just changed my life in the best of ways. The Bible, God's word, is about God's love for mankind, and I see now, that it's not just a book of do's and don't's, but that God as a father looking out for his children's best interest warns against what is harmful to us, and recommends what is best for our well being. What is best for us, is to worship Him as Lord. Anything which leads us away from delighting in him is sin, anything that is in line with his plan allows us to flourish and he calls "good"! Because he is love, and loves us, he wants us to flourish. Because he loves himself, he wants us to love him! These both go together. The best thing is to love God, it causes us to flourish!

I love God! And it just happens that He loves that about me! He is glorified in me as I delight in Him. This joy I have, is the kind that makes me want everyone else to partake in. According to John Piper - Love is the overflow of Joy in God that gladly meets the needs of others. My joy, is based on the joy of others! How can I be truly joyful if others are not?

I want to be joyful! And I think you want that too! And I want to help you, because that will make me joyful too!

When we look at the world we must realize that something is not right! Just turn on the news, and read all the terrible things happening around the world! People aren't successfully finding joy. And what more they do not want anyone to find joy either. Since the fall of Mankind, when Adam sinned in the garden (Genesis 3), we are fallen creatures, we seek to serve ourselves. We are so short sighted, we look to alcohol, drugs, and sex for pleasures which do not last, but destroy us! We've given up on the only one who can satisfy. But right from the Beginning of Time, God has had a plan, to save humanity from its sin and deception. We all fall short of the glory of God, but He has sent his only son, to die in our place for our sins, so that we could be reconciled to Him. This is the greatest news ever. The only truth that can satisfy! Jesus Christ died, was buried and was raised from the dead. If you have better news than this, please let me know... I Want to know!! If it is not a truth that leads you to tell everyone then it can't be as good!!

It is in my best interest to share this with everyone because it will produce much joy for them, more joy for me and the best part of all, it is what I believe glorifies God the most!

Christian Hedonism is the best way to hedonism! As we were designed to find our joy in God! I don't see a finer way of glorifying God!

For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments. And his commandments are not burdensome. 1 John 5:3

This verse has often been on my mind. As I first started reading the Bible, I really started to understand that God is not about being a party poopper. Rather, he is our loving Father who wants the best for his children! He is the designer, so who better than Him, to help us live successfully in this world he engineered!? Who better than Him to give us a manual for life?! You can think that maybe God really appreciates "the sacrifices" you make for him everyday, and maybe you might even feel like he OWES you back? But is that really how you do relationships? "Hey Honey, because we are married, it is my duty to buy you flowers, so here you go..." Expect a big slap in the face! That is no relationship at all! Your spouse might prefer - "I love you so much, I could not help myself from getting these for you....'

I'm sure as we are, God is more interested in the second kind of relationship! Because he wants you loving Him, adoring him, delighting in Him! John Piper's definition of love - love is the overflow of joy in God which gladly meets the needs of others. Do you feel loved when someone does something for you out of pure duty?

I think the world would be a better place if everyone understood the beauty of glorifying God in delighting in him. Seeking what God wants for them, delight and joy for their life. If we were all filled with this overflowing joy that leads us to gladly meet the needs of others, then what could possibly go wrong in the world! Everyone wants to be happy, but as C.S Lewis says -

“It would seem that Our Lord finds our desires not too strong, but too weak. We are half-hearted creatures, fooling about with drink and sex and ambition when infinite joy is offered us, like an ignorant child who wants to go on making mud pies in a slum because he cannot imagine what is meant by the offer of a holiday at the sea. We are far too easily pleased.”

Here are a few verses about JOY from the Bible:

James 1:2 Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds

Philippians 4:4 Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, Rejoice.

Galatians 5:22-23 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.

Romans 15:13 May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope.

1 Peter 1:8 Though you have not seen him, you love him. Though you do not now see him, you believe in him and rejoice with joy that is inexpressible and filled with glory,

Rom 14:17 For the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking but of righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit.

John 16:22 So also you have sorrow now, but I will see you again, and your hearts will rejoice, and no one will take your joy from you.

Nehemiah 8:10 And do not be grieved, for the joy of the Lord is your strength.

John 15:11 These things I have spoken to you, that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be full.