Christian hedonism explained

Christian hedonism is a Christian doctrine believed by some evangelicals. The term was coined by John Piper in his 1986 book Desiring God based on Vernard Eller's earlier use of the term hedonism to describe the same concept. Piper summarizes this philosophy of the Christian life as "God is most glorified in us when we are most satisfied in Him."^[1]

Doctrine

The Westminster Shorter Catechism summarizes the "chief end of man" as "to glorify God, and to enjoy him forever." Piper has suggested that this would be more correct as "to glorify God by enjoying Him forever." Many Christian hedonists, such as Matt Chandler, point to figures such as Blaise Pascal and Jonathan Edwards as exemplars of Christian hedonism from the past, though their lives predate the term.^[2]

Christian hedonism was developed in opposition to the deontology of Immanuel Kant.^[1] Kant argued that actions should be considered praiseworthy only if they do not proceed from the actor's desires or expected benefit, but rather from a sense of duty. On the contrary, Christian hedonists advocate for a consequentialist ethic based on an understanding that their greatest possible happiness can be found in God.^[1] In this critique of Kant, John Piper was influenced by Ayn Rand.^[3]

Criticism

Most immediately, some Christians object to the teaching's controversial name, as the word "hedonism" by itself has the connotation of the pursuit sinful, fleshly pleasures.^[4] It has little commonality with philosophical hedonism; however, Piper has stated that a provocative term is "appropriate for a philosophy that has a life changing effect on its adherents." Critics charge that hedonism of any sort puts something (namely, pleasure) before God,^[5] which allegedly breaks the first of the Ten Commandments: "You shall have no other gods before me." In response, Piper states on his website that

See also

• Ethical egoism
• Moshe Chaim Luzzatto, a Jewish theologian with a similar view

References

Bibliography

• Book: Edwards , Jonathan . Jonathan Edwards (theologian). 1994. Schafer. Thomas. The Works of Jonathan Edwards. 13.
• Book: Grenz , Stanley James . Stanley Grenz. 2000. Theology for the Community of God.
• Book: Kant , Immanuel . Immanuel Kant. 1785. Groundwork of the Metaphysic of Morals. Groundwork of the Metaphysic of Morals.
• Book: Lewis , C. S. . C. S. Lewis. 1949. The Weight of Glory and Other Addresses. New York. Macmillan. 1 January 2018.
• Book: Piper , John . John Piper (theologian). 1996. Desiring God: Meditations of a Christian Hedonist. dead. rev.. Multnomah Books. 978-1-59052-119-9. https://web.archive.org/web/20070331115027/http://www.desiringgod.org/dg/id1.htm. 31 March 2007. 1 January 2019. Desiring God.
• Book: Piper , John . John Piper (theologian). . 1998. God's Passion for His Glory: Living the Vision of Jonathan Edwards. Wheaton, Illinois. Crossway Books. 978-1-58134-007-5. 1 January 2018.
• Book: Piper , John . John Piper (theologian). . 2013. Brothers, We Are Not Professionals: A Plea to Pastors for Radical Ministry. Nashville, Tennessee. B&H Publishing Group. 978-1-4336-7882-0.
• Book: Presbyterian Church (USA). Presbyterian Church (USA). 2014. The Constitution of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.). Part I: Book of Confessions. Louisville, Kentucky. Presbyterian Church (USA). 978-0-9837536-5-0. 2 January 2019. 29 July 2016. https://web.archive.org/web/20160729194238/http://www.pcusa.org/site_media/media/uploads/oga/pdf/boc2014.pdf. dead.
• Book: Rand , Ayn . Ayn Rand. 1961. For the New Intellectual. New York. Signet. For the New Intellectual.
• Book: Storms , Sam . Sam Storms. 2010. Christian Hedonism: Piper and Edwards on the Pursuit of Joy in God. Storms. Sam. Sam Storms. Taylor. Justin. For the Fame of God's Name: Essays in Honor of John Piper. Wheaton, Illinois. Crossway. 49–69. 978-1-4335-2321-2.
• Book: Talbot , Mark R. . 2010. When All Hope Has Died: Meditations on Profound Christian Suffering. Storms. Sam. Sam Storms. Taylor. Justin. For the Fame of God's Name: Essays in Honor of John Piper. Wheaton, Illinois. Crossway. 70–101. 978-1-4335-2321-2.

External links

• Articles critical of Christian hedonism

Notes and References

1. Web site: Piper . John . John Piper (theologian) . 1 January 1995 . Christian Hedonism: Forgive the Label, but Don't Miss the Truth . Desiring God . 3 April 2017.
2. Web site: Chandler . Matt . Matt Chandler (pastor) . 10 November 2013 . Persevering in the Pursuit of Joy . Flower Mound, Texas . The Village Church . 3 April 2017.
3. Web site: Piper . John . John Piper (theologian) . 9 October 2007 . The Ethics of Ayn Rand: Appreciation and Critique . Desiring God . 2 January 2019.
4. Web site: Gentry . Greg . 17 September 2005 . Why I Am No Longer a Piperite . Parableman . 2 April 2017 . https://web.archive.org/web/20180507213546/http://parablemania.ektopos.com/archives/2005/09/why_i_am_no_lon.html . 7 May 2018 . dead .
5. Web site: Booth . C. W. . 2002 . A Biblical Study of the Theological Foundation of Christian Hedonism . The Faithful Word.org . 2 April 2017.