Brothers, Consider Christian Hedonism - Revision history

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Protected "Brothers, Consider Christian Hedonism" ([edit=sysop] (indefinite) [move=sysop] (indefinite))

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JoyaTeemer at 22:10, 22 September 2008

2008-09-22T22:10:48Z

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	We will not try to motivate their ministry by Kantian appeals to duty. But we will remind them that Jesus endured the cross for the ''joy'' that was set before Him (Heb. 12:2), and that Hudson Taylor, at the end of a life full of suffering and trial, said, "I never made a sacrifice" (''Hudson Taylor's Spiritual Secret'', p. 30).		We will not try to motivate their ministry by Kantian appeals to duty. But we will remind them that Jesus endured the cross for the ''joy'' that was set before Him (Heb. 12:2), and that Hudson Taylor, at the end of a life full of suffering and trial, said, "I never made a sacrifice" (''Hudson Taylor's Spiritual Secret'', p. 30).
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Bhkauflin at 17:22, 3 July 2008

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-	{{MasterHeader \|author= John Piper \|partnerurl= http://www.desiringgod.org \|partner= Desiring God\|other=\|mediatype= Article \|lang= English \|editor= n/a \|translator= n/a \|levels= 0 \|newtitle=Brothers, Consider Christian Hedonism \|series=Brothers, We Are Not Professionals\|topic=Church Leadership \|subtopic=Pastoral Ministry \|month=January \|day=1 \|year=1995}}When Jesus warned His disciples that they might get their heads chopped off (Luke 21:16), He comforted them with the promise that, nevertheless, not a hair on their heads would perish (v. 18).	+	{{info}}When Jesus warned His disciples that they might get their heads chopped off (Luke 21:16), He comforted them with the promise that, nevertheless, not a hair on their heads would perish (v. 18).

	When He warned them that discipleship means self-denial and crucifixion (Mark 8:34), He consoled them with the promise that "whoever loses his life for My sake and the gospel's ''will save it''" (v. 35).		When He warned them that discipleship means self-denial and crucifixion (Mark 8:34), He consoled them with the promise that "whoever loses his life for My sake and the gospel's ''will save it''" (v. 35).

Bhkauflin at 16:09, 20 June 2008

2008-06-20T16:09:08Z

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-	{{MasterHeader \|author= John Piper \|partnerurl= http://www.desiringgod.org \|partner= Desiring God\|other=\|mediatype= Article \|lang= English \|editor= n/a \|translator= n/a \|levels= 0 \|newtitle=Brothers, Consider Christian Hedonism \|series= ~~Articles 1995~~\|topic=Church Leadership \|subtopic=Pastoral Ministry \|month=January \|day=1 \|year=1995}}When Jesus warned His disciples that they might get their heads chopped off (Luke 21:16), He comforted them with the promise that, nevertheless, not a hair on their heads would perish (v. 18).	+	{{MasterHeader \|author= John Piper \|partnerurl= http://www.desiringgod.org \|partner= Desiring God\|other=\|mediatype= Article \|lang= English \|editor= n/a \|translator= n/a \|levels= 0 \|newtitle=Brothers, Consider Christian Hedonism \|series=Brothers, We Are Not Professionals\|topic=Church Leadership \|subtopic=Pastoral Ministry \|month=January \|day=1 \|year=1995}}When Jesus warned His disciples that they might get their heads chopped off (Luke 21:16), He comforted them with the promise that, nevertheless, not a hair on their heads would perish (v. 18).

	When He warned them that discipleship means self-denial and crucifixion (Mark 8:34), He consoled them with the promise that "whoever loses his life for My sake and the gospel's ''will save it''" (v. 35).		When He warned them that discipleship means self-denial and crucifixion (Mark 8:34), He consoled them with the promise that "whoever loses his life for My sake and the gospel's ''will save it''" (v. 35).

Bhkauflin at 15:56, 16 June 2008

2008-06-16T15:56:39Z

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CharisGalbraith at 21:51, 6 February 2008

2008-02-06T21:51:07Z

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	{{MasterHeader \|author= John Piper \|partnerurl= http://www.desiringgod.org \|partner= Desiring God \|date= 1 January 1995 \|other= \|categorytopic= Pastoral Ministry \|mediatype= Article \|lang= English \|editor= n/a \|translator= n/a \|levels= 0 }}		{{MasterHeader \|author= John Piper \|partnerurl= http://www.desiringgod.org \|partner= Desiring God \|date= 1 January 1995 \|other= \|categorytopic= Pastoral Ministry \|mediatype= Article \|lang= English \|editor= n/a \|translator= n/a \|levels= 0 }}

-	=== Brothers, Consider Christian Hedonism<br> ===	+	== Brothers, Consider Christian Hedonism<br> ==

	When Jesus warned His disciples that they might get their heads chopped off (Luke 21:16), He comforted them with the promise that, nevertheless, not a hair on their heads would perish (v. 18).		When Jesus warned His disciples that they might get their heads chopped off (Luke 21:16), He comforted them with the promise that, nevertheless, not a hair on their heads would perish (v. 18).

CharisGalbraith at 17:45, 17 January 2008

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	When He warned them that discipleship means self-denial and crucifixion (Mark 8:34), He consoled them with the promise that "whoever loses his life for My sake and the gospel's ''will save it''" (v. 35).		When He warned them that discipleship means self-denial and crucifixion (Mark 8:34), He consoled them with the promise that "whoever loses his life for My sake and the gospel's ''will save it''" (v. 35).

-	When He commanded them to leave all and follow Him, H assured them that they would receive "a hundred-fold now. . . with persecutions, and in the age to come eternal life" (Mark 10:28-31).	+	When He commanded them to leave all and follow Him, He assured them that they would receive "a hundred-fold now. . . with persecutions, and in the age to come eternal life" (Mark 10:28-31).

	If we must sell all, we do it ''with joy'' because the field we aim to buy contains the hidden treasure (Matt. 13:44).		If we must sell all, we do it ''with joy'' because the field we aim to buy contains the hidden treasure (Matt. 13:44).

CharisGalbraith at 17:42, 17 January 2008

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	And Flannery O'Connor gives her view of self-denial like this: "Always you renounce a lesser good for a greater; the opposite is sin. Picture me with my ground teeth stalking joy - fully armed too, as it's a highly dangerous quest."		And Flannery O'Connor gives her view of self-denial like this: "Always you renounce a lesser good for a greater; the opposite is sin. Picture me with my ground teeth stalking joy - fully armed too, as it's a highly dangerous quest."

-	The Kantian notion says that it's O.K. to get joy as an ''unintended result''of your action. But all these people (and myself included) are ''aiming'' at joy. We repudiate both the possibility and desirability of disinterested moral behavior. It is impossible, because the will is not autonomous; it always inclines to what it perceives will bring the most happiness (John 8:34; Rom. 6:16; 2 Peter 2:19).	+	The Kantian notion says that it's O.K. to get joy as an ''unintended result'' of your action. But all these people (and myself included) are ''aiming'' at joy. We repudiate both the possibility and desirability of disinterested moral behavior. It is impossible, because the will is not autonomous; it always inclines to what it perceives will bring the most happiness (John 8:34; Rom. 6:16; 2 Peter 2:19).

	Pascal was right when he said (''Pensee'' 250): "All men seek happiness without exception. They all aim at this goal however different the means they use to attain it. . . .They will never make the smallest move but with this as its goal. This is the motive of all the actions of all men, even those who contemplate suicide."		Pascal was right when he said (''Pensee'' 250): "All men seek happiness without exception. They all aim at this goal however different the means they use to attain it. . . .They will never make the smallest move but with this as its goal. This is the motive of all the actions of all men, even those who contemplate suicide."

CharisGalbraith at 17:41, 17 January 2008

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	=== Brothers, Consider Christian Hedonism<br> ===		=== Brothers, Consider Christian Hedonism<br> ===
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-	~~----~~
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-	~~By John Piper~~
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-	~~January 1, 1995~~

	When Jesus warned His disciples that they might get their heads chopped off (Luke 21:16), He comforted them with the promise that, nevertheless, not a hair on their heads would perish (v. 18).		When Jesus warned His disciples that they might get their heads chopped off (Luke 21:16), He comforted them with the promise that, nevertheless, not a hair on their heads would perish (v. 18).

CharisGalbraith at 17:40, 17 January 2008

2008-01-17T17:40:27Z

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	When He commanded them to leave all and follow Him, H assured them that they would receive "a hundred-fold now. . . with persecutions, and in the age to come eternal life" (Mark 10:28-31).		When He commanded them to leave all and follow Him, H assured them that they would receive "a hundred-fold now. . . with persecutions, and in the age to come eternal life" (Mark 10:28-31).

-	If we must sell all, we do it ''with joy''because the field we aim to buy contains the hidden treasure (Matt. 13:44).	+	If we must sell all, we do it ''with joy'' because the field we aim to buy contains the hidden treasure (Matt. 13:44).

	By Christian hedonism, I do not mean that our happiness is the highest good. I mean that pursuing the highest good will always result in our happiness. But ''all'' Christians believe this. Christian hedonism says more, namely, that we should ''pursue'' happiness with all our might. The desire to be happy is a proper motive for every good deed, and if you abandon pursuit of your own joy you cannot please God.		By Christian hedonism, I do not mean that our happiness is the highest good. I mean that pursuing the highest good will always result in our happiness. But ''all'' Christians believe this. Christian hedonism says more, namely, that we should ''pursue'' happiness with all our might. The desire to be happy is a proper motive for every good deed, and if you abandon pursuit of your own joy you cannot please God.
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	Kant loves a disinterested giver. God loves a cheerful giver (2 Cor. 9:7). Disinterested performance of duty displeases God. He wills that we ''delight'' in doing good and that we do it with the confidence that our obedience secures and increases our joy in God.		Kant loves a disinterested giver. God loves a cheerful giver (2 Cor. 9:7). Disinterested performance of duty displeases God. He wills that we ''delight'' in doing good and that we do it with the confidence that our obedience secures and increases our joy in God.

-	Oh, that I could drive the notion out of our churches that virtue requires a stoical performance of duty - the notion that good things are promised as the ''result'' of obedience but not as an ''incentive'' for it. The Bible is replete with promises which are not appended carefully as non-motivational ''<span id="1196391811803S"> </span>results<span id="fck_dom_range_temp_1196391810926_653"></span>,''but which clearly and boldly and hedonistically aim to motivate our behavior.	+	Oh, that I could drive the notion out of our churches that virtue requires a stoical performance of duty - the notion that good things are promised as the ''result'' of obedience but not as an ''incentive'' for it. The Bible is replete with promises which are not appended carefully as non-motivational ''<span id="1196391811803S"> </span>results<span id="fck_dom_range_temp_1196391810926_653"></span>,'' but which clearly and boldly and hedonistically aim to motivate our behavior.

	What sets off biblical morality from worldly hedonism is not that biblical morality is disinterested, but that it is interested in vastly greater and purer things. Some examples:		What sets off biblical morality from worldly hedonism is not that biblical morality is disinterested, but that it is interested in vastly greater and purer things. Some examples:
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	As Christian hedonists we know that every listener longs for happiness. And we will never tell them to deny or repress that desire. We will instruct them how to glut their soul-hunger on the grace of God. We will paint God's glory in lavish reds and yellows and blues; and hell we will paint with smoky shadows of gray and charcoal.		As Christian hedonists we know that every listener longs for happiness. And we will never tell them to deny or repress that desire. We will instruct them how to glut their soul-hunger on the grace of God. We will paint God's glory in lavish reds and yellows and blues; and hell we will paint with smoky shadows of gray and charcoal.

-	We will bend all our effort in the Holy Spirit to persuade our people that "abuse suffered for the Christ [is] greater ''wealth'' than the treasures of Egypt" (Heb. 11:26); that they can be ''happier'' in giving than receiving (Acts 20:35); they should count everything as loss for the ''surpassing worth''of knowing Christ Jesus their Lord (Phil. 3:8); that the aim of all of Jesus' commandments is that their joy might be full (John 15:11); that if they delight themselves in the Lord He will give them the desire of their heart (Ps. 37:4); that there is great gain in godliness with contentment (1 Tim. 6:6); and that the joy of the Lord is their strength (Neh. 8:11).	+	We will bend all our effort in the Holy Spirit to persuade our people that "abuse suffered for the Christ [is] greater ''wealth'' than the treasures of Egypt" (Heb. 11:26); that they can be ''happier'' in giving than receiving (Acts 20:35); they should count everything as loss for the ''surpassing worth'' of knowing Christ Jesus their Lord (Phil. 3:8); that the aim of all of Jesus' commandments is that their joy might be full (John 15:11); that if they delight themselves in the Lord He will give them the desire of their heart (Ps. 37:4); that there is great gain in godliness with contentment (1 Tim. 6:6); and that the joy of the Lord is their strength (Neh. 8:11).

	We will not try to motivate their ministry by Kantian appeals to duty. But we will remind them that Jesus endured the cross for the ''joy'' that was set before Him (Heb. 12:2), and that Hudson Taylor, at the end of a life full of suffering and trial, said, "I never made a sacrifice" (''Hudson Taylor's Spiritual Secret'', p. 30).		We will not try to motivate their ministry by Kantian appeals to duty. But we will remind them that Jesus endured the cross for the ''joy'' that was set before Him (Heb. 12:2), and that Hudson Taylor, at the end of a life full of suffering and trial, said, "I never made a sacrifice" (''Hudson Taylor's Spiritual Secret'', p. 30).