Came across another "Confessions of a Christian Hedonist" by another Chinese blogger named Daniel Ho.
Look forward to some interesting stuffs there!
Once in a while, 'concerned' folks complain to me that the term 'hedonism' is too carnal and sinful a word to be used to describe Christians. A friend even suggests tat perhaps Piper use that term to appeal to carnal people.
IMHO, we should listen to what Piper says motivates him first... Here he lists 6 reasons to do so.
"If Jesus can describe his coming as the coming of a "thief" (Matthew 24:43,44); if he can extol a "dishonest steward" as a model of shrewdness (Luke 16:8); and if the inspired Psalmist can say that the Lord awoke from sleep "like a strong man shouting because of wine" (Psalm 78:65), then it is a small thing for me to say the passion to glorify God by enjoying him forever is indeed Christian Hedonism."
But the term itself is not important... No one is required to wear funny labels, what matters is the truth it conveys. So what exactly is Christian Hedonism?
"You might turn the world on its head by changing one word in your creed. The old tradition says,
The chief end of man is to glorify God AND enjoy him forever.
"And"? Like ham and eggs? Sometimes you glorify God and sometimes you enjoy him? Sometimes he gets glory, sometimes you get joy? "And" is a very ambiguous word!
Just how do these two things relate to each other?
Evidently the old theologians didn't think they were talking about two things. They said "chief end," not "chief ends." Glorifying God and enjoying him were one end in their minds, not two. How can that be?
Read Desiring God online
Look forward to some interesting stuffs there!
Once in a while, 'concerned' folks complain to me that the term 'hedonism' is too carnal and sinful a word to be used to describe Christians. A friend even suggests tat perhaps Piper use that term to appeal to carnal people.
IMHO, we should listen to what Piper says motivates him first... Here he lists 6 reasons to do so.
"If Jesus can describe his coming as the coming of a "thief" (Matthew 24:43,44); if he can extol a "dishonest steward" as a model of shrewdness (Luke 16:8); and if the inspired Psalmist can say that the Lord awoke from sleep "like a strong man shouting because of wine" (Psalm 78:65), then it is a small thing for me to say the passion to glorify God by enjoying him forever is indeed Christian Hedonism."
But the term itself is not important... No one is required to wear funny labels, what matters is the truth it conveys. So what exactly is Christian Hedonism?
"You might turn the world on its head by changing one word in your creed. The old tradition says,
The chief end of man is to glorify God AND enjoy him forever.
"And"? Like ham and eggs? Sometimes you glorify God and sometimes you enjoy him? Sometimes he gets glory, sometimes you get joy? "And" is a very ambiguous word!
Just how do these two things relate to each other?
Evidently the old theologians didn't think they were talking about two things. They said "chief end," not "chief ends." Glorifying God and enjoying him were one end in their minds, not two. How can that be?
Read Desiring God online
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