Christian Hedonism

I wrote this 3/21/2010 in response to a series of Sunday school lessons that left me heartbroken and frustrated. As a teacher I could not consciously read from the script. Since I am a big believer in looking for what we can agree on rather than fight over, I just loosely followed the ideas he was presenting each day i.e. "The Joy of the Lord is my strength," "What makes God happy," etc. This outline is NOT notes from the Sunday School materials. It sort of follows and rebuffs some of the ideas he was presenting, so some of it may not seem to flow logically if you haven't read the materials or his book. But, for the most part the ideas should stand alone. Much of it is foundational to what I believe and why I do the things I do. I figured that it may help some of you know where I'm coming from.

John Piper week 1

The foundation for Christian Hedonism [seeking after pleasure]

“The Joy of the Lord is my strength.”

Day 1

A. The reason that we can have joy in God is that God Loves us.

1. God is Love (1 John 4: 8, 16)

2. Love= doing what’s best for others regardless the cost to one’s self.

“This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers.” 1 John 3: 16

3. Love produces true joy and peace. They do not grow from any other lasting source. [Gal 5:22-23; 1 John 4:18]

B. God’s original plan for mankind is for us to rule and reign in full fellowship with Him in His Kingdom on the earth. (Kingdom= 1. Love is King. & 2. Obey laws i.e. love Love & Love others.)

1. God’s intent for us was stated in the Garden [Gen 1: 26-28] and is fully accomplished at His return. [Rev 20: 6] It is the overlaying theme of His interaction with us. [Romans 8: 16-21; Luke 12: 32]

The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God’s children. Now if we are children, then we are heirs—heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in his sufferings in order that we may also share in his glory. I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us. The creation waits in eager expectation for the sons of God to be revealed. For the creation was subjected to frustration, not by its own choice, but by the will of the one who subjected it, in hope that the creation itself will be liberated from its bondage to decay and brought into the glorious freedom of the children of God. [Romans 8: 16-21]

NOTE: We must be “in His Image” to have this authority for humans do not carry power in and of ourselves.

2. Satan’s intent is to ascend to the throne of God and be worshiped as God.

You said in your heart, “I will ascend to heaven; I will raise my throne above the stars of God; I will sit enthroned on the mount of assembly, on the utmost heights of the sacred mountain. I will ascend above the tops of the clouds; I will make myself like the Most High.” [Is. 14: 13-14]

3. Since it is impossible for Satan to ascend to the throne of God by overpowering God, Satan tries to ascend to the throne through taking authority from man. Man chose not to rule, but gave Satan authority over himself by subjecting himself to Satan since the Garden. [Gen 3]

4. Therefore, God, knowing this would occur, planned before time to redeem mankind and provide a way for him to return to his intended place of authority.

1 John 3: 8 “He who does what is sinful is of the devil, because the devil has been sinning from the beginning. The reason the Son of God appeared was to destroy the devil’s work.”

5. To sit on the Throne one must become servant of all [Matt 5: 43-48, 23: 10-12]

Mark 10: 42-45 Jesus called them together and said, “You know that those who are regarded as rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their high officials exercise authority over them. Not so with you. Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first must be slave of all. For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”

~I can have strength in the joy of the Lord, because I can utterly trust His Love for me. That place of love breeds happiness, peace and safety. That security gives me the power to stand up, unafraid of the life ahead, ready to take my place as a servant king.

Day 2 & 3

What makes God happy?

A. Us

1. Who we are: Gen. 1: 31; Psalm 35: 27*; Psalm 149:4*; 1 Cor 12:18;

2. What we do: Psalm 104: 34; Psalm 147: 11*; Micah 6:8; Matt. 9:13; Heb. 10: 38; Heb. 11: 5-6*; Heb. 13: 16

3. His relationship with us: Isaiah 58: 1-14; Ezekiel 18: 23 & 33: 11*; Eph. 1:3-4; 1Cor 1:21*

B. His Son

1. Who He is: Matt 3: 17*, 17: 5; Mark 11: 1; Luke 3: 22; 2 Peter 1: 17

2. What He does: Luke 12: 32*; Matt 12: 18; John 6:38

3. His relationship to us: Col 1: 19- 20

C. God’s original intentions fulfilled:

1. Revelation of who God really is:

a. 1 Corinthians 2: 6-16

b. 1 Peter 1: 20

2. Reigning with Him for eternity on the earth [see day 1]

3. Redemption:

a. Gal 3: 8 “The Scripture foresaw that God would justify the Gentiles by faith, and announced the gospel in advance to Abraham: "All nations will be blessed through you."

b. Matt 25: 34, “Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world.”

c. Is 46: 9-13* Piper quotes vs 9 & 10, “Remember the former things, those of long ago; I am God, and there is no other; I am God, and there is none like me. I make known the end from the beginning, from ancient times, what is still to come. I say: My purpose will stand, and I will do all that I please.” BUT he leaves out what God is pleased to do in vs. 13: “my salvation will not be delayed. I will grant salvation to Zion, my splendor to Israel.” His will is not a mystery in this context it is clearly stated. (See also: Isaiah 43: 10-13; 51: 5; 56: 1)

d. Also used out of context is Ps 115: 3. The psalmist wasn’t afraid of God because of His “love” and “faithfulness.” In this context, “Our God is in heaven; he does whatever pleases him” is in contrast to “But their idols are silver and gold, made by the hands of men. They have mouths, but cannot speak.” It is not referring to an unrevealed mysterious will of God. According to this context, God is to be “their help and shield,” and “will bless” us as opposed to idols who can do nothing for us!

e. See also: 2 Tim 1: 9,10; Titus 1: 2 (eternal life)

4. Restoration:

a. Humanity Glorifying God: (Glory= “to give the proper opinion of” [Mirror; weights & measures] We glorify God not only when we give the “proper opinion of Him” through praise, but more exactly when we live out His image like a mirror of Him.)

1) John 17: 5 Jesus prayed, “And now, Father, glorify me in your presence with the glory I had with you before the world began.” Jesus defines the occurrence of this as: “All I have is yours, and all you have is mine. And glory has come to me through them [believers].” [vs 10]

2) We glorify God when we live in such a way that others can understand the proper definition of Love.

3) We can only give others the proper opinion of Love if we abide in Him & He in us.

b. In our pre-fall state: “For he chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight. In love” [Eph 1: 4]

D. God’s happiness is in Love. He is delighted with restored relationship with you. He is works to restore us to our rightful place as sons instead of slaves. [Rom 8: 15; Gal 4: 5]

Day 4

God is for Us!

A. Although one could argue: God’s happiness is in Love, and God is Love. Therefore God’s happiness is in Himself. By the very definition of love, “Love does not seek its own.” [1 Cor. 13: 5] Therefore Love “seeks” for its object—that is us. By making humanity the “apple of His eye,” we do not become an idol for Love we are the fulfillment of it. [see Deut 32: 10; Ps. 17:8; Zech 2: 8]

B. God’s Word says that He’s for us: “If God is for us, who can be against us?” [Rom. 8: 31b]

C. Everything God does is for us—including, but not limited to:

1. Creation [Gen. 1:29, 2: 18] 8. The fruit of the Spirit (Love, Joy, Peace, etc.)

2. Incarnation [Is. 53, John 10: 10; 1 John 4: 9*] 9. Second coming [Rev. 19: 9]

3. Death [Phil. 2: 6-8] 10. Covenant [Ez. 37: 26]

4. Resurrection [1 Cor. 15: 16-19] 11. His Word [1 John 1: 1-4; 3: 17]

5. Ascension [John 16:7] 12. Formed people groups [Acts 17: 26, 27]

6. Discipline [Prov. 3: 12] 13. Rain, sun, crops [Matt 5: 45; Acts 14: 15-16]

7. Passion for His name [Ez. 20: 9-44—He loved the nations! Is. 48: 9, 17-19]

Day 5

Because we are overjoyed we cannot help but express it.

Because Love is the only One who can satisfy us, we delight to express our love in return. Praise overflows from a heart of thanksgiving. Ps. 100 give a great synopsis. Verse 1 says, “Shout for joy to the Lord.” Verse 5 gives us why:”For the Lord is good and his love endures forever; his faithfulness continues through all generations.” Who God is produces thankfulness and joy. It is an outward demonstration born of our inward joy and satisfaction in Him. We do not only offer “words of affirmation,” but also quality time, acts of service, gifts and touching the world as His hand, feet and mouthpiece. Without doing so our love is not complete, for we must “seek” for the object of our professed love. We do not offer praise because it is a compulsory practice, nor do we seek after joy as an end. We seek after God Himself which produces joy in us as a seed growing into fruition. Galatians 5: 22-23 says that Joy is a fruit of the Spirit. If God is in your heart you cannot help but produce the fruit of Joy. This will over flow in praise and thanksgiving.