Today we're beginning a series that highlights the teachings that have been most central to John Piper's ministry. This first post looks at Christian Hedonism, the truth that God is most glorified in us when we are most satisfied in him.
We praise what we enjoy because the delight is incomplete until it is expressed in praise. If we were not allowed to speak of what we value and celebrate what we love and praise what we admire, our joy would not be full.
So if God loves us enough to make our joy full, He must not only give us Himself; He must also win from us the praise of our hearts—not because He needs to shore up some weakness in Himself or compensate for some deficiency, but because He loves us and seeks the fullness of our joy that can be found only in knowing and praising Him, the most magnificent of all Beings. (Desiring God, pg. 49 [paragraphing added])
For more on Christian Hedonism, check out John Piper's article, "Christian Hedonism: Forgive the Label, But Don't Miss the Truth," or the condensed form of it, "We Want You to Be a Christian Hedonist!"
Posts in This Series
