Christian hedonism is a theological concept that finds its basis in the Bible. It proposes that humans were created by God to pursue their own pleasure and happiness in Him. The central tenet is that glorifying God and enjoying Him forever is the highest pursuit of human existence. Christian hedonism affirms that the pursuit of happiness in God is essential to the Christian life. It challenges the notion that seeking pleasure is ungodly, suggesting instead that delighting in God is the ultimate purpose for which humans were made.
The term “Christian hedonism” was coined by Christian author and theologian John Piper in his 1986 book Desiring God: Meditations of a Christian Hedonist. Piper argues that joy and pleasure in God are not optional extras in the Christian life, but utterly essential to glorifying God. He states that God is most glorified in us when we are most satisfied in Him. Far from advocating self-centeredness or licentiousness, Piper contends that pursuing joy in God leads to greater obedience, love, sacrifice and service.
Christian hedonism has several key doctrinal pillars derived from the Bible:
- God created humans to pursue happiness in Him (Psalm 16:11, Psalm 37:4). Our ultimate purpose is to enjoy God forever.
- Delighting in God is the essence of glorifying Him. He is most glorified in us when we are most satisfied in Him (1 Corinthians 10:31).
- We must make seeking joy and pleasure in God our life’s aspiration. Holiness is a byproduct of treasuring Christ above all things (Matthew 13:44).
- Love for God grows by focusing on His desirable qualities revealed in Scripture (Psalm 73:25-26). Meditating on God’s excellencies fans the flames of affection.
- Faith trusts in future grace and joy from God. It believes God’s promises of pleasure in Him will come to pass (Psalm 16:11).
Piper and other proponents of Christian hedonism cite numerous biblical texts to argue that delighting in God is central to glorifying Him. For example, the Westminster Shorter Catechism states that man’s chief end is to glorify God and enjoy Him forever. Psalms 16:11 and 37:4 proclaim the pleasures and happiness found in God. In Matthew 13:44, Jesus compares the kingdom of heaven to a treasure that a man sells all he has to possess, depicting supreme joy in Christ. And Philippians 3:8 expresses valuing Christ above all things as “surpassing worth.” Such verses reveal enjoying God to be the ultimate purpose of human existence.
Christian hedonism rejects the notion that seeking one’s own pleasure is inherently sinful. Rather, it claims the problem is finding happiness in the wrong things, not in happiness itself. Tim Keller explains, “Sin isn’t only doing bad things, it is putting good things in the place of God.” Christian hedonism argues that redirecting our search for pleasure to God empties selfishness from the pursuit of joy. When God is our pleasure and delight, His glory shines through our satisfaction in Him.
Piper describes how this reorientation of motivation works practically: “We do a good deed ultimately not because it benefits a person…but because it brings us pleasure to see the reflection of God’s grace in its beneficiary.” Whereas unbelievers pursue happiness in creation, Christian hedonists pursue it in the Creator, transforming motivation from self-centeredness to God-centeredness.
Christian hedonism affirms that affections are essential to the Christian life. Emotions like joy and longing cannot be disconnected from genuinely glorifying God. Piper states, “Thoughts fuel feelings. God designed things this way so that the cognitive fuel that feeds the fire of affections would come through the Word of God.” Meditating on Scripture ignites heart-felt affection for God.
This emphasis on delighting in God challenges tendencies to make Christianity overly duty-focused. Christian hedonism suggests that obeying God from mere obligation, not affection, is sub-Christian. It contends that the Bible consistently depicts love for God and delight in Him, not just duty, motivating biblical saints. Therefore, pursuing pleasure in God is not optional, but fundamental to glorifying Him.
Christian hedonism extends to all of life, asserting that every activity should be pursued hedonistically unto God’s glory. Family, work, leisure, and ministry all present opportunities to enjoy God in different ways. Piper explains, “Nothing is excluded from our joy in God. All creation, all history, all people, from Satan to the galaxies to squirrels and salamanders – everything is included.” This hedonistic approach to all of life fuels greater joy and glorifying of God.
Critics of Christian hedonism caution that it can become hyper-individualistic, detached from the church, and almost mystical in pursuing extraordinary experiences of God. They also warn it risks making God a means to our pleasure rather than the end of it. Additionally, critics say Christian hedonism does not sufficiently address suffering and lament in the fallen world. Proponents respond that proper teaching overcomes such dangers of imbalance or misapplication.
In summary, Christian hedonism claims that humans were designed by God to find supreme happiness in Him. It asserts that pursuing pleasure in God and treasuring Christ above all is essential to a God-glorifying life. This theological concept, popularized by John Piper, challenges duty-based faith and calls Christians to also cultivate heart-felt affections for God through focusing on His beauty revealed in Scripture.
