Desiring God: Meditations of a Christian Hedonist (1986)

Desiring God : Meditations of a Christian Hedonist by John Piper (?)

Piper's magnum opus; it remains one of the most influential books I've ever read, and perhaps his best extended work. ( )

http://thelittlemaninchina.wordpress.com/2011/06/29/book-review-desiring-god-by-... ( )

John Piper is well-known among evangelicals, particularly proponents of Reformed theology within Evangelicalism, for his “Desiring God” ministry. He has dedicated his life to encouraging people to seek the absolute joy and happiness that can be gained only from worshiping God in gladness and complete submission to His will.

All of this started for Piper when he realized the truth that God does not want us to worship Him out of duty, but out of a glad heart. He wrote and published his book on the subject, *Desiring God*, in the mid-1980's, and it has been in print, with revisions, since. Subtitled *Reflections of a Christian Hedonist*, the book makes a powerful case for not just the virtue of seeking joy in God, but also that *not* seeking joy in God and obedience to Him is itself a sin.

The basic premise is that the catechism about man's chief end being to love and enjoy God forever, is not just a nice sentiment, but the very *heart* of the Christian faith, and of our existence. Piper goes about explaining how God's elevation of Himself, and desire for us to love and praise Him actually are facets not just of His Holy, Immutable Nature (though they are certainly a part of that, to be sure), but also of His great Love for us.

Each chapter deals with a different subject, and that subject's relation to a life of true Christian joy. The chapters are filled to the brim with Scriptures, which was one of the best parts of the book. So many authors today go out quoting from a plethora of extra-Biblical sources, and very few passages from the Bible. To be sure, Piper does quote other sources, but he makes these sources fit into the pattern of Scripture, *not* the other way around.

The central emphasis of the book, that of treating God as our greatest treasure, and seeking our joy in Him through service, suffering, and so much else, is a powerful message. I have noticed in my own life where I could have done a lot more in this regard. I have also noticed where at times I have bought into the lie that our service is a duty, and that we ought not feel joy in service and worship. Curiously, Christians seem to emphasize joy in suffering and agree with Piper on this, but not on joy anywhere else. This interesting divergence is perhaps a timely topic for Mr. Piper to write on in the future.

Now for the parts that I have to touch on in any review. Those areas I have some minor disagreement with Piper on.

First of all, the denouncement of material gain and wealth. Piper seems to stretch the meaning of passages to fit his viewpoint that money is not for enjoyment, but only for ministry. While God, through his ministers, does have first dibs, if you will, on our funds and the fruits of our labors, there is nothing in the Bible saying that the enjoyment, or seeking thereof, of said fruits is wrong. Lydia was quite wealthy, and there is no indication that Paul preached to her to get rid of her wealth, or not enjoy any luxuries. Service to God and luxury are not antithetical to each other. Suffering must needs come, but suffering is not the only facet to existence, even to those whose lives are generally defined by their horrid experiences. Also from the Scriptures, one could make mention of Roman officials, Jewish officials, and others, who were not viewed as sinful for enjoying life, while still standing strong for the Lord.

As a caveat, I will reveal to those who do not know so, that I am not AT ALL wealthy, or well-to-do. I am very much near the cusp of the level of lower-middle class, and at times, near the level of poor, at least as US standards go (God blesses us with less poverty than the rest of the world). I doubt that, barring a huge blessing of God, I will ever be wealthy. Nevertheless, the fact that I can not enjoy wealth myself does not change my view of the Bible that those that God blesses with it are not wrong to have some enjoyments with it.

I know the argument of the rich young ruler being instructed by our Lord to give away his possessions is on the tip of someone's tongue. The problem with using that example is in the necessity of taking all of the passages in Scripture in context. Christ was targeting the young man's pride and the barrier that was keeping him from accepting Christ fully; i. e., his possessions being his god, his unwillingness to suffer, and so forth.

The second area is Piper's call for increased missions to Muslim countries. This I AGREE WITH. What is my issue then? Well, simply that someone will listen to Piper's exhortations, and stories about witnessing in other countries, and apply them to heavily Islamic countries, WITHOUT DOING RESEARCH. If the person who wants to witness and be a missionary does not do diligent research, and find a way to adjust the message and lifestyle to the *jihad* (or religious war) minded Muslims, they will have the impact of their heads sawed off with the equivalent of a butter knife on al-Jazeera, and probably very little actual impact on those they want to reach, given that the war-minded radicals who hold so much sway would consider it a provocation. Plus said unprepared missionary may cause an incident that leads to potential war, and to riots killing other Christians. The research, and understanding how the Muslim areas are different, is necessary to have an effect for Christ, while also not being responsible for getting someone else killed.

However, if one does do research, and combines the missions with medical care, education, and so forth, they will have a much better impact. Open a field hospital in a Muslim country, you with God's help, there is a chance that, survive or not, you *will* succeed in drawing others to the Lord, if He wills. I wish Piper had called for diligent research, and not made it sound as if the same methods used on non-Muslim countries would work there. Christians need to do research, and then reach out to the Lost, including lost Muslims, who desperately need Christ. With that caveat, Mr. Piper is right as he is in so much of this wonderful book that God used him to write to help others. Amen and amen! HOOAH!!!

Hedonism, hedonism, hedonism. The word holds too much of a connotation to me, and others, and so I purposely substituted any word for it. I blanched and nearly lost the message at times due to it, until I got used to mentally censoring it. Piper states that part of his goal was to get his message across by sort of shocking people into taking stock of themselves and their relationship with God. For my part, the word “hedonist” and it's many forms did not do this. What did do it, and convict my heart, was realizing that my sense of duty, and not of joy, is a SIN. I thank Piper for bringing this point home to me. Praise God for His Word, and for using Piper to bring it to me and so many others.

I could criticize a few other points, including his lack of understanding in the actual philosophy of Western Civilization. I won't, because it will detract from the central message of this book review. Namely, that this book is one that will benefit any believer who gives it a chance. I feel both a guilt and a peace today. A guilt over what I have done wrong, by not treasuring Jesus and not seeking my joy in Him, and a peace that I know that God desires the best for me, and when I enjoy Him, I am not morally failing Him, but PLEASING Him.

Overall, despite the problems I had with some of the elements in the book, I am thoroughly happy that I read it, and am unreservedly recommending this to others. I honestly can not rate it any higher. It is in the top tier of theological books that I have read, and I really hope you all give it a try. You won't regret it!

Highly Recommended. ( )

As I decided to read Desiring God Revised Edition by John Piper, I was not sure what to expect. This is considered by many a must read book of the modern era. I was greatly blessed by what I read. This book discusses how we are to be as happy as we possibly can in God. It goes into great detail to explain what exactly is what Piper terms a Christian hedonist. Piper then looks at how this applies to many different areas of our lives including worship, marriage, money, missions and many others.

Reading this book was monumental for someone as myself who has struggled to find joy in God at times. The phrase ‘that God is most glorified in us when we are most satisfied in Him’ really struck home with me. The chapter on suffering was very encouraging and informative. As someone who always put sacrifice and suffering on the opposite end of the spectrum as joy, this chapter completely changed my heart and mind on this topic. This chapter showed me how sacrifice is not the removing of joy from my life to please God, but how suffering and joy go hand in hand. For anyone who believes like I did that seeking joy was somehow worldly or wrong, every chapter in this book will challenge that view in one way or another. I am grateful that God placed this book in my hands at the perfect time in my life. I would recommend this book to all. ( )