"If I want to know how to live in reality, I must know what God is really like." --Plato
"The chief end of man is to glorify God and enjoy Him forever." --The Westminster Shorter Catechism, 1646 "The goal of this command is love, which comes from a pure heart and a good conscience and a sincere faith" (1 Tim. 1:5, NIV, emphasis added).
The Epicureans (cf. Acts 17) were known as pleasure seekers (today known as hedonism), who were essentially atheists who lived for the here and now: "Eat, drink, and be merry, for tomorrow we die!" (Those on this pursuit are really searching for happiness without God's input.) This saying is actually from the Bible too (cf. Isa. 22:13; 1 Cor. 15:32; Luke 12:19). In the worldview of Secular Humanism, one does just that without living in light of eternity as the Christian. When you remove God from religion or the equation and live for self as the dynamic of one's life, all that's left to relate to is man as "the measure of all things" and this life to think about: no hell to shun, no divine Law to obey, no heaven to prepare for nor to expect and hope for. They don't take any responsibility for their actions, good or evil since they deny Judgment Day and any divine accountability.
This is where Christianity breaks with Secularism and Hedonism: they want believers to get out of their pants and stop interfering with their own mores and values, which they see as relative or unknowable, even nonexistent. The Bible clearly states we are mere stewards of all the resources God has granted us in this life and will be rewarded or judged accordingly; i.e., vis-a-vis our works and that which is done in the flesh. The Epicureans weren't seekers of maximum physical pleasure though, but what they deemed optimum pleasure--a point of contentment and balance, even of intellectual pleasure to boot. NB: Didn't Solomon experience the vanity of intellectual pursuits, obsession with possessions or materialism, and sensual or sexual pleasure-seeking for fulfillment? If you seek pleasure, you'll never find it--seeking God it's part of the package.
The mature Christian (and when Paul "became a man he put away childish things") doesn't live for pleasure-seeking, but for a purpose, meaning, and fulfillment in Christ as he brings glory to Christ through a life of good deeds that are foreordained. He doesn't dwell on just "having fun" as some people are focused on and feel their day is wasted if they got none! Specifically, he would rather be doing the Lord's work than spending the day at Disney World! Don't get me wrong: there is a degree of pleasure watching one's children grow up and enjoy themselves and there is vicarious fun.
But how many parents would go there by themselves without the kids? Most vacations are heavy on relaxation, withdrawal, and recreation, not having fun in a conventional way. The Christian defines fun in a lot different manner than do children and may think it's fun to have a fruitful conversation. The Bible says in Ecclesiastes that man is meant to find enjoyment in his labor and in his eating. The believer's so-called fun is much more sophisticated and is basically R & R so that he is up to getting back to doing the Lord's work or fulfilling his calling.
But the believer doesn't make pleasure-seeking the goal or purpose of his life and doesn't feel left out if he didn't have all the fun he felt entitled to--felt needs are often ignored by God. The whole Christian walk is to be one of abundance and fulfillment in Christ and we are complete in Him. In contrast, it's the job of kids to play and have fun, they are not mature enough to know the fulfillment of finding the image of Christ in work and doing God's will.
The more we understand who we are in Christ, the more focused we who know our God can "be strong and do exploits" (cf. Dan. 11:32). In a way, all play of childhood is merely a foreshadow of what the work-world is like when one has found his higher calling. One may wonder where some believers get their drive, and the only answer is that they know the Lord and are purpose-driven, not fun-driven for our emotions and feelings can be deceptive and mislead us.
This is where the Protestant work ethic enters the equation and one actualizes his potential in Christ to the full. Luther restored dignity to all labor, not just the noble pursuits and we must realize we are a creature not made or hard-wired for idleness, but meant to walk with Christ in a joy-filled life; i.e., "rejoice in the Lord always" (cf. Phil. 4:4). On the other hand, the believer must beware not to be all work and no play, so to speak, and to be no fun, neither the party-pooper nor necessarily the life of the party either; however, things go better with Christ! Our pleasure ought to be in God!
CAVEAT: SATAN WILL ENTICE US WITH HIS DELICACIES AND IF WE FALL IN LOVE WITH THE WORLD AND WHAT IT HAS TO OFFER, IT DIMINISHES OUR APPETITE FOR THE SPIRITUAL AND DIVINE AND WE BECOME SPIRITUALLY HANDICAPPED.
In sum, when one seeks pleasure it eludes him, but when one seeks God pleasure is a byproduct and blessing. In the final analysis, we all must take stock of what drives us, what our pleasure is, what motivates us, and what inspires us and gives us a reason to live--taking a spiritual inventory or checkup; can man survive without God in the picture? Soli Deo Gloria!
"The chief end of man is to glorify God and enjoy Him forever." --The Westminster Shorter Catechism, 1646 "The goal of this command is love, which comes from a pure heart and a good conscience and a sincere faith" (1 Tim. 1:5, NIV, emphasis added).
The Epicureans (cf. Acts 17) were known as pleasure seekers (today known as hedonism), who were essentially atheists who lived for the here and now: "Eat, drink, and be merry, for tomorrow we die!" (Those on this pursuit are really searching for happiness without God's input.) This saying is actually from the Bible too (cf. Isa. 22:13; 1 Cor. 15:32; Luke 12:19). In the worldview of Secular Humanism, one does just that without living in light of eternity as the Christian. When you remove God from religion or the equation and live for self as the dynamic of one's life, all that's left to relate to is man as "the measure of all things" and this life to think about: no hell to shun, no divine Law to obey, no heaven to prepare for nor to expect and hope for. They don't take any responsibility for their actions, good or evil since they deny Judgment Day and any divine accountability.
This is where Christianity breaks with Secularism and Hedonism: they want believers to get out of their pants and stop interfering with their own mores and values, which they see as relative or unknowable, even nonexistent. The Bible clearly states we are mere stewards of all the resources God has granted us in this life and will be rewarded or judged accordingly; i.e., vis-a-vis our works and that which is done in the flesh. The Epicureans weren't seekers of maximum physical pleasure though, but what they deemed optimum pleasure--a point of contentment and balance, even of intellectual pleasure to boot. NB: Didn't Solomon experience the vanity of intellectual pursuits, obsession with possessions or materialism, and sensual or sexual pleasure-seeking for fulfillment? If you seek pleasure, you'll never find it--seeking God it's part of the package.
The mature Christian (and when Paul "became a man he put away childish things") doesn't live for pleasure-seeking, but for a purpose, meaning, and fulfillment in Christ as he brings glory to Christ through a life of good deeds that are foreordained. He doesn't dwell on just "having fun" as some people are focused on and feel their day is wasted if they got none! Specifically, he would rather be doing the Lord's work than spending the day at Disney World! Don't get me wrong: there is a degree of pleasure watching one's children grow up and enjoy themselves and there is vicarious fun.
But how many parents would go there by themselves without the kids? Most vacations are heavy on relaxation, withdrawal, and recreation, not having fun in a conventional way. The Christian defines fun in a lot different manner than do children and may think it's fun to have a fruitful conversation. The Bible says in Ecclesiastes that man is meant to find enjoyment in his labor and in his eating. The believer's so-called fun is much more sophisticated and is basically R & R so that he is up to getting back to doing the Lord's work or fulfilling his calling.
But the believer doesn't make pleasure-seeking the goal or purpose of his life and doesn't feel left out if he didn't have all the fun he felt entitled to--felt needs are often ignored by God. The whole Christian walk is to be one of abundance and fulfillment in Christ and we are complete in Him. In contrast, it's the job of kids to play and have fun, they are not mature enough to know the fulfillment of finding the image of Christ in work and doing God's will.
The more we understand who we are in Christ, the more focused we who know our God can "be strong and do exploits" (cf. Dan. 11:32). In a way, all play of childhood is merely a foreshadow of what the work-world is like when one has found his higher calling. One may wonder where some believers get their drive, and the only answer is that they know the Lord and are purpose-driven, not fun-driven for our emotions and feelings can be deceptive and mislead us.
This is where the Protestant work ethic enters the equation and one actualizes his potential in Christ to the full. Luther restored dignity to all labor, not just the noble pursuits and we must realize we are a creature not made or hard-wired for idleness, but meant to walk with Christ in a joy-filled life; i.e., "rejoice in the Lord always" (cf. Phil. 4:4). On the other hand, the believer must beware not to be all work and no play, so to speak, and to be no fun, neither the party-pooper nor necessarily the life of the party either; however, things go better with Christ! Our pleasure ought to be in God!
CAVEAT: SATAN WILL ENTICE US WITH HIS DELICACIES AND IF WE FALL IN LOVE WITH THE WORLD AND WHAT IT HAS TO OFFER, IT DIMINISHES OUR APPETITE FOR THE SPIRITUAL AND DIVINE AND WE BECOME SPIRITUALLY HANDICAPPED.
In sum, when one seeks pleasure it eludes him, but when one seeks God pleasure is a byproduct and blessing. In the final analysis, we all must take stock of what drives us, what our pleasure is, what motivates us, and what inspires us and gives us a reason to live--taking a spiritual inventory or checkup; can man survive without God in the picture? Soli Deo Gloria!
No comments:
Post a Comment