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EP 81 | Is John Piper’s Christian Hedonism biblical? (Part 1)
Guest Speaker: Dr. Ardel Caneday, discussing John Piper’s concept of Christian Hedonism, its theological implications, and related doctrines.
Core Concept of Christian Hedonism: Defined by John Piper as “God is most glorified in us when we are most satisfied in Him.”
Rooted in Piper’s book Desiring God (1986), building on Vernard Eller’s use of “hedonism” to describe finding ultimate joy in God.
Influenced by Jonathan Edwards, C.S. Lewis, and Piper’s father, emphasizing joy as central to glorifying God.
Grounded in biblical texts like Philippians 1:20–23, where Paul equates death as “gain” because it brings greater satisfaction in Christ.
Theological Influences: Jonathan Edwards: Emphasized affectional Calvinism, where God is glorified through human joy in Him.
C.S. Lewis: Argued that human desires are too weak, not too strong, and that true joy is found in God, not worldly pleasures.
Westminster Catechism: Piper reinterprets “Man’s chief end is to glorify God and enjoy Him forever” as glorifying God by enjoying Him.
Related Theological Movements: Wesleyan Perfectionism, Higher Life, Deeper Life, Spirit-Filled Life: These movements emphasize a second work of grace or a deeper spiritual experience post-conversion, often associated with sanctification.
Caneday likely critiques whether such perfectionism shifts focus to personal fulfillment over sacrificial love for others, potentially fostering selfishness.
Keswick Theology: Historically tied to dispensationalism, emphasizing a “higher life” of spiritual victory.
Shift in the 1980s: Old-guard Keswick teaching faded, replaced by progressive dispensationalism, which embraces the “already and not yet” of God’s kingdom and partial preterism, moving away from “higher life” ideals.
Lordship Salvation: A doctrine emphasizing that true faith includes submission to Christ’s lordship, contrasting with the Free Grace movement.
Associated with Piper and others like those at Masters Seminary (e.g., Dr. Luke Fraser, influenced by Piper).
Free Grace Movement: Advocated by figures like Bob Wilkin, it emphasizes salvation by faith alone without requiring works or lordship, critiquing Lordship Salvation.
Linked to the “carnal Christian” doctrine, which posits believers can remain unfruitful without losing salvation, a concept later debated in the Lordship Salvation controversy.
Justification and Sanctification: B.B. Warfield’s View: Justification and sanctification are distinct acts of God, received through separate acts of faith, contrasting with views that blend them (e.g., in perfectionist theologies).
Caneday may explore how Piper’s Christian Hedonism interacts with these doctrines, potentially prioritizing personal joy over sacrificial obedience.
Eudaimonism vs. Hedonism: Eudaimonism, a philosophical term for human flourishing, is comparable to Christian Hedonism but lacks the negative connotations of “hedonism.”
Caneday may suggest Piper could have used “eudaimonism” to avoid the baggage of “hedonism,” which critics argue sounds like clickbait or implies selfishness.
Critiques of Christian Hedonism: Selfishness Concern: Critics argue that focusing on personal joy in God may lead to self-centeredness, busyness, or frustration, undermining sacrificial love for others.
lIdolatry Charge: Some claim Piper’s view prioritizes pleasure over God, violating the first commandment. Piper counters that pursuing joy in God aligns with loving God and others.
Scriptural Support: Critics like those at Bible League Trust argue Christian Hedonism lacks robust biblical grounding, reducing the Christian life to pursuing emotions.
Pietism and Gnosticism: Pietism, with its emphasis on personal spirituality, may be seen as sinful if it fosters a Gnostic-like view that devalues the material world (“things of earth are bad”).
Caneday may critique Christian Hedonism for a potential Gnostic dimension, focusing on internal joy over practical obedience.
Piper’s Defenders:Tom Schreiner’s Faith Alone: Piper wrote the foreword, aligning with Schreiner’s emphasis on justification by faith alone, though critics of Piper’s articulation may argue he poorly communicates this balance.
Masters Seminary: Figures like Dr. Luke Fraser, influenced by Piper, support his emphasis on joy in God as biblically grounded.
Pietism and Repentance:Caneday may question whether Piper’s focus on joy reflects pietistic tendencies that neglect repentance or practical holiness.
Reference to Al Mohler suggests a broader discussion on whether pastors, including Piper, should repent for theological missteps or poor articulations.
Biblical References:Philippians 1:13–14: Likely cited to argue that justification must be evidenced by works, not merely hypothetical faith, aligning with Lordship Salvation over Free Grace.
Historical Context:Grace Theological Seminary: Piper’s formulations reflect research from his time at such institutions, engaging with evangelical debates.
Progressive Dispensationalism: A shift from traditional dispensationalism, rejecting Keswick’s “higher life” for a more integrated view of God’s kingdom.
Additional NotesIs Hedonism Clickbait? The term “Christian Hedonism” is provocative, potentially attracting attention but risking misunderstanding as endorsing selfish pleasure. Piper defends it as a biblical call to find ultimate joy in God.
Fruit of Hedonism: Critics argue it may lead to selfishness, focusing on personal joy over others’ needs, though Piper insists joy in God fuels love for others (2 Corinthians 8:2).
Pietism as Sinful? If pietism overemphasizes personal spirituality at the expense of obedience or community, it may be critiqued as sinful or Gnostic, devaluing the material world.
Refutation of Christian Hedonism: Caneday’s discussion likely draws on critiques like those in A Critical Examination of John Piper’s Christian Hedonism, which argue it prioritizes pleasure over God’s glory as a motive.
___________________
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By Tearing Down High PlacesGuest Speaker: Dr. Ardel Caneday, discussing John Piper’s concept of Christian Hedonism, its theological implications, and related doctrines.
Core Concept of Christian Hedonism: Defined by John Piper as “God is most glorified in us when we are most satisfied in Him.”
Rooted in Piper’s book Desiring God (1986), building on Vernard Eller’s use of “hedonism” to describe finding ultimate joy in God.
Influenced by Jonathan Edwards, C.S. Lewis, and Piper’s father, emphasizing joy as central to glorifying God.
Grounded in biblical texts like Philippians 1:20–23, where Paul equates death as “gain” because it brings greater satisfaction in Christ.
Theological Influences: Jonathan Edwards: Emphasized affectional Calvinism, where God is glorified through human joy in Him.
C.S. Lewis: Argued that human desires are too weak, not too strong, and that true joy is found in God, not worldly pleasures.
Westminster Catechism: Piper reinterprets “Man’s chief end is to glorify God and enjoy Him forever” as glorifying God by enjoying Him.
Related Theological Movements: Wesleyan Perfectionism, Higher Life, Deeper Life, Spirit-Filled Life: These movements emphasize a second work of grace or a deeper spiritual experience post-conversion, often associated with sanctification.
Caneday likely critiques whether such perfectionism shifts focus to personal fulfillment over sacrificial love for others, potentially fostering selfishness.
Keswick Theology: Historically tied to dispensationalism, emphasizing a “higher life” of spiritual victory.
Shift in the 1980s: Old-guard Keswick teaching faded, replaced by progressive dispensationalism, which embraces the “already and not yet” of God’s kingdom and partial preterism, moving away from “higher life” ideals.
Lordship Salvation: A doctrine emphasizing that true faith includes submission to Christ’s lordship, contrasting with the Free Grace movement.
Associated with Piper and others like those at Masters Seminary (e.g., Dr. Luke Fraser, influenced by Piper).
Free Grace Movement: Advocated by figures like Bob Wilkin, it emphasizes salvation by faith alone without requiring works or lordship, critiquing Lordship Salvation.
Linked to the “carnal Christian” doctrine, which posits believers can remain unfruitful without losing salvation, a concept later debated in the Lordship Salvation controversy.
Justification and Sanctification: B.B. Warfield’s View: Justification and sanctification are distinct acts of God, received through separate acts of faith, contrasting with views that blend them (e.g., in perfectionist theologies).
Caneday may explore how Piper’s Christian Hedonism interacts with these doctrines, potentially prioritizing personal joy over sacrificial obedience.
Eudaimonism vs. Hedonism: Eudaimonism, a philosophical term for human flourishing, is comparable to Christian Hedonism but lacks the negative connotations of “hedonism.”
Caneday may suggest Piper could have used “eudaimonism” to avoid the baggage of “hedonism,” which critics argue sounds like clickbait or implies selfishness.
Critiques of Christian Hedonism: Selfishness Concern: Critics argue that focusing on personal joy in God may lead to self-centeredness, busyness, or frustration, undermining sacrificial love for others.
lIdolatry Charge: Some claim Piper’s view prioritizes pleasure over God, violating the first commandment. Piper counters that pursuing joy in God aligns with loving God and others.
Scriptural Support: Critics like those at Bible League Trust argue Christian Hedonism lacks robust biblical grounding, reducing the Christian life to pursuing emotions.
Pietism and Gnosticism: Pietism, with its emphasis on personal spirituality, may be seen as sinful if it fosters a Gnostic-like view that devalues the material world (“things of earth are bad”).
Caneday may critique Christian Hedonism for a potential Gnostic dimension, focusing on internal joy over practical obedience.
Piper’s Defenders:Tom Schreiner’s Faith Alone: Piper wrote the foreword, aligning with Schreiner’s emphasis on justification by faith alone, though critics of Piper’s articulation may argue he poorly communicates this balance.
Masters Seminary: Figures like Dr. Luke Fraser, influenced by Piper, support his emphasis on joy in God as biblically grounded.
Pietism and Repentance:Caneday may question whether Piper’s focus on joy reflects pietistic tendencies that neglect repentance or practical holiness.
Reference to Al Mohler suggests a broader discussion on whether pastors, including Piper, should repent for theological missteps or poor articulations.
Biblical References:Philippians 1:13–14: Likely cited to argue that justification must be evidenced by works, not merely hypothetical faith, aligning with Lordship Salvation over Free Grace.
Historical Context:Grace Theological Seminary: Piper’s formulations reflect research from his time at such institutions, engaging with evangelical debates.
Progressive Dispensationalism: A shift from traditional dispensationalism, rejecting Keswick’s “higher life” for a more integrated view of God’s kingdom.
Additional NotesIs Hedonism Clickbait? The term “Christian Hedonism” is provocative, potentially attracting attention but risking misunderstanding as endorsing selfish pleasure. Piper defends it as a biblical call to find ultimate joy in God.
Fruit of Hedonism: Critics argue it may lead to selfishness, focusing on personal joy over others’ needs, though Piper insists joy in God fuels love for others (2 Corinthians 8:2).
Pietism as Sinful? If pietism overemphasizes personal spirituality at the expense of obedience or community, it may be critiqued as sinful or Gnostic, devaluing the material world.
Refutation of Christian Hedonism: Caneday’s discussion likely draws on critiques like those in A Critical Examination of John Piper’s Christian Hedonism, which argue it prioritizes pleasure over God’s glory as a motive.
___________________
Join TDHP Facebook Page – https://www.facebook.com/share/g/1Yy5NVp3NQ/
Get Email Notifications of new episodes – https://tearingdownhighplaces.com/join-us/
Follow us on X! – https://x.com/TearingDownHP
Listen on Apple – https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/tearing-down-high-places/id1777616971
Watch on Rumble – https://rumble.com/c/c-6289037
Also on Spotify – https://open.spotify.com/show/2ZBp4x9r2tdyjmXIe3mnbP
Tell us what channels and topics are most important to you – email us at [email protected]
Don’t forget to like and share!!