Sanctus Real

Happy New Year!

It’s been a little while since I’ve written a post, and I apologize. When the band has time off, it’s hard to find things to write about. I don’t do anything cool when I’m at home. And if I do do something cool, I can never write about it very well. I try, but it doesn’t sound nearly as interesting as when I was doing it. I guess some things are better cherished when they are lived and left in the present tense.

I have been reading a good book though, and I can talk about that. Desiring God by John Piper. It’s been around for a few years (since I was 5), but I’m extremely glad it hasn’t crossed my path until recent. Anytime earlier and it would have been the right book at the wrong time. My life wouldn’t have been ripe for it.

For as long as I’ve been reading Desiring God, you’d expect me to be further along, but I’m only one hundred pages in. It’s taking this long because I’ve had to read every page at least twice to make sure I’m still tracking along. John Piper has a brilliant message, and so far, I’ve found his concept of being a “Christian Hedonist,” as he calls it, a wonderful and exact definition for what I believe is our purpose in life. His argument is this:

“The chief end of man is to glorify God by enjoying him forever.”

It might sound simple and obvious, but read it again, digging for gold (another quote from the book). Maybe it sounds a little bit incredible and life changing too?

Think about this for one moment. Most of us would agree that our ultimate purpose in life is to glorify God, right? Where we might disagree is in the method. Think about this objectively in your personal life…day in, day out, what motivates you to attempt to glorify God?
In other words, what motivates you to be a Christian? Is it duty…the call to pick up your cross and follow him? Is it fear…the repercussions of an eternity in Hell if you don’t? Is it the comfort of tradition…you grew up in the church, and it makes sense, therefore you believe it to be true? Is it joy? Taking pleasure that “God is most glorified in us when we are most satisfied in Him.”

What motivates you to glorify God?

I don’t ask this question because I want to hear the answer. I ask because it’s one we must ask ourselves. We must resolve it honestly in our own hearts. We must know why we do the things we do…and if the honest answer isn’t a good one; we need to rearrange our lives until it is.
Personally, I believe the question “why” is the truest way to realize what kind of soil I’m growing in. Why did I do this or that? Why do I have this belief and not another? It’s not necessarily a safe question (or a quick one…I asked it 10 years ago and am still rearranging things). Plus, I think we’re generally much more afraid to ask it than God is to answer, but it’s one that when asked, I can’t hide from the blatant, reductive truth of the answer. And sometimes not having an answer is the answer, which like it or not, probably means an important journey to discovery is about to roll out in front of me…)

Do you glorify God by enjoying him?

Here’s a litmus test of sorts. Most of us enjoy a good meal, but we probably go about it differently. Day in, day out, how do you eat? Do you eat slowly to enjoy and savor the meal? Do you inhale it to fill up and quickly get back to whatever business you were doing? How do you pick the menu? Do you base it on flavor? Health? Expense? Do you enjoy cooking for yourself, family, or friends? Where do you buy your food? Grocery stores? Fast food restaurants? Gas stations? Farmer’s markets? Any of your answers can be good ones, however keep this in mind:

“So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do it all to the glory of God.” – 1 Corinthians 10:31

Piper’s argument about Christian Hedonism states we glorify God best by enjoying Him. This implies that we do not glorifying Him best by working for his service. We do not glorify Him best by fearing him. We do not even glorify Him best by worshiping him, even though these are things the Bible clearly says to do.

I don’t want to be misunderstood; these things absolutely bring glory to God, and we ought to do them. Think of it this way though…if you enjoy something, what’s often the first thing you do? You praise it. You want to share it. Think about the good meal. You post pictures on Facebook and Twitter, because you want to tell everyone about it. Likewise, if you enjoy God, you want to pick up your cross daily and follow Him. You want to fear and respect Him. You love to worship Him. And when you’re involved in something you enjoy, the fruits of your labor and the fragrance of your worship will be much, much sweeter.

“The chief end of man is to glorify God by enjoying him forever.”

Today is 1.1.11. Whether or not you’re a resolution kind of person, I’d say it’s as good a day as any to ask the questions. How do you enjoy your meal? Do you glorify God by enjoying Him?

I’d love to hear your thoughts on this idea.

Happy New Year!

dan

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Work Cited:

Piper, John. Desiring God. Colorado Springs, CO: Multnomah Books, 2003

“To dig for gold rather than rake for leaves” (13).
“The chief end of man is to glorify God by enjoying him forever” (18).
“God is most glorified in you when you are most satisfied in Him” (10).