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Christian Network

Intensely enjoying something does not necessarily make it into an idol.

If the ability to experience a particular pleasure is God-given, and the way and time it is enjoyed is God-approved, then it is safe to say that a Christian’s enjoyment of it is God-ordained. Unfortunately, throughout the two-millennia history of the church there have always been a number of baleful voices calling for the demonization of any delight but that which comes from the direct worship of God (in fact, today, some would attack even that most supreme of pleasures, labeling it all "emotionalism.") Is it overstepping to suggest that many of these voices come from people who cannot or will not allow themselves to enjoy the good gifts God gives us in this life and who envy other’s ability to enjoy them?

We are often told by such individuals that Christianity is a religion of self-denial. This is certainly true in the sense that we are called to die to the selfish aspects of our old nature. It is also true that we are called to be self-controlled, not chasing very opportunity for gratification that the world we now live in offers us. What it does not mean is that we are to deny ourselves pleasurable experiences for the mere reason that they are pleasurable. Such an extreme rejection of all such experiences has a name, extreme asceticism, and as the apostle Paul tells us, its practice does nothing to restrain sinful sensuality. In fact such asceticism can easily lead to that particularly satanic sin, spiritual pride. Many ascetics find it quite enjoyable to declare their superiority over anyone who is not an ascetic!

In 1 Timothy 6:17 Paul tells us that it is God "… who richly provides us with everything for our enjoyment." The people in our churches who attack "enjoyment" as some kind of synonym for sin would do well to meditate on this verse before they declare the simple experience of innocent pleasures in life to be tantamount to hedonism. God made his finest creation with the ability to feel delight. This should be no surprise as we are made in the image of a God who Himself takes pleasure in all the good things he has created.

There is such a thing as an inordinate love for pleasure, even pleasure that God does not call inherently sinful. This is where the specter of idolatry does rear its head. Some years ago I heard a radio pastor give a sermon on what he called "the lust for bliss." What he referred to is the fallen human desire to avoid pain and maximize good feelings at any cost. When we make the enjoyment of anything more important in our lives than loving and obeying our Lord we make for ourselves an idol. It is no doubt wise to examine our hearts on a regular basis to make sure we have not let some pleasure crowd out and replace our devotion to Jesus Christ. It should also go without saying that any activity that is specifically condemned in the Scripture is never right to enjoy.

With these caveats said, many of us still need to allow ourselves to experience more of what God has made for us to enjoy on this side of Heaven. Whether it is riding a beautiful horse or listening to a good piece of music, a swim in the ocean or reading exquisitely written literature we, as children of the Creator of all good things, have the privilege to enjoy, even intensely enjoy, these things in the right way. Once God Himself is first in our hearts He bids us to live an abundant life that embraces the legitimate pleasures He has made for us to enjoy.