Christian Hedonism – And Why We Almost Put The Book Down

Hi Readers!Thanks for sticking with us through the first season of Well Worn Pages! We’ve had so much fun creating these episodes, and we’ve learned a lot – about podcasting, about these books, and honestly, about ourselves. We’re still figuring it out and we’d love to hear from you. What’s working? What could be better? Your feedback is important.We’re excited to start our second book this week: Desiring God: Meditations of a Christian Hedonism by John Piper.Read the Introduction, Chapters 1 & 2, and take a peek at the Appendix. Then tune in to the episode and tell us what you think!Now On With The ShowWe have a confession: this week’s reading was challenging.Right from the start, John Piper goes after the big questions – sin, evil, and God’s sovereignty. He posed some serious questions that drove us both back to Scripture. To ask ourselves: Wait. Do I actually believe this?And that’s a good thing. That’s the whole point.No matter what we think of Piper’s theology or title, we both came to some important conclusions. Wrestling with the hard questions of our faith isn’t optional – it’s how we grow. We study. We think. We push back. And, ultimately, we find our answers in the truth of Scripture.That’s the reason we started this podcast – to stretch us and have those conversations in community, where we don’t have to wrestle alone.We’re just getting started with this one, and we want to hear from you. Are you reading along? What did you think of Piper’s opening chapters? What are you hoping to take away from this book?Jump into the conversation by leaving a comment below.Think About It:Both Christy and Lori talked about sitting in the tension of not having all the answers — especially when it comes to hard questions like God’s sovereignty and the existence of evil. Lori put it this way: the things we know about God are what hold us through the things we don’t understand. What are the “knowns” you’re holding onto right now, and where are you still wrestling with the unknown?We read every comment!Suggested Reading Schedule & Episode GuideEpisode 5 (This episode): Christian Hedonism: Why We Almost Put The Book Down (Intro, Chapters 1 & 2, and Appendix)Episode 6: The Hard Way: Joy, Love, and What the Cross Teaches Us About Both (Chapters 3 & 4)Episode 7: Before You Pick Up Your Phone: A Conversation About Scripture and Prayer (Chapters 5 & 6)Episode 8: Where Is Your Heart: An Honest Conversation About Money, Marriage & Who We’re Really Living For (Chapters 7 & 8)Episode 9: With Persecutions: The Part of the Promise We Skip Over (Chapters 9 & 10)Episode SummaryIn this debut episode on Desiring God: Meditations of a Christian Hedonist by John Piper, Christy and Lori lay important groundwork before diving in — establishing that they approach every book as instructed by Acts 17, holding it up against Scripture as the authority for every question. They unpack Piper’s term “Christian hedonism,” wrestle with whether joy is a fruit of salvation or a requirement for it, grapple honestly with the question of God’s sovereignty and evil, and land on two standout ideas from chapters one and two: the Hebrew word for “delight” as luxuriant self-indulgence in God’s presence, and conversion evidenced by treating God himself — not his gifts — as the treasure worth everything.6 Key Takeaways* Read everything as a Berean (see Acts 17). Piper’s work — like any book outside Scripture — should be held against the Bible itself.* “Christian hedonism” is a provocative term with a legitimate point. We had to dig deep to wrap our minds around accepting this term. But the core idea — that finding your deepest joy in God is not optional or peripheral — is worth considering, even if the label creates friction.* The Hebrew word for “delight” (Psalm 37:4) refers to luxuriant self-indulgence. Delighting in God isn’t a mild preference — it’s an extravagant, fully immersed communion with an unlimited, eternal God.* God’s sovereignty and evil can exist together without requiring an explanation. What we know about God — that he is good, faithful, and redemptive — holds us through what we don’t know. It’s ok to sit in the tension of not understanding.* The real test of conversion: would you want heaven without God? Piper’s question from p. 63 anchored the episode’s close. It cuts past behavior and belief-language straight to heart motivation — do you want God, or do you want what God gives?Next Week: Join us as we continue our discussion on Desiring God. We’ll be covering chapters 3 & 4 on the topic of worship and love. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit wellwornpages.substack.com