Why Do Many Christians Feel Guilty About Pleasure?

What this episode covers

Many Christians feel an uneasy tension when it comes to pleasure.If following Jesus means sacrifice, surrender, and denying ourselves… why did God create a world filled with beauty, laughter, food, relationships, and meaningful work?In this episode of Ask Mom and Dad, Greg and Tonya continue their discussion of Joe Rigney’s book Strangely Brightand wrestle with a question many believers quietly carry:Why do Christians sometimes distrust pleasure?Drawing from Scripture and personal experience, they explore the difference between enjoying God’s gifts and turning those gifts into idols. The conversation touches on missionary sacrifice, cultural attitudes toward enjoyment, and the biblical idea that Jesus is better than everything—without requiring us to reject the good things God created.Together they unpack how pleasure can either compete with God or become a signpost pointing back to Him.If you’ve ever wondered:Is enjoying life less spiritual?Why do some Christians feel guilty about pleasure?Did God design the world to be enjoyed?This conversation will challenge how you think about joy, sacrifice, and gratitude in the Christian life.

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