Desiring God by John Piper
Week 11: Appendix 1 — The Indirect Pursuit of Joy / Objections Answered
Read Appendix 1 of Desiring God ("The Ethics of Christian Hedonism" or the section addressing objections to Christian Hedonism). Key Scripture: Matthew 5:11–12; Galatians 5:22–23.
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Piper anticipates the most serious objections to his thesis and answers them with care — this week is a chance to wrestle honestly with the pushback you may have been carrying through the whole book.
Discussion Questions
8 questions1.By this point in the book, what is the objection to Christian Hedonism that has felt most compelling to you personally? What has Piper said or not said that either strengthened or answered that objection?
2.One of the strongest objections to Piper's thesis is that pursuing joy in God is ultimately still selfish — you are still doing it for yourself, even if the object is God. How does Piper answer this? Do you find his answer sufficient?
a.Is there a meaningful difference between "selfishness" (using others for your own gain) and "self-interest" (caring about your own ultimate good)? How does this distinction matter for Piper's argument?
b.What is the difference between pursuing joy AS the end, and pursuing God as the end and finding that he brings joy?
3.Piper addresses the objection that Christian Hedonism sounds too much like the health-and-wealth gospel — the idea that following God should make you happy, healthy, and prosperous. How does Piper distinguish his view from the prosperity gospel?
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