Click on the title link to read a wiki article on the term which was originally coined by pastor John Piper.
This is a continuation of commentary on Parker's poem 'Partial Comfort.'
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We give those devils too much credit when we let hell claim pleasure as its own invention and possession!
It is not the demons who thought up the idea of physical pleasure, nor did they craft the synapses in such a way as to make sexual touch pleasing, or fine food a fulfilling experience. God gave us the capacity to enjoy the physical, emotional, and spiritual union of sex; He granted us the ability to make fine wines; He created bodies capable of dance and song, minds capable of poetry and story.
It is not a defect in sex that causes God to condemn promiscuity, nor is it a defect in grapes that causes God to warn against drunkenness! Ask the addict, ask the porn star, they will tell you how long ago the pleasure left these activities. It is not the sober man who yearns for a life consumed with battered ex-wives, neglected children, and countless rehab and court fines; nor is it the happily married woman who longs for a life of objectification and mistrust, not to mention acyclovir and hemorrhoidectomies...
I have used my own body for pleasure in inappropriate ways, and the longer I did, the more power those activities had over my will, and the less pleasure those activities gave me.
Do you begin to now see why our Teacher calls the devil a liar, a destroyer, and a thief?
Whatever pleasures you can image, they sprang forth from the mind of God! It is evil that twists those pleasures to other ends, or grabs those pleasures at the expense of other greater pleasures, or pursues them in inappropriate times or ways; it is evil that ultimately robs those pleasurable activities of their very pleasure, leaving us instead with an addictive compulsion to an activity that we cannot do without, and yet provides us with little or no pleasure, and much pain and destruction.
Do you see now what sheer nonsense such sentiments as Parker's are? Do you see the ridiculous nature of the claim that God wants to punish us for our pleasure, while the devil wants to give us more of it? Does it not now become clear that it is God who desires us to enjoy 'pleasures forevermore!?'
More to come...
2 comments:
I struggle with the some of these pleasures but so far have stayed strong. With those struggles I have come so very close to stumbling and have come face to face with Satans cunning lies and trickery. It becomes so easy to justify things or to write things off with that devilish whisper in your ear. Great write my brother. Be blessed.
Wow, do you know how long and how many times I had to read these blogs to formulate my own thoughts and understand what was being said! I feel like I have so much to say about this because I feel like this has been my train of thought lately! My apologies because this comment may be long and random!
I agree with the things you say about pleasure, God allows us to experience pleasure because our response to pleasure is a delight to Him! He delights in the fact that we delight in his creation! I love enjoying my five senses. Particularly the taste sense!
I feel like sometimes the line is a fine one in which we are experiencing pleasure. I feel like in America we feel entitled to pleasure. I feel like we feel entitled to gluttony even! We are entitled to be fat, dumb, and happy even if it is prozac induced. Please yourself whatever the cost! Heaven forbid you show any bit of self-control! Did you know that the Bible uses curse words? Prudence, self-control, stewardship, and self-discipline. I hate to be vulgar but I had to bring those out for shock effect.
There is a line between enjoying and abusing pleasurable things. I cross the line all the time when I am enjoying a good meal. Or a great cup of coffee, or some outstanding finger food! I cross the line and spend too much time with people I really enjoy, and I cross the line in not spending enough time with people that I don't enjoy. I cross the line anytime I make a little extra money, not being prudent in my spending choices.
I have to say that I really enjoy the quote from John Knox. When we are most satisfied in God he is most glorified, and when we are satisfied in God we are most free to really and fully enjoy things that please our senses.
The End I guess for now!
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