Deep Dive into Desiring God by John Piper - The Happiness of God: Foundation for Christian Hedonism

The foundation of Christian Hedonism rests upon the absolute sovereignty of God, which serves as the guarantee for His infinite happiness. Since God does all that He pleases and none of His purposes can be frustrated, He must be the happiest of all beings. This divine joy flows from the ultimate ground of Christian Hedonism: God is uppermost in His own affections, and His chief end is to glorify and enjoy Himself forever. His ultimate goal is the display and maximization of His own glory, which is the beauty of His infinite perfections and worth. All of His saving designs, such as redemption and salvation, are described as penultimate acts, performed for the sake of the greater enjoyment He has in glorifying Himself.

This focus on self-exaltation is considered the highest virtue for God, as He would be unrighteous if He failed to take infinite delight in His own supreme worth. For a creature, self-focus is undesirable, but for the Creator, being utterly devoted to Himself is necessary to be for humanity, as He preserves the only object—Himself—capable of satisfying human longings.

Reconciling God's happiness with the existence of sin and misery has historically caused deep struggle for believers, exemplified by the theologian Jonathan Edwards. The resolution is found in understanding that God views events through a dual perspective: a narrow lens where He grieves over sin itself, and a wide-angle lens where He sees the event, including calamities and moral evil, as a necessary component (a dark tile) essential to the magnificent mosaic of redemptive history, which brings Him ultimate joy. God’s sovereign control ensures that even the sinful intentions of men unwittingly serve His wonderful designs, as seen in the crucifixion of Christ.

The pursuit of God's glory culminates in the praises of His people. Human well-being is defined by finding happiness and delight in God, and this enjoyment is incomplete until it is expressed. The act of praising what one values is the appointed consummation of enjoyment. Therefore, God’s persistent pursuit of praise from humanity, and humanity’s pursuit of ultimate pleasure in Him, are revealed to be the exact same pursuit, establishing the core foundation of Christian Hedonism.

Reformed Theologian GPT: https://chat.openai.com/g/g-XXwzX1gnv-reformed-theologian

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