What is Reddit's opinion of Desiring God, Revised Edition: Meditations of a Christian Hedonist?

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God created us to enjoy him. Basic premise of Christian Hedonism is that God made us for our joy and our greatest joy is in Him in sharing His greatness with us.

To your question, Idolatry is worshipping/pursuing anything above God, which would make God an idolater if He didn’t put himself first above all else.

John Piper outlines the concept of Christian Hedonism really well in a book called Desiring God

https://www.amazon.com/Desiring-God-Revised-Meditations-Christian/dp/1601423101/ref=nodl_?dplnkId=33b9a587-bae9-4123-97cd-53151fc7da8e

It seems you're concerned about cheating again, but if you divorce and remarry for an unbiblical reason, then you will be committing adultery with the new husband or fornication with an unmarried partner.

I'm assuming that you want to please the Lord first. He has to be first place in your life so all decisions should be centered around Him. If that is the case, then stay with your husband and learn to walk in the Spirit so you don't cheat again.

The problem with knowing what extreme attraction is like with someone else versus your husband is an unfortunate consequence of sin and the choices you made. It's not a reason to leave your husband, but it's something you will have to continually give up to the Lord and ask Him to help you bear this.

It sounds like you need to give yourself clear boundaries and accountability. For example, no spending time alone with another man....ever. No texting men for non-business reasons and no flirting. If you're attracted to someone, limit contact and don't give any signs of interest. Cut off wrong thoughts and make it clear (if that person shows interest) that you are married and will not do anything inappropriate. Flee sexual sin. I'm not saying this will be easy, but if you have strong boundaries and have someone to keep you accountable in addition to your husband, you will avoid the worst of it.

I'm sure this is really hard for you. I don't doubt that it's causing you a lot of emotional pain and you are probably suffering from longing for something you can't/don't have. Try to remember that God is sovereign. He could have prevented you from marrying your husband but he didn't. He loves you and wants to use these issues in your life to help you grow closer to Him. He wants you to find your ultimate satisfaction and happiness in Him. I highly recommend reading 2 books by John Piper. The first is "Desiring God," found here https://www.amazon.com/Desiring-God-Revised-Meditations-Christian/dp/1601423101 This book deals with loving God not as a duty but as our greatest pleasure.

And the second is "Future Grace," found here. https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B008LMD8S0 This book talks about the purifying power of living by the promise of future grace. He deals with a issues of lust, covetousness, anxiety, pride, misplaced shame, impatience, bitterness, despondency, and suffering.

There's one more called "Idols of the Heart" by Elyse Fitzpatrick. You can find it here. https://www.amazon.com/Idols-Heart-Learning-Long-Alone-ebook/dp/B004LDLEKM

There will always be temptations but I do believe that you can have a happy marriage and grow in your overwhelming love for the Lord. The path may not be easy, but it will be worth it. If you leave your husband, you will suffer from the consequences of disobedience and I guarantee your life will not be easier. You may think you're getting something that you want (sex) but it will have become an idol and you will see the dark side of giving yourself over to disobedience. Instead of making you free, sin will make you its slave and you will be in bondage to it. Satan wants you to go down this path and he will throw out more temptations, so be ready. Don't fall into the deception of believing that if you have a man you're more attracted to, you will no longer be tempted. That's a lie. You could find a man you're very attracted to and still be tempted by other men you find attractive as well. This is a heart issue before the Lord. Please treat it that way and ask him to help you. He will!

The key here is to learn to put the Lord first in your heart. Read the Bible every day and pray that God would help you to love your husband. As far as feeling grossed out when your husband tried to make out with you, I believe this is an obstacle but it's not impossible to work through this.

Consider these verses and meditate on them.

Mark 12:30 and you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind, and with all your strength.’

Luke 9:23 And He was saying to them all, “If anyone wishes to come after Me, he must deny himself, and take up his cross daily and follow Me.

1 Corinthians 6:9-11 Or do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived; neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor homosexuals, 10 nor thieves, nor the covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor swindlers, will inherit the kingdom of God. 11 Such were some of you; but you were washed, but you were sanctified, but you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and in the Spirit of our God.

1 Corinthians 6:18-20 Flee immorality. Every other sin that a man commits is outside the body, but the immoral man sins against his own body. 19 Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and that you are not your own? 20 For you have been bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body.

John 14:15 “If you love Me, you will keep My commandments.

1 John 2:5 but whoever keeps His word, in him the love of God has truly been perfected. By this we know that we are in Him:

Psalm 34:8-10 O taste and see that the Lord is good;
How blessed is the man who takes refuge in Him!
9 O fear the Lord, you His saints;
For to those who fear Him there is no want.
10 The young lions do lack and suffer hunger;
But they who seek the Lord shall not be in want of any good thing.

John Piper may be best known for writing Desiring God where he expounded on his concept of Christian Hedonism. This is the idea that the Christian life can be lived to pursue joy in Christ, the idea that "God is most glorified in us when we are most satisfied in Him." This concept, along with Piper's gift of speaking resonated with people and made him a large figure in the Young, Restless, and Reformed movement. Piper is a prolific author, having written many other books (notably Don't Waste Your Life, Future Grace, and This Momentary Marriage) and is the founder of Desiring God which has a strong web presence at desiringGod.org and on social media. Piper was also the lead pastor at Bethlehem Baptist Church in Minneapolis for many years and is the current chancellor of that church's college and seminary.

Does that answer your question?

>Most people won't care about me and my totally humble and kind personality. And as a guy I don't think women gravitate toward that kind of personality. Men who put the need of the others before themselves, who do not promote themselves (aka the beta males).

You've got to ask yourself who are you serving? Are you living for the world, or are you living for God?

It will cost you everything.

Many people won't care about you and your humble, kind personality? Who cares! You are better off without people like them, they are only an encumbrance to you if you are seeking to please them. Seek first the kingdom of God. God doesn't promise us a happy me-me-me kind of life on Earth, He promises us eternal happiness in glory with Him forever and ever. Which life will you live for?

Seek happiness in glorifying God. Desiring God by John Piper is a wonderful book on the topic.

>In other words you are more interested in yourself than humanity. Were that trait common, the human species would not move forward and eventually die out.

This is the point I had hoped you'd bring up and that I wanted to address. John Piper addresses it in detail in <em>Desiring God</em>.

It is not bad for God to desire his well-being or glory more than anything else. Why? Because he's, by definition, the best thing ever. If he desired something more than himself, that would invalidate his own infinite worth. That doesn't mean he cannot love us (because he does), but just that he loves us less than he loves himself.

We don't like it when humans are egotistical because it reveals an falsely inflated self-image. God's self-image, however, is not falsely inflated. He is, by definition, perfect. Therefore it wouldn't be egotistical for him to make this known; it would be simply stating the truth.

1) just remember that there are people who face much more difficult questions than you do, and still have faith. For example, the lead scientist on the Human Genome Project (Francis Sellers Collins) is a Christian. So when you face opposition to faith from a biological argument, remember that Francis had heard that argument, and many more, and remains a Christian.

2) There is tons of historical and archaeological evidence to support the bible. However, trying to figure out how a miracle happens is pointless, that's why it's called a miracle.

3) I think you've fallen into the common misconception that being a Christian is about being a better person. You are right to recognize that you don't have to have faith to do good things. The point of Christianity is not to become a better person, the point is to be forgiven. Then, once you've received grace, you praise God for his mercy. Forgiveness and worship is the point.

4) Desiring God