Hedonism

Normally it is a bad thing to be a hedonist. A hedonist is a person who believes that the pursuit of pleasure is the chief good. This view is the underpinnings for the "if it feels good, do it" perspective. It is, in fact, a very popular view today. Do whatever makes you happy. Moralists, of course, will raise their hands. "No, no," they will cry, "personal pleasure is not the chief good, and those of you who think so are immoral." Very often we Christians are among those moralists. "No, no, the pursuit of God is the chief good." There is, in fact, a particular line of thinking that argues that if you are motivated by pleasure, regardless of whether it is reward for doing good or avoiding damnation or any such thing, then the good you are doing is void. The only honorable motivation for doing good is if there is no reward, no pleasure in it.

And then David raises his hand.

In Your presence is fullness of joy; In Your right hand there are pleasures forever (Psa 16:11).

"No, no, I beg to differ," he argues in this psalm. "In God's hand there are pleasures forever. In God's presence is the only place you will find fullness of joy." David, you see, was somewhat of a hedonist himself. The pleasure he found to be the chief good was the presence of God.

I'm thinking that perhaps we might want to amend our common argument about the evils of pleasure seeking. I'm thinking that a pursuit of mundane, earthly pleasures would pale in comparison to the pleasures and joy found in God. That would be a valid, moral, even wise hedonist position to take.