Give it Up

Text: 1 Peter 4:1-19

Hedonism. Some people have never heard of it, but are nonetheless deeply immersed in it. Some have heard of it and recognize it as one of those terms in an ethics class somewhere in the past, but could not define it very well. Others have no clue what it is. What it refers to is something incompatible with Christian holiness. And it is so thoroughly engrained in much of our culture that we do not recognize it.

it refers to the idea that the highest good is maximizing pleasure and minimizing pain. Hedonism does not ask questions such as whether a given action or attitude is right or wrong in itself; it does not evaluate the actions of other people, other than to the extent they may cause pain to one affected by the action. While more sophisticated versions may give a nod toward long-term consequences, it is only with the anticipation of future pleasure to be enhanced or pain to be curtailed. It's a good fit for a world in which we are unsure of what truth is, especially when related to things that ought and ought not to be done. It is made even more attractive when the means of attaining pleasure are being marketed perpetually, sold at a discount.

We are, in fact counter-cultural when we do not play along with the hedonists, particularly if we once ran at the head of the pack. Taking on the attitude that Christ had--one of holiness--means many things, but close to the top of the list is a different mindset toward pain and pleasure. Peter does not tell us that everyone who is a Christian is going to have a hard time with suffering. But he does tell us to arm ourselves, and to do so by changing our attitude if that attitude is dominated by the idea that we must avoid suffering, especially at the hand of our peers and associates in life. If that idea still drives us, we'll never be prepared to follow Jesus. Relatedly, the "deep love" we are to show for each other means that we will undoubtedly be called upon to forego pleasures in order to make that love real, giving what might have been spent on ourselves for the needs of others. And we will spend our energies and abilities in their service, rather than to gain more for our consumption.

Holiness is very much a this-world phenomenon. It has eyes toward the next, with full knowledge that the Lord has gone before us to lead us there. But it must begin in the mind and heart, now.