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Yancey continues, “It struck me, after reading my umpteenth book on
problem of pain, that I have never even seen a book on ‘the problem of pleasure.’ Nor have I met a philosopher who goes around shaking his or her head in perplexity over question of why we experience pleasure. Yet it looms as a huge question: philosophical equivalent, for atheists, to problem of pain for Christians. On issue of pleasure, Christians can breathe easier. A good and loving God would naturally want his creatures to experience delight, joy, and personal fulfillment. Christians start from that assumption and then look for ways to explain origin of suffering. But should not atheists have an equal obligation to explain origin of pleasure in a world of randomness and meaninglessness?”
Good point Mr. Yancey. And I think Chesterton would agree. After all, Chesterton was one who raised question. Yes, there is suffering in this world. But God has also provided pleasure. The only warning attached to pleasure is this: It, too, can be misused and taken to extremes.
Fearful of extremes, many churches have become death camps for anything of pleasure. One can’t laugh too much, or feel too good, or enjoy too much sensory pleasures. Because of fear of extremes in pleasure, many people have been turned off by church. This is a shame. God obviously wants His creatures to enjoy life or He would have made us without senses. Anyone with sense can receive that.
I’ll leave you with a few additional words from Yancey’s take on Chesterton. “Evil’s greatest triumph may be its success in portraying religion as an enemy of pleasure when, in fact, religion accounts for its source.” The Bible says that every good and perfect gift comes to us from Father above us. We must never lose sight of One who gives us pleasure. Says Yancey, “The ancients turned good things into idols; we moderns call them addictions. In either case, what ceases to be a servant becomes a tyrant—a principle I had clearly seen at work in my brother and his flower children friends [Yancey here refers to his older brother who became disillusioned with church’s extremes in stamping out pleasures, so he went way of decadence and found emptiness there as well].”
When considering dangers of extremism, it’s best to stay “ordinary.” Aristotle called this virtue—the means between two extremes. The New Testament call this virtue—“let your moderation be known unto all men.” Middle road is not so bad. Actually it is greatest pleasure in long run. Again Bible says that to be content with what one has. Godliness with contentment is great gain (I Timothy 6:6).
Keep faith. Stay course. Jesus is coming soon.
Pastor T. dash…
Pastors a church.
