Hedonism

LifeGate Church has been taking a look at six worldviews that we compete against. The one we are looking further into today is hedonism. This one has peeked my curiosity, so I delved a little deeper into the beginnings of such a view of what life should be.

What follows is adapted from The Encyclopedia Britannica:

The philosopher Aristippus (born c. 435 BC, Cyrene, Libya...died 366 BC, Athens [at 69 yrs. of age])was one of the disciples of Socrates. He was the founder of the Cyrenaic school of hedonism, the ethic of pleasure. Aristippus believed that the good life rests upon the belief that among human values pleasure is the highest and pain the lowest...and one that should be avoided. He also warned his students to avoid inflicting, as well as suffering, pain. Like Socrates, Aristippus took great interest in practical ethics. While he believed that men should dedicate their lives to the pursuit and enjoyment of pleasure, he also believed that they should use good judgment and exercise self-control to temper powerful human desires. His motto was, "I possess, I am not possessed."

Pleasure, in and of itself, is not bad...as some religions would have you to believe. Most things in life can lead to a destructive lifestyle...and most things in life can lead to a fulfilled lifestyle. Bad or good. It's up to you. Hedonism would tell you that pleasure aka happiness is what life should revolve around. Christianity would tell you "Like a city that is broken into and without walls, is a man who has no control over his spirit." (Prov. 25:28) Some things in life bring pain. We cannot avoid that. But we CAN live life in such a way that when the pain comes, we can have peace and not beat ourselves up for the part we may or may not have played in that pain. If our lives are centered, are secure upon the rock (firm foundation) of the principles Jesus Christ lived before us, we can go through any "storm" in life and know that nothing and no-one can take our freedom in Christ away from us. Happiness can and will be a very big part of our life. But, just like everything in life, we are to control our spirit so that we can experience the true happiness. Happiness that doesn't bring pain at the end of the day. Happiness that you can depend on. Happiness that is rooted in the core of our being. A place where Jesus and the principles he gave to us, rule.

Happiness does not come from pleasures. At the end of the day...you are still alone...inside. Happiness comes from knowing Jesus. Then and only then can Jesus tell you who you are. That, my friend, is true security and happiness. We don't have to go out seeking pleasures and happiness. We already possess it. It follows us. There are days I'm sad. There are days I'm exstatic...giddy...with happiness. Our emotions were given by God. He expects us to be in charge of such a precious gift called life. What we do with that gift will produce one of two things...peace or maddening insecurities. Why do we continue to search for happiness in all the wrong places?

Which will you choose?