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Dangerous Duty of Delight: The Glorified God and the Satisfied Soul (LifeChange Books) | 
 enlarge | Author: John Piper
Publisher: Multnomah Books
Category: Book
Buy New: $9.99
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Rating:  17 reviews
Sales Rank: 82161
Media: Hardcover
Number Of Items: 1
Pages: 96
Shipping Weight (lbs): 0.3
Dimensions (in): 6.3 x 4.6 x 0.5
ISBN: 1576738833
Dewey Decimal Number: 248.4
EAN: 9781576738832
ASIN: 1576738833
Publication Date: October 10, 2001
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Product Description
This compact 96-page book, drawn from Piper's popular Desiring God, emphasizes the importance of strengthening our relationship with our Creator by enjoying Him and His creation. The author's now classic ideas are presented here in an accessible size that will allow readers to absorb and apply them quickly -- leading them to a dramatically different and joyful experience of their faith. Filled with biblical reasons for living a life of celebration, this life-changing read helps people discover not only why but how to delight more fully in the Lord.
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| Customer Reviews: Read 12 more reviews...
 Life Changing Book October 17, 2008
I encountered this small book in a store over 5 years ago and was "teased" by the chapter titles. I bought the book and read it quickly, then again over and over more thoughtfully over the next year or so. I found each chapter to be a five-minute invitation to a radically free life in Christ! I have since purchased 40-50 copies of this book and given it away to many! I especially love to give it as a high school graduation gift for exploring minds to encounter happiness in God. It is deep, but approachable. It is easy, but profoundly rich. It's succinctness makes it nag your mind until you wrestle with the treasure of truths that can be yours. I love John Piper's teaching gift and I share his inspiration from C.S.Lewis quotes. I highly recommend this little powerful book, and the ensuing search for God that it stirs.
 What did Jesus say? January 23, 2008
0 out of 2 found this review helpful
This review has Dr. Piper's "Desiring God" book in mind, but I am spreading this post around for those who, like me, feel uneasy with Dr. Piper's main point. I am restricting my review to that because--from what I can tell--it has become central to his whole outlook on God and life. It appears to have metastasized into almost all his writings. He spoke at a plenary session of our denomination and if I remember correctly he said something like, "this is my theology." Here it is:
"What is the chief end of man? To glorify God BY enjoying Him forever." And, "God is most glorified in us when we are most satisfied in Him."
Dr. Piper teaches that this is the supreme testimony of Scripture regarding glorifying God. He would have us adopt it as the highest priority in our lives. He is saying, in effect, God being glorified in us ultimately rests on whether or not this is happening.
I read this years ago and the more I have thought about it in the light of the life of Christ the more uneasy I have become. But it has taken me years to find words for my uneasiness. Here is my best attempt so far.
My question has been, What does Jesus Himself have to say about glorifying God? Or, more specifically, did He say anything about HOW He personally glorified God? If Dr. Piper's theme is, in truth, at the heart of glorifying God on earth, then we can be sure Jesus certainly would have spoken to it. I cannot believe that He would have left the question open on a matter of such transcendent importance.
What did Jesus say about how He brought glory to God on earth? One reference emerged in my study. He said, in His High Priestly prayer: "I have brought you glory on earth by completing the work you gave me to do." John 17:4, niv. (If I missed a passage please point it out in the comments. I welcome correction.)
Do you read anything in those statements to the effect that the Son of God glorified God primarily through enjoying Him or through being satisfied in God? I have no doubt that Jesus certainly did. But I don't see here or in any aspect of His life and teaching that He made that foundational.
As I see it, my Master brought glory to God by completing His Father's assignment, and so with me as His disciple. I do not doubt that He will give me joy and satisfaction in Him throughout the journey. He has already--far more than I can possibly contain--but if that were the main point in glorifying God, I am convinced that Jesus would have told us explicitly that that is the main point.
Why only a one star review? Because how we glorify God is immeasurable in terms of its significance and impact. We are talking about ultimate reasons that affect everything we do all day long. Like having the right motive in something--if we get that wrong, everything is wrong. Dr. Piper, in my estimation, has substituted in a secondary good for the primary one Jesus revealed in His prayer. And whereas in other matters in life that may not do much damage, with ultimate concerns it ends up being a colossal distraction.
In stark contrast to "Christian Hedonism," consider what Thomas Kelly wrote in his "Testament of Devotion:" "When you are obeying to the uttermost you even forget about yourself."
 Wordy but good August 1, 2007
Could have been said in half the space, but it presents a good concept. Well worth reading.
Duty redefined March 15, 2007
"Dangerous Duty . . .", Piper's brief summary of his "Desiring God" is a perfect starting point for those wanting to share the doctrine of "delight in God" but fear those they want to share it with are not ready to wade into the depths of the fountain of truth flowing from the longer book. I highly recommend it, first, for Staff devotions, at all evangelical churches. Pastors, here is the motivation - if your staff and, by overflow, your flock grows healthy by chewing on the truth that delight in God's glory yields soul-saturating joy for those who delight, then you have the kind of maturity which grows the church and works you out of a job (because the sheep can care for other sheep, the sheep can evangelize and disciple, the sheep can teach, the sheep can lead other sheep) - which ought to be the goal of all pastors who develop their flocks to Christlikeness.
A Word of Warning About Piper's Emphasis June 21, 2005
15 out of 17 found this review helpful
This is a general comment on Piper's books. I deeply appreciate the work of John Piper--especially his emphasis on missions and on living God-centered, Christ-exalting lives of worship. And I am Augustinian, so I love Piper's theology and am thrilled that he has become so popular. But I do want to provide a warning. Piper's main emphasis is (and you'll read this over and over again) "God is most glorified in us when we are most satisfied (or delighted) in Him." This is a biblical and wonderful proposition that Piper became aware of through the writings of Jonathan Edwards. And to Edwards, this was one small part of his theology.
But Piper has taken this idea, which he calls "Christian Hedonism," and built his whole life and ministry around it. The problem is that if you read enough Piper, you will begin to focus on the FEELING of being delighted in Christ, rather than on Christ Himself. And when your feelings don't match what you want them to be, you will become disheartened. (And let's face it, few of us have the emotional intensity of John Piper.) At that point, your feelings (of being delighted in God) become the object of your desires and, thus, an idol. Yes, they are feelings TOWARD God--but those feelings are NOT GOD. And when the focus of your life has become your emotions, it has deceptively become an idol.
I know Piper fights against this tendency. But I'm afraid he is often unsuccessful. The fact is, the Christian life is not going to be one of unending joy in God. Read the Psalms to see how often the psalmists cry out in agony and desperation and sadness to the Lord. Read Romans 7 to find out how tough and discouraging the Christian life can really be.
According to Piper, our happiness in God should be the driving motivation in our life. But when Christians are inevitably not overflowing with delight in God, then under Piper's framework, the only solution is to seek that feeling of joy rather than just do our duty. There are times when duty and obligation (which Piper hates) are the only motivations for the Christian to be obedient and live a life of faith. I agree wholeheartedly with Piper that delight in God is a much better motivation for the Christian than duty. But when that delight is not there, we still must be faithful and obedient, and we can't always wait on our feelings to drive us on toward the prize.
Read Piper's books. And enjoy his passionate and Christ-exalting preaching. But beware and repent when your emotions--rather than the Triune God Himself--become the focus of your life.
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