What's Wrong with Enjoying Things?

I hate the word "enjoy."

Did you enjoy the movie?  Did you enjoy dinner?  Did you enjoy your sexual encounter?

It comes from my Nazarene childhood, where we were expected to shun "the world."

We had three goals in life.  In order of importance, they were: 1. To be holy, so we could avoid an eternity of hellfire; 2. To win souls (convert other people); 3. To marry and reproduce, so we could raise a lot of children to win souls.  Anything that contributed to these goals was a solemn duty, not to be "enjoyed."  Anything that did not was a distraction, and should be shunned.

The goals required us to stay alive until "God called us home," so we had to eat.  You weren't supposed to enjoy it.  The proper response to a meal was not "It tasted good," but "Thank the Lord for providing it."

Recreation was frowned upon.  You could listen to Christian music or play Bible games (Goal #1), or you could engage in sports or musical activities, play games at recess, or watch tv as a means of getting close to "the lost souls" you intended to win (Goal #2).  But you weren't supposed to enjoy it.  The proper question to ask parents was not "Can I go play baseball?  I really enjoy it," but "Can I go play baseball?  I could witness to my teammates."

Sex was necessary for Goal #3, and only for that.  You shouldn't engage in any sexual act, or even a preliminary such as kissing, unless you were trying to serve God by making a baby.  And you weren't supposed to enjoy it.  The proper question to ask yourself was not "Do I find this person attractive?" but "Do I want to make a baby with this person?"














Oddly enough, I hear similar sentiments today, from people who were

never Nazarenes.

 Food is "fuel," necessary to keep your body running; taste is irrelevant (why else would people willingly eat kale?).

Recreation should build up your body or mind.  No TV -- too mindless.  Engaging in an act simply because you enjoy it is a waste of time.

Sex should always "mean something."  It should enhance the emotional intimacy of a committed relationship.  "No strings" sex, hookups, and masturbation are destructive and deviant, evidence of weakness of character.





Why do we have to be working toward some goal every moment of every day?   In a thousand years, who's going to know the difference?  Take a hour or two off and do something just because you find it enjoyable.